Cluedo
Officially Cluedo (Clue in North America) — Hasbro
Deduction murder-mystery board game (3-6 players) — players move through a mansion's rooms, make suggestions about who committed the murder (which suspect, weapon, room), gathering clues by elimination until confident enough to make a final accusation.
What is Cluedo?
Cluedo (known as Clue in North America) is a deduction-based murder-mystery board game published by Waddingtons (UK, 1949; now Hasbro). Invented 1943 by Anthony E. Pratt (Birmingham, England) during WWII air-raid boredom; released 1949. 3-6 players investigate the murder of Dr. Black (Mr. Boddy in US) in a Victorian mansion (Tudor Mansion). Game components: (1) 9-room board (Kitchen, Ballroom, Conservatory, Dining Room, Billiard Room, Library, Lounge, Hall, Study); (2) 6 suspect character cards (Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Reverend Green, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum); (3) 6 weapon cards (Candlestick, Knife, Lead Pipe, Revolver, Rope, Spanner/Wrench); (4) Solution envelope containing 1 suspect + 1 weapon + 1 room chosen randomly at start (hidden from all players). Remaining cards distributed to players. Objective: correctly identify all 3 solution cards through logical deduction. Turn: roll dice, move through rooms, when in a room make a 'suggestion' (I suggest it was X with Y in this room); adjacent player must show one of the named cards if they hold it, secretly. Track shown cards on detective sheet to deduce solution. Any player may 'accuse' at any time — check solution envelope; correct = win; wrong = eliminated from game (cards examined + returned). 100+ million copies sold since 1949; movie 'Clue' (1985) cult classic; multiple video game + app versions; TV shows + board game reboots regularly.
Quick facts
Category
Party Games
Type
Individual
Players
3–6
Duration
~45 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Cluedo game board
Country of origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Estimated origin
Invented 1943 by Anthony E. Pratt during WWII air-raid boredom; first published 1949 by Waddingtons (UK); Parker Brothers licensed US version 'Clue' 1949
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Correctly identify the murder solution: which suspect + which weapon + which room, before other players.
Match structure
Setup: draw 1 suspect + 1 weapon + 1 room secretly into solution envelope; distribute remaining 18 cards among players. Play: turn-based movement + suggestion-making. Players deduce from suggestion responses. Any player may make final 'accusation' at any time — correct = win; wrong = eliminated.
Rules
Basic rules
Roll dice + move
Roll 2d6 for movement (2-12 squares). Move through corridors or use secret passages (corner rooms only).
Enter room to make suggestion
Once inside a room, may make suggestion: 'I suggest it was [suspect] with [weapon] in the [room I'm in].'
Named suspect + weapon moved to room
Regardless of players' positions, suggested suspect + weapon tokens moved to the room of suggestion.
Adjacent player disproves suggestion
Player to left of suggester must show one card matching (secretly to suggester) if they hold one; if not, next player checks; continue until someone disproves or all pass.
Track disproven suggestions
Mark on detective sheet which cards you've seen — narrows solution by elimination.
Make final accusation
On your turn, may make accusation: 'I accuse [suspect] with [weapon] in [room].' Check solution envelope privately.
Wrong accusation = eliminated
Return cards, remove from turn order, but continue to disprove others' suggestions (stay in game to prevent your cards from being lost).
Correct accusation = win
Reveal solution envelope; game ends.
Advanced rules
Secret passages
4 corner rooms (Kitchen-Study, Conservatory-Lounge) have secret passages allowing free movement between them (no dice roll).
Suggestion order clockwise
After suggestion, player to left goes first for disproving; continues clockwise until disproven or all pass.
Cannot suggest same room twice consecutively
In some rules — must leave + re-enter (or pass by).' Actually not standard rule, but if player re-suggests same combo, opponent auto-disproves same way.
Rolls-off starting player
Miss Scarlett always goes first (per rules — she's closest to Hall).
Tracking sheet techniques
Advanced players cross-reference: which player showed which cards to whom, mark 'seen by X but not me' clues.
Suggestion pumping
Repeatedly suggesting same suspect + weapon in different rooms to determine which room card opponent holds.
Note stealing strategies
Players can move suspicions by making misleading suggestions (contains cards you hold to confuse others).
Room card + weapon card in one suggestion
Standard rule — must suggest all 3 (suspect + weapon + room = room you're in).
Scoring
No points — first to correctly accuse wins. Wrong accusation = elimination (but continue disproving to help remaining players).
