3 Easy Steps to Play Clue With 2 Players

Clue is a classic mystery game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. While the game is typically played with 3 or more players, it is possible to play Clue with just 2 players. With a few simple modifications, you can adapt the game to work for 2 players while still keeping the mystery and suspense intact.

In order to play Clue with 2 players, it is necessary to make the following changes to the rules:

One player will play as both Miss Scarlet and Colonel Mustard.
The other player will play as both Mrs. White and Professor Plum.
The remaining characters (Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green, and Dr. Orchid) will not be used in the game.

When making guesses, players must specify which character they are playing as. For example, a player could say, “I guess that Miss Scarlet killed Mr. Boddy in the library with the candlestick.” If the other player has the card that matches the guess, they must show it to the player who made the guess.

The rest of the game is played according to the standard rules. The first player to correctly guess who committed the murder, where the murder took place, and what weapon was used wins the game. Clue with 2 players is a fun and challenging way to enjoy this classic game. With a few simple modifications, you can adapt the game to work for 2 players while still keeping the mystery and suspense intact.

Setting Up the Game for Two Players

Preparing the Game Board

The first step in setting up the game for two players is to prepare the game board. To do this, follow these steps:

Choose the game board: Select the Clue game board that you want to play on. There are several different versions of Clue available, so choose the one that you are most familiar with or that has the features you are looking for.
Place the board on a flat surface: Make sure that the board is placed on a flat surface so that it does not move around while you are playing.
Set up the rooms: Place the room tiles in the correct locations on the board. There are nine different rooms in Clue, and each one has a different color.
Set up the secret passageways: Place the secret passageway tiles in the correct locations on the board. There are four secret passageways in Clue, and each one connects two different rooms.
Place the weapons: Place the weapon tiles in the correct locations on the board. There are six different weapons in Clue, and each one has a different shape.
Place the characters: Place the character tiles in the correct locations on the board. There are six different characters in Clue, and each one has a different color.

Choosing the Starting Player

Once the game board is set up, you need to choose the starting player. To do this, each player rolls a die. The player with the highest roll goes first.

Determining the Killer, Weapon, and Room

Determining the Killer

With only two players, eliminating the other player’s cards is crucial. Ask questions about specific cards, such as “Do you have Colonel Mustard?” If your opponent answers no, you know that person is not the killer.

Determining the Weapon

Eliminate weapon cards by asking targeted questions. For example, inquire “Do you have the Wrench?” If they reply negatively, remove that weapon from consideration.

Determining the Room

To deduce the room where the murder occurred, ask specific questions about rooms. For example, “Do you have the Conservatory?” If your opponent denies having it, you can eliminate that space from your list.

Question	Possible Responses
Do you have Colonel Mustard?	Yes / No
Do you have the Wrench?	Yes / No
Do you have the Conservatory?	Yes / No

By skillfully asking questions and eliminating cards, you can narrow down the possibilities and ultimately determine the killer, weapon, and room in the two-player game of Clue.

Moving Around the Board

In a two-player game, you’ll move one character and one character will be designated as the “mystery” character. The mystery character represents the character, weapon, and room in the envelope. You’ll also use two sets of cards: one set for yourself and one set for the mystery character.

Rolling the Dice

Each turn, you will roll the dice and move one of your characters around the board. You may move your character into a room or along a corridor connecting two rooms. If you move your character into a room, you can then suggest a potential clue by naming a character, weapon, or room card. Your opponent will then check their cards to see if they have the card you suggested.

Suggesting Clues

To suggest a clue, you will say the name of the card and the location where you think it is. For example, you might say, “I suggest Colonel Mustard in the Conservatory.” If your opponent has the card you suggested, they will give it to you. If they do not have the card, they will say, “Miss.”

The Mystery Character

Your opponent will keep the mystery character cards face down in front of them. When you make a suggestion, your opponent will check their cards to see if they have the card you suggested. If they have the card, they will give it to you. If they do not have the card, they will say, “Miss.”

Keeping Track of Clues

As you make suggestions, you will cross off the cards that you have been given. This will help you keep track of which cards have been eliminated. Once you have crossed off all of the cards in a category (character, weapon, or room), you will know which card is the mystery character.

Using the Notebooks

In a two-player game of Clue, the notebooks play a crucial role in helping you solve the mystery. Each player receives a notebook, which contains a case file with information about the suspects, weapons, and rooms. The notebooks also include a deduction chart, which can be used to track your progress and eliminate possibilities.

To use the notebooks, start by filling out the case file with the information provided on the cards. This includes the names of the suspects, weapons, and rooms, as well as the room in which the murder took place.

Once you have filled out the case file, you can start using the deduction chart to track your progress. The deduction chart is divided into three sections: suspects, weapons, and rooms. For each category, there are three columns: “Possible,” “Unlikely,” and “Eliminated.”

As you gather information during the game, you can update the deduction chart to reflect your current knowledge. For example, if you learn that Miss Scarlet was not in the library at the time of the murder, you would cross off Miss Scarlet’s name from the “Possible” column in the “Suspects” section.

The deduction chart can be a valuable tool for solving the mystery in Clue. By carefully tracking your progress, you can eliminate possibilities and narrow down the list of suspects, weapons, and rooms.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Using the Notebooks

Fill out the case file with the information provided on the cards.
Start using the deduction chart to track your progress.
As you gather information, update the deduction chart to reflect your current knowledge.
Cross off suspects, weapons, and rooms that you can eliminate.
Continue playing until you have solved the mystery.

