Looking for a specific Hedbanz rule?: | Setup | Playing the Game | Guessing Your Card | Skipping A Card | Winning the Game | FAQ | Components |
Objective of Hedbanz
The objective of Hedbanz is to be the first player to get rid of all of your chips. In some versions of the game, the objective is to be the first to correctly guess three cards from your headband.
Note: Hedbanz rules have changed a little over the years. I will note below where versions of the game have different rules.
Setup
- Shuffle all of the cards and place them face down in the center of the table.
- Each player takes a headband and adjusts it so it comfortably fits on their head. You should position the headband so the Hedbanz logo is centered on your forehead.
- Each player draws a card. Without looking at the card you will add it to your headband. It should be placed so all of the players except for the player wearing the headband can see the picture.
- Deal three chips to each player. The rest of the chips are placed in the middle of the table and become the bank.
- The youngest player starts the game. Play passes to the left throughout the game.
Playing Hedbanz
To start your turn you will flip over the timer. As the timer runs you will ask the other players questions in order to try and figure out what is on the card placed in your headband.
You will begin with the player to your left. You will ask them a question followed by the player to their left. This continues until you have asked all of the players a question.
You can ask pretty much any question you want as long as the player you ask can provide an answer without directly saying what is on your card. Yes or no questions usually work the best. Some versions of the game require you to only use yes or no questions. The game includes a list of sample questions that you can choose to use if you can’t come up with your own questions. You may never ask the question “What am I?” though.
Once you have asked all of the players a question, you will return to the player on your left and ask them another question. You can ask as many questions as you want as long as the timer runs.
When the timer runs out, you will keep your current card in your headband. You will try to figure out the card on your next turn. The player on your left takes the next turn.
Guessing Your Card
When you think you know what is on your card, you can ask the question “Am I a..?”.
If you correctly guess what is on your card, you will remove the card from your headband.
You will then immediately draw a new card and add it to your headband without looking at it. You can then continue asking questions about the new card until the timer runs out.
For each card you correctly guess, you can move one or your chips to the bank in the middle of the table.
Some newer versions of Hedbanz that use badges play a little different. When you correctly guess the card, you get a badge instead of a chip. Add the badge to your headband. You will add a new card to your headband, but you do not get to ask questions about the new card until your next turn.
If you guessed wrong, you can keep asking questions about your current card.
Skipping a Card
If you can’t figure out what is on the card in your headband, you can choose to skip the card.
When you choose to take this action you will remove the card from your headband. For skipping the card you need to take one chip from the bank. You will then take a new card and add it to your headband. Your turn ends immediately if you chose to skip a card.
Winning Hedbanz
The first player to get rid of all of their chips wins Hedbanz.
Some newer versions of Hedbanz have a different end game. In these versions of the game you do not get rid of chips when you guess a card correctly. Instead you receive a badge each time you guess a card correctly. The first player to get three badges wins the game.
Hedbanz FAQ
If you have any questions about how to play Hedbanz, leave a comment below on this post. I will try to answer any questions asked as best and as quickly as possible.
Components
The components depend on which version of the game you have.
- 69 pictures cards
- 3 sample question cards
- 24 scoring chips
- 6 headbands
- Timer (approximately 60 seconds)
- Instructions
Publisher: Cardinal, Patch Products, Spin Master | Designer: Design Edge
Genres: Children’s, Deduction, Party
Ages: 7+ | Number of Players: 2-6 | Length of Game: 20-30 minutes
Difficulty: Light | Strategy: Light | Luck: Moderate
For more board and card game rules/how to plays, check out our complete alphabetical list of card and board game rules posts.
