Overview
Hangman is a letter-guessing game where one player chooses a secret word and the other player tries to reveal it before using all allowed incorrect guesses.
Objective
Guess the secret word by identifying its letters before the agreed incorrect-guess limit is reached.
What You Need
- Paper and pencil or a digital board
- 2 or more players
- A word or phrase chosen secretly
Setup
Choose a secret word. Draw one blank for each letter and agree on how many incorrect guesses are allowed. For younger players, use categories or hints.
How to Play
- The guessing player names one letter.
- If the letter appears, reveal every occurrence in the correct positions.
- If it does not appear, record an incorrect guess and add the next part of the agreed drawing or counter.
- Continue with new letters.
- The guesser may attempt the whole word if your rules allow it.
- The round ends when the word is solved or the incorrect-guess limit is reached.
Worked Example
For APPLE, the board starts _ _ _ _ _. If the guess is P, both Ps are revealed: _ P P _ _. A guess of Z records one miss.
Strategy Tips
- Guess common vowels and frequent consonants early.
- Use the pattern of revealed letters to think of likely word families.
- Remember previous guesses so you do not waste a turn.
Common Mistakes
- Revealing only one copy of a repeated letter.
- Not recording previous guesses.
- Changing the secret word after play starts.
Variations & House Rules
Use a fixed number of misses instead of a drawing, play by categories, allow phrases, or award points based on unused guesses.
FAQ
What happens if a guessed letter appears twice?
Reveal every occurrence of that letter.
Can a player guess the whole word?
Yes if your chosen rules allow it; decide before starting what happens after a wrong whole-word guess.