Category	Possible	Unlikely	Eliminated
Suspects	Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Reverend Green
Weapons	Candlestick, Knife, Lead Pipe, Revolver, Rope, Wrench
Rooms	Ballroom, Billiard Room, Conservatory, Dining Room, Hall, Kitchen, Library, Lounge, Study

Handling Duplicate Cards

With Two Suspects

If two cards for the same suspect are revealed, the player who holds them must discard one. They can choose which card to keep, or they can ask the other player to select one for them.

With Two Rooms

Similarly, if two cards for the same room are revealed, the player must discard one. Again, they have the option to choose or delegate the selection.

With Two Weapons

Duplicate weapon cards are handled in the same manner as suspect and room cards. The player holding them must discard one, either by their own choice or with the other player’s assistance.

Scenario Table

Card Type	Duplicate Card Revealed	Action Taken
Suspect	Miss Scarlet and Colonel Mustard	Discard one card (own choice or other player’s choice)
Room	Kitchen and Conservatory	Discard one card (own choice or other player’s choice)
Weapon	Wrench and Lead Pipe	Discard one card (own choice or other player’s choice)

Winning the Game with Two Players

To win Clue with two players, you must be the first to correctly identify the murderer, the weapon used, and the room where the crime took place. You can do this by strategically making guesses and using the information provided by your opponent.

1. Make Deductions

Pay attention to the cards your opponent shows you. If they show you a weapon card, for example, you know that the murder weapon is not that weapon. Use this information to eliminate possibilities and narrow down your guesses.

2. Keep Track of Clues

Write down or mentally note the cards you’ve seen and the information they provide. This will help you keep track of your progress and avoid making repeat guesses.

3. Ask Selective Questions

Ask questions that are specific and targeted. Avoid asking broad questions like “Do you have any cards for the study?” Instead, ask “Do you have the candlestick card?”

4. Bluff and Mislead

If you’re not sure about a guess, don’t be afraid to bluff. This can throw your opponent off and give you an advantage.

5. Use the Secret Passages

The secret passages on the board can be helpful for quickly moving around the house. Use them to gain an advantage or escape from a room that’s been blocked off.

6. Rule Out Possibilities

As you gather information, rule out possibilities for the murderer, weapon, and room. This will help you focus your guesses and increase your chances of winning.

7. Make an Accusation

Once you’re confident in your guesses, make an accusation. If you’re correct, you win the game. If you’re incorrect, you lose.

8. Play with a Variant Rule: “Clue with 2 Players and a Dummy Hand”

Rule	Description
Create a dummy hand	Collect 3 character cards, 3 weapon cards, and 3 room cards that do not match the actual solution. Place these cards in a face-down pile next to the board.
Draw a card from the dummy hand	Whenever the opponent cannot show a card asked for, draw the top card from the dummy hand and show it. If the card is part of the solution, the opponent must reveal it. Otherwise, the card is returned to the dummy hand.
Shuffle the dummy hand	After each turn, shuffle the dummy hand so that the opponent cannot guess the order of the cards.

Variants for Two-Player Gameplay

There are several variations of Clue that can be played with two players. These variations typically involve modifying the rules or adding new elements to the game to make it more challenging and enjoyable with a smaller group of players.

Using Two Decks

One variation of Clue for two players involves using two decks of cards. This makes the game more difficult as there are more cards in play and it is harder to guess the correct solution. To play this variation, simply shuffle two decks of cards together and deal out 21 cards to each player. The rest of the rules remain the same.

Using a Dummy Player

Another variation of Clue for two players involves using a dummy player. This player is controlled by one of the players and makes random guesses and moves. To play this variation, simply deal out 21 cards to each player and 9 cards to the dummy player. The dummy player takes turns guessing and moving just like a regular player, but their guesses and moves are random.

Using a Timer

A third variation of Clue for two players involves using a timer. This makes the game more challenging and forces players to make quick decisions. To play this variation, simply set a timer for 30 minutes. Players must solve the mystery before the timer runs out.

Variation	Description
Using Two Decks	Makes the game more difficult by using two decks of cards.
Using a Dummy Player	Adds a random element to the game by using a dummy player controlled by one of the players.
Using a Timer	Forces players to make quick decisions by setting a timer for 30 minutes.

How To Play Clue With 2 Players

If you did not realize that you can play Clue with 2 players, then you should give this a try. It is a fun way to play the game, and it’s a great way to test your Clue skills. Here’s how to play Clue with 2 players:

At the beginning, you will need to set up the game board as usual. Then, each player secretly chooses one of the six characters, one of the six weapons, and one of the nine rooms. The remaining cards are placed in the deck.

The youngest player goes first. On their turn, a player moves their character around the board and makes a suggestion. For example, a player might say, “I suggest that Miss Scarlet, with the candlestick, in the library.”

The other player then checks their cards to see if they have any of the cards that were suggested. If they do, they must show them to the first player.

If the other player does not have any of the cards that were suggested, they say, “I cannot disprove your suggestion.”

The first player then draws a card from the deck.

Players take turns until one player is able to make a correct accusation. To make an accusation, a player must name the character, the weapon, and the room that they believe committed the murder.

If the player’s accusation is correct, they win the game.