Cockroach Poker – Hilarious Bluffing Card Game

Can you lie with a straight face? Cockroach Poker by Schmidt is a brilliantly simple bluffing card game where telling the truth can be just as dangerous as lying. Pass creepy-crawly cards to your opponents, make outrageous claims and try to avoid collecting four of the same creature.

With plenty of table talk, psychology and laughs, Cockroach Poker is an ideal party card game for families, friends and game nights.

What Is Cockroach Poker?

Cockroach Poker is a bluffing card game for 2–6 players aged 8+, designed by Jacques Zeimet. The aim isn't to collect points or build the best hand – it's simply to avoid being the player who loses.

The deck contains 64 cards featuring eight unwanted creatures, including cockroaches, rats, bats, flies, scorpions, stink bugs, spiders and toads.

How to Play

Choose a card from your hand and slide it face down to another player while announcing what creature you claim it is. You can tell the truth or bluff.

The receiving player must decide whether you're telling the truth. They can either accept the card and call “true” or “false”, or secretly look at it and pass it to another player with a new claim.

Get caught bluffing – or incorrectly call someone else's bluff – and you may have to keep the card face up in front of you.

The game ends when a player collects four creatures of the same type, or when they have no card left to pass. That player loses and everyone else wins!

Why You’ll Love Cockroach Poker

• Brilliant bluffing: Read your opponents and keep a straight face.

• Loads of interaction: Every card involves another player.

• Easy to learn: Simple rules make it great for mixed gaming groups.

• Quick to play: Perfect for a short game or several rounds.

• Funny and unpredictable: The table talk creates memorable moments.

• Great party game: Works particularly well with larger groups.

Cockroach Poker was also included on the Spiel des Jahres recommendation list, helping establish it as a modern bluffing classic.

Who Is Cockroach Poker For?

Cockroach Poker is perfect for families, teenagers, adults and casual gamers who enjoy bluffing, deduction and social interaction. It makes an excellent travel game and is small enough to take almost anywhere.

If you enjoy Skull, Love Letter, Coup, The Resistance or other bluffing and deduction games, Cockroach Poker is a great choice.

Main Mechanics

• Bluffing

• Hand management

• Set collection

• Deduction

• Player interaction

• Social deduction

• Risk and reward

• Hidden information

Games Like Cockroach Poker

Looking for more bluffing games? Try Skull, Coup, Love Letter, The Resistance or Cheating Moth for more deception, deduction and take-that gameplay.

Game Information

What’s Included?

• 64 Creature Cards

• Rulebook

The 64-card deck contains eight copies of each of eight different creatures.

Cockroach Poker FAQ

How many players can play Cockroach Poker?
Cockroach Poker supports 2–6 players.

What age is Cockroach Poker for?
It is recommended for players aged 8 and over.

How long does Cockroach Poker take?
A game takes roughly 20–30 minutes, depending on the group and edition listing.

Is Cockroach Poker a bluffing game?
Yes. Bluffing and correctly judging other players are at the heart of the game.

How do you lose Cockroach Poker?
You lose by collecting four cards showing the same type of creature, or by having no card left when you need to pass one.

Is Cockroach Poker good for families?
Yes. The rules are easy to learn and the game relies on bluffing rather than complex strategy, making it excellent for family and social gaming.

Buy Cockroach Poker from Roll The Dice Cornwall

Ready to find out who can bluff best? Add Cockroach Poker by Schmidt to your collection for a fast, funny and highly interactive card game that's perfect for family game nights, parties and casual gaming sessions.