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Correct accusation | WIN — game ends |
| Wrong accusation | Eliminated (can still disprove suggestions) |
| Cannot disprove suggestion (no cards match) | No penalty — suggestion may hint at solution |
Win condition · Correctly accuse all 3 solution cards (suspect + weapon + room).
Playing area
Called
Cluedo game board
Dimensions
Board 50×50cm typical; 9 rooms arranged around central grid with corridors + secret passages.
Illustrated Tudor Mansion floor plan with 9 rooms: Kitchen (with secret passage to Study), Ballroom, Conservatory (secret passage to Lounge), Dining Room, Billiard Room, Library, Lounge (secret passage to Conservatory), Hall, Study (secret passage to Kitchen). Corridors connect rooms via doorways.
Equipment
Cluedo game
Hasbro standard edition ($20-30) — board, 6 character tokens, 6 miniature weapons, 21 cards (6 suspects + 6 weapons + 9 rooms), solution envelope, dice, detective sheets, pencils.
Character tokens (6)
Miss Scarlett (red), Colonel Mustard (yellow), Mrs. White (white), Reverend Green (green), Mrs. Peacock (blue), Professor Plum (purple).
Weapon tokens (6)
Miniature: Candlestick, Knife, Lead Pipe, Revolver, Rope, Spanner (Wrench in US).
Cards (21)
6 suspect + 6 weapon + 9 room. Solution: 1 suspect + 1 weapon + 1 room drawn secretly + placed in envelope.
Detective sheets + pencils
Notepads with cards listed for tracking clues by elimination.
Dice (2)
Rolled for movement (2-12 squares per turn).
Officiating
Self-officiated — honor system for showing cards + private accusations. Modern app version enforces rules automatically.
Strategies
Track every card shown
Detective sheet is critical — mark cards each opponent shows you + which suggestions were not disproven.
Note who couldn't disprove
Multiple opponents unable to disprove a suggestion = solution likely contains one of those cards.
Suggestion pumping
Suggest same suspect + weapon in different rooms to determine which room card opponent holds.
Use secret passages
Corner rooms have secret passages for free movement — cover 4 rooms without dice.
Suggest your own cards to mislead
Suggesting cards you hold gives opponents false info about what you're deducing.
Don't accuse too early
Wrong accusation eliminates you; better to be certain (75%+ probability) before accusing.
Watch card-passing patterns
Track order of who disproves — reveals which cards opponents likely hold.
Terminology
- Suggestion
- Guess about murder made when in a room; opponents must disprove if they hold a named card.
- Accusation
- Final guess made anytime on your turn; check solution envelope — correct wins, wrong eliminates.
- Disprove
- Show a card matching a suggestion (privately to suggester).
- Detective sheet
- Notepad for tracking clues by elimination.
- Solution envelope
- Envelope containing the 3 solution cards, drawn secretly at start.
- Secret passage
- Hidden route between two corner rooms (Kitchen-Study, Conservatory-Lounge).
- Suspects
- 6 characters — Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. White, Reverend Green, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum.
- Weapons
- 6 murder weapons — Candlestick, Knife, Lead Pipe, Revolver, Rope, Spanner (Wrench).
- Rooms
- 9 mansion rooms — Kitchen, Ballroom, Conservatory, Dining Room, Billiard Room, Library, Lounge, Hall, Study.
- Mr. Boddy / Dr. Black
- The murder victim (US name Mr. Boddy, UK name Dr. Black).
- Pump
- Repeatedly suggesting same 2 cards to figure out which room card an opponent holds.
- Table talk
- Analyzing suggestions + responses at the table (not strictly banned but sometimes house-ruled).
Major competitions
No formal world championship — casual + club play only
n/a · worldwide
US Cluedo Tournament (informal, various board game conventions)
annual · USA · since 2000
Online play (Cluedo apps, Boardgamearena.com)
ongoing · global online · since 2010
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Hasbro (owns Cluedo/Clue trademark since 1990s)
Founded 1923 · Pawtucket, RI, USA
Official site ↗Waddingtons (original UK publisher 1949-1994)
Founded 1922 · Leeds, UK (defunct)
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- No professional Cluedo players — casual game only
- Anthony E. Pratt (UK) — inventor 1943; a music-hall entertainer + former solicitor's clerk
- Michael Feinberg — modern Clue master, published deduction analysis + optimal strategy guide
Records
Copies sold globally (since 1949)
Hasbro — 150+ million (2020)
Fastest theoretical game
n/a — 3-4 turns if players holding almost all cards + one lucky accusation (2020)
Longest official Cluedo game recorded
Various family + club records — 3+ hours (multiple wrong accusations, defensive play) (2015)
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Play with family
Kid-friendly rules easily explained in 5 min. Focus on making + tracking suggestions first, worry about strategy later.
