Two Truths and a Lie

How to Play

Setup

1. Group size: Works well with 4–20 people (scale up by using teams or breakout groups).
2. Space: Arrange chairs in a circle for in-person or use gallery view online. Ensure everyone can see and hear each other.
3. Materials: None required. Optional timer, whiteboard or shared doc to display statements, and a way to vote (hands, chat, poll, or numbered cards).
4. Roles: Assign a facilitator to manage time, order, and clarify rules. Decide in advance if you will keep score and whether you will allow brief Q&A before voting.

How to Play

1. Turn order: Choose who goes first (e.g., volunteer, birthday closest, or random). That person becomes the Speaker for the round.
2. Prepare statements: The Speaker thinks of three statements about themselves—two true, one false. Keep them similar in length and tone to disguise the lie.
3. Share: The Speaker reads the three statements aloud, numbering them 1–3. Optionally, display them on a board or in the chat.
4. Quick Q&A (optional): Allow up to 30–60 seconds for brief, neutral questions. Encourage yes/no or short answers to prevent cross-examination.
5. Vote: Everyone simultaneously guesses which statement is the lie. Use one of the following:
   • In-person: Hold up one, two, or three fingers.
   • Online: Type the number in chat, use a poll, or react with 1/2/3 emojis.
6. Reveal: The Speaker announces the lie, then briefly explains the truths. Keep the reveal snappy and positive.
7. Scoring (optional):
   • Detectives: +1 point for each person who correctly identifies the lie.
   • Speaker bonus: +1 point for each person fooled. This rewards good “poker face” skills.
8. Rotate: Move to the next player. Continue until everyone has had a turn or time runs out.

Rules

1. Truths must be honest and appropriate for the group context (workplace-safe, culturally sensitive, and inclusive).
2. Lies should be plausible—avoid trick wording or technicalities.
3. Keep statements concise (about 10–15 seconds each) and avoid oversharing sensitive or confidential information.
4. Respect time limits for Q&A and reveals to maintain energy.
5. One vote per person, made simultaneously.

Tips

• Balance your three: one surprising truth, one ordinary truth, and one believable lie.
• Avoid easily verifiable facts if that could cause discomfort (e.g., job titles, salaries).
• Use themes to spark ideas: travel, food, hobbies, childhood, skills, favorites.
• Facilitator: model a round first, encourage quieter voices, and rotate order to prevent dominance.
• For remote play, pin the Speaker and use a poll to streamline voting.

Variations

• Lightning Round: No Q&A. Each Speaker has 20–30 seconds to share; instant vote and reveal.
• Team Play: Split into teams. Teams discuss quietly and cast a single vote; score by team vs. Speaker.
• Anonymous Board: Collect statements beforehand and read them without names. The group guesses who it is and which is the lie—great for large or new groups.
• Reverse Edition: One truth and two lies (harder, faster, boosts creativity).
• Themed Rounds: All three statements must fit a topic (Work Edition, Travel Tales, Firsts and Fails).