Wits and Wagers

Players: 4-10

Ages: 10 and up

Wits & Wagers is the marriage of trivia and poker. The Wit part of the game will test your knowledge while the Wager part is about strategic betting. Wits & Wagers makes a great party game because up to 10 people can play at one time. The rules can be explained in less than 5 minutes. Wits & Wagers is played in seven rounds with an average game lasting twenty minutes.

Each game lasts seven rounds. Each round consists of someone asking a trivia question. The trivia questions all have a numeric answer. You can guess at an answer and still possibly win the bet. Players write down their answer on re-usable answer cards.

Answers are placed onto the casino-like felt place-mat in order of highest to lowest. The payout for each answer is listed. The answer in the very middle pays 1/1. Players then can wager up to 10 points on two answers. Players place their chips and marker on the answer they think is correct. Once all bets have been made and/or the timer runs out, the answer is revealed.

The winning answer is the one closest to the actual answer without going over. If someone writes down the correct answer, then they earn a bonus of five poker chips. After the answer has been revealed, all bets are settled. This continues until the last round where players can go "all in." There is no limit to the amount you can bet on the last round. You can play it safe, or shoot for the moon. The player with the most chips at the end of seven rounds wins the game.

A small egg timer keeps the game pace. Players have only so long to write their answers as well as place their bets. Getting sidetracked while playing a game especially with a large group is very common. Timed rounds keep players focused. While some friends may not mind the tangents, some might find them completely annoying. Keeping everyone on task during the game ensures a good time will be had by all.

Wits & Wagers was honored as a Mensa Select winner. It has won numerous other awards including being named Party Game of the Year from Games Magazine.

North Star Games provided this review copy of Wits & Wagers to me free of charge.