Overview

Balderdash is a bluffing party game where players make up fake answers to obscure trivia questions across five categories. The goal is to fool other players into believing your fabricated answer is the real one, while also trying to identify the genuine answer yourself. Points are earned for successful bluffs and correct guesses. The first player to reach the Finish space on the board wins.

Components

• 1 Game Board
• 336 Game Cards (each with 5 categories on the front and answers on the back)
• 1 Answer Sheet Pad
• 6 Movers (colored pawns)
• 1 Die
• 1 Instruction Sheet

Setup

1. Place the board in the middle of the playing area.
2. Each player takes a pencil or pen and several answer sheets.
3. Each player picks a colored mover and places it on the “Start” space.
4. Each player rolls the die; the highest roll becomes the first Dasher (round leader).

Turn Structure

Each round proceeds as follows:

1. Roll for Category: The Dasher rolls the die to determine which category to play (1-5 corresponds to categories in order; a 6 allows the Dasher to choose any category). Optionally, all players can agree to play without rolling the die, letting the Dasher choose.
2. Read the Question: The Dasher reads the category question aloud from the blue side of the card.
3. Write Bluffs: Every player except the Dasher writes a fabricated answer on their answer sheet in the “Answer” section. Answers should be legible and kept secret.
4. Record Real Answer: While others write bluffs, the Dasher writes the question on their answer sheet along with the real answer from the back (green side) of the card, then returns the card to the back of the card box.
5. Sign and Submit: Players sign their bluffs with their initials and hand the sheet to the Dasher without showing other players.
6. Review Answers: The Dasher checks all answers for legibility, quietly asking for clarification if needed.
7. Read Aloud (First Reading): The Dasher arranges all answers (including the real one) in random order and reads each aloud, being careful not to reveal which is genuine.
8. Read Aloud (Second Reading): After initial reactions, the Dasher reads all answers aloud a second time. A third reading may be necessary with many players or long answers.
9. Vote: Moving clockwise from the Dasher, each player chooses the answer they believe is real. The Dasher records each player’s initials on the chosen answer sheet in the “Score” section.
10. Reveal and Score: The Dasher reveals the real answer, and points are tallied.

Actions

• Write a Bluff: Create a fake but plausible answer for the category question.
• Vote: Select the answer you believe is the real one. As a bluffing tactic, you may vote for your own bluff, but you will not earn a point for this self-vote.
• No Revealing: Players must not reveal their own answer by shouting, nudging, winking, or grunting.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Action	Points
Each vote your bluff receives	1 point per vote
Correctly guessing the real answer	2 points
Dasher bonus (no one guesses correctly)	3 points
Writing an answer very similar to the real answer	3 points

• Each point earned advances a player’s mover one space on the board.
• Double Bluff Spaces: If a player lands directly on a Double Bluff space, their score for the next round is doubled. For example, earning 3 points in the next round becomes 6 points.
• The player to the Dasher’s left advances their mover first, followed by remaining players in clockwise order.
• After scoring, the player to the Dasher’s left becomes the new Dasher.
• Winning: The first player to reach the “Finish” space on the board wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Similar Answer Rule: If a player writes an answer that is similar or very close to the real answer, that answer sheet is set aside and only the Dasher’s copy of the real answer is read. The round is played with one fewer answer. The player who wrote the similar answer automatically earns 3 points and does not participate in guessing or voting for that round.
• Multiple Similar Answers: If two or more players submit answers close to the real answer, the round is cancelled entirely. The Dasher chooses a new card. All players with similar answers earn 3 points each.
• Self-Voting: You may vote for your own bluff as a tactical move, but you do not earn a point for your own vote on your answer.

Player Reference

Categories (Die Roll)

Die Roll	Category	Question Type
1	Weird Words	“What is this definition?”
2	Peculiar People	“Who is this person?”
3	Incredible Initials	“What does this stand for?”
4	Marvelous Movies	“What is this movie about?”
5	Laughable Laws	“What is this law?”
6	Dasher’s Choice	Any category

2-Player Game

• Players alternate turns being the Dasher.
• Roll the die, draw a card, and read the corresponding category question.
• Before seeing the answer, the Dasher makes up one of their own answers.
• Turn over the card, read and copy the real answer.
• Read both choices (bluff and real) to the guessing player.
• If the guesser votes for the Dasher’s bluff, the Dasher advances 3 spaces.
• If the guesser votes for the real answer, the guesser advances 2 spaces.
• Alternate until someone reaches the Finish.

Scoring Quick Reference

• 1 pt per vote on your bluff
• 2 pts for guessing correctly
• 3 pts for Dasher if nobody guesses right
• 3 pts for answer close to the real one
• Double Bluff spaces double next round’s score