Clue

Setting up the Clue card game involves several precise steps. First, separate the crime card from the rest of the deck and place it face down in the center without looking. Next, sort the remaining cards into evidence categories: suspects, weapons, and locations. Remove any advanced cards if playing a standard game, and distribute personal character profile cards to each player. Deal the remaining evidence cards evenly among all participants face down. Finally, ensure each player has their own set of elimination sheets to track clues throughout the game.

The ultimate objective of Clue is to solve a classic murder mystery by identifying three key elements: the perpetrator, the weapon used, and the location of the crime. Players act as detectives, gathering clues through deduction and questioning opponents to eliminate false leads until only the correct combination remains hidden in the crime envelope.

During a player's turn in Clue, they examine their own hand of cards and question the player immediately to the left about two specific elements—such as a suspect and a weapon—that might be involved in the crime. The queried player must look at their own evidence cards and secretly show one matching card if they have it. If they have both, they may choose which one to reveal. If they have neither, the questioning moves to the next player clockwise until someone provides a clue or all players pass.

While Clue does not use a traditional numerical scoring system, progress is measured by successfully eliminating incorrect suspects, weapons, and locations on your detective notepad. Correctly identifying and cross-referencing revealed cards from opponents allows players to narrow down the exact contents of the crime envelope.

The game of Clue ends when a player believes they have gathered enough evidence to make a formal accusation. The accuser states the suspected culprit, weapon, and location, then secretly checks the crime envelope. If correct, that player wins the game immediately. If incorrect, that player is eliminated from making further accusations while the remaining players continue.