Choose a number in secret. The smallest number chosen by exactly one player wins the round.
Give everyone five slips and a pen. Each round accepts one whole number from 1 to 10. Mark the player name or agreed symbol on the back so the host can return a winning slip without confusing ownership. Put the range and the five-round limit in view before play. There are no tokens, purchases or stakes. Three to twelve people can play together; for a larger party, form separate tables rather than silently changing the range.
Allow twenty seconds for everyone to write one number privately. A player may pass before handing in a slip; a pass is not zero. Collect all slips face down, then say “locked.” Nobody changes a choice after this point. Reveal all numbers together. Group equal numbers, cancel every group containing two or more choices, and compare the remaining singles. The lowest single earns one point. Each player submits only one slip per round.
Six players choose 1, 1, 2, 3, 3 and 8. Both ones and both threes cancel. The remaining choices are 2 and 8, so the player who chose 2 receives one point. If the choices are 2, 2, 5, 5, 9 and 9, there is no winner and no point. Do not turn a duplicate pair into half a point, and do not carry cancelled choices into the next round.
Read the sorted choices aloud and let players correct a transcription mistake before beginning the next round. The host can play if everyone can see the complete reveal and the host locks a slip before opening others. Players may discuss the previous round, but may not promise a reward, exchange slips or look at an unsubmitted choice. Accidental early reveals should be handled consistently: discard the entire round and repeat it with fresh slips.
Stop after five valid rounds. Highest total wins; equal totals share the result. There is no sudden-death round unless it was announced before round one. For a cooperative version, ignore the score and try to produce exactly one surviving single each round. Keep the same cancellation rule. A host can write a privately dictated number for anyone who prefers not to write; do not publish the number until all choices are locked.
Preview before printing at 100% scale; turn off browser headers and footers. Keep host answers separate. This is a manual tabletop kit, not computer opposition or an automatic judge.
One whole number 1–10 per round. Fold before handing in. Passing is allowed before lock.
Player symbol: ____ Round: ____ Choice: ____
Player symbol: ____ Round: ____ Choice: ____
Player symbol: ____ Round: ____ Choice: ____
Player symbol: ____ Round: ____ Choice: ____
Player symbol: ____ Round: ____ Choice: ____
Player symbol: ____ Round: ____ Choice: ____
Player symbol: ____ Round: ____ Choice: ____
Player symbol: ____ Round: ____ Choice: ____
| Round | All choices | Surviving singles | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ____________ | ________ | ________ |
| 2 | ____________ | ________ | ________ |
| 3 | ____________ | ________ | ________ |
| 4 | ____________ | ________ | ________ |
| 5 | ____________ | ________ | ________ |
One point to the lowest single; no single means no point. After five valid rounds, compare totals.
Check example: 1,1,2,3,3,8 → 2 wins. 2,2,5,5,9,9 → no winner.