Counting-out game

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A counting-out game is a simple game intended to select a person to be "it", often for the purpose of playing another game. Some counting-out games are

Rock, Paper, Scissors
Odd or Even
Coin flipping
Drawing straws - player with the shortest straw loses.
Buzz

Many such games involve one person pointing at each participant in a circle of players while reciting a rhyme. A new person is pointed at as each word is said. The player who is selected at the conclusion of the rhyme is "it" or "out". In an alternate version, the circle of players may each put two feet in and at the conclusion of the rhyme, that player removes one foot and the rhyme starts over with the next person. In this case, the first player that has both feet removed is "it" or "out". These are often accepted as random selections because the number of words has not been calculated beforehand, so the result is unknown right up until someone is selected.

Some common rhymes

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Tea Cup Saucer Out
Tinker, Tailor - Traditionally played in England.
One potato, two potato - players may start with both fists (to resemble potatoes) in, so have to be got twice to be out.

One potato, two potato

Three potato, four,

Five potato, six potato,

Seven potato, more,

One big bad spud.

Ink-a-bink (Last two lines added if the chooser happens to like the person singled out by the "stink")

Ink-a-bink

A bottle of ink

Cork fell out and you stink

My mother told me to pick the very best one and

You are not it

Bubblegum, Bubblegum

Bubblegum, bubblegum,

In a dish,

How many pieces,

Do you wish?

Whomever the rhyme ends with chooses a number, and that many "pieces" are counted. The person on whom the last number falls is out.

Inky Binky Bonky

Inky binky bonky,

Daddy had a donkey,

Donkey died, daddy cried,

Inky binky bonky.

Ip dip

External links

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