- 2
Use detective sheet actively
Mark every card shown to you + which players couldn't disprove suggestions.
- 3
Don't accuse too early
Wait until you're 90%+ sure — wrong accusation eliminates you from winning.
intermediate
- 1
Learn suggestion pumping
Repeatedly suggest same suspect + weapon in different rooms to determine which room card opponent holds.
- 2
Track opponent responses
Note WHO shows you WHICH cards + WHO couldn't disprove — reveals other players' hands.
- 3
Use secret passages
Kitchen-Study + Conservatory-Lounge secret passages save turns + let you cover corners quickly.
advanced
- 1
Compete in board game convention tournaments
Origins Game Fair, PAX have occasional Clue tournaments.
- 2
Online play (Boardgamearena, mobile apps)
Faster games; automatic rule enforcement; play against stronger opponents.
- 3
Study optimal deduction strategy
Michael Feinberg + others published deduction analysis; probability-based play.
Frequently asked
How do you play Cluedo?+
3-6 players. Setup: draw 1 suspect + 1 weapon + 1 room secretly into solution envelope; distribute remaining 18 cards to players. Play: roll dice, move to a room, make a 'suggestion' (I suggest [suspect] with [weapon] in this room). Adjacent player must show one matching card (secretly). Track shown cards on detective sheet. When confident, make final 'accusation' — check envelope: correct = win, wrong = eliminated. First correct accusation wins.
How is Cluedo different from Clue?+
Same game — different names in different regions. Cluedo (original UK name, 1949, Waddingtons/Hasbro) is used in UK, Australia, most Commonwealth countries. Clue is the North American name (Parker Brothers/Hasbro 1949). Also: UK victim is 'Dr. Black,' US victim is 'Mr. Boddy'; UK 'Spanner,' US 'Wrench'; UK 'Reverend Green,' US 'Mr. Green' in some editions. Otherwise identical rules + components.
Who invented Cluedo?+
Anthony E. Pratt (1903-1994), a musician + former solicitor's clerk in Birmingham, England. Invented 1943 during WWII air-raid blackouts to pass time in shelters. Patent granted 1947 in Britain; first published 1949 by Waddingtons of Leeds (UK) as 'Cluedo,' and licensed same year to Parker Brothers (USA) as 'Clue.' Pratt sold his royalties in 1953 for a lump sum + spent rest of life in relative poverty — one of gaming's most famous cautionary tales about intellectual property.
What's the best strategy?+
(1) Track EVERY card shown on detective sheet + who showed you. (2) Note which players couldn't disprove which suggestions — solution likely there. (3) Suggestion pumping: repeatedly suggest same suspect + weapon in different rooms to identify which room card opponent holds. (4) Use secret passages (corner rooms) for fast movement. (5) Don't accuse until 90%+ sure — wrong accusation eliminates you. (6) Sometimes suggest your OWN cards to mislead opponents about what you're deducing.
How long does a game take?+
Casual games: 30-60 minutes. Longer with more players (6 players ~60-90 min due to more disprove opportunities). App versions faster (~20-30 min) with automated rule enforcement + no physical movement of tokens. Very short games possible (10-15 min) if starting cards are lucky or someone makes early lucky accusation. Long games (2+ hours) occur when multiple players make wrong accusations early + defensive play dominates.
Are there other versions of Clue?+
Yes — many editions: (1) Clue Master Detective (10 rooms, 10 suspects, 8 weapons — larger game). (2) Clue Legacy (2020, narrative campaign with permanent changes). (3) Themed editions — Simpsons Clue, Batman Clue, Harry Potter Clue, Game of Thrones Clue. (4) Clue Junior (simplified for kids). (5) Clue Suspect (card-based shorter version). (6) Clue Dungeons & Dragons (2016). (7) Mobile app by Marmalade Game Studio (2015+). (8) Various movies + TV shows (Clue 1985 cult classic film).
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Cluedo— Wikipedia
- Hasbro Clue official— Hasbro