Rules · Scoring · Variations · Tips
How to Play Two Truths and a Lie
Everything you need in one place: the classic rules, fair ways to keep score, the best variations and how to spot (and tell) a great lie.
Quick version: say three statements about yourself (two true, one false), and everyone guesses the lie. Reveal it, tell the story behind your truths, and pass to the next player. Want to start right away? Open Party Mode.
What you need
- Players: 2 or more. The sweet spot is 3–10. Big groups can split into teams.
- Time: about 1–2 minutes per player per turn.
- Materials: none. Optionally, a phone or TV with Party Mode to handle turns, votes and scores.
The rules, step by step
Everyone thinks of three statements
Two must be true, one must be a lie. They should all be about the speaker. Give everyone a minute or two, or use the question prompts for inspiration.
The first player says all three
Any order. The lie should not always be last! Say them at the same pace and in the same tone.
Questions (optional)
Allow each player one question, or a short timer, before voting. Answers to questions can be lies too, if it is about the lie.
Everyone votes
Point at the lie, hold up one, two or three fingers, or vote in a video-call chat. Everyone commits at the same time so nobody copies.
Reveal the lie
The player says which statement was the lie, then shares a quick story behind one of the truths. This is often the best part.
Next player
Keep going around until everyone has had a turn.
Three ways to keep score
Classic
Each player who spots the lie gets 1 point. The storyteller gets 1 point for every player they fooled. Rewards both detectives and liars.
Fool the majority
Correct guessers get 1 point. The storyteller gets 2 points only if most of the group guessed wrong.
No scores
Just play for fun and stories. Best for work icebreakers and first days of school.
Party Mode supports all three, and at the end it awards titles like Master Liar (fooled the most people), Human Lie Detector (most correct guesses) and Poker Face (fooled everyone in one turn).
Variations
| Variation | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Two Lies and a Truth | Two lies and one truth; the group hunts for the truth. | Second rounds, groups that know each other |
| Three Truths and a Lie | Four statements, one lie. More to remember, more places to hide. | Experienced players |
| A Truth and a Lie | Two statements, one lie. Very fast. | Big groups, young kids |
| Two Truths and a Wish | Swap the lie for a wish: something you hope to do one day. | New teams, classrooms, sensitive groups |
| Theme rounds | All statements fit a theme: travel, food, school, childhood, holidays. | Repeat games, parties with a theme |
| Team version | A small team writes statements about the team, and other teams guess. | Team building, large groups |
| Consensus vote | The group discusses and agrees on one guess together. | Classrooms, reasoning practice |
Want to try the harder four-statement version? Three Truths and a Lie has its own game mode and 20 example rounds, and 2 lies and a truth examples has 50 rounds of the reverse version.
How to tell a great lie
- Make it boring. Ordinary lies are the hardest to catch. See our list of believable lies.
- Make your truths surprising, so they draw suspicion away from the lie.
- Match the details: similar length, similar numbers and places, the same way of starting each sentence.
- Pick uncheckable topics: childhood, old trips, relatives, private habits.
- Practice your delivery: same speed, same pause, same face for all three.
The Lie Lab on every ideas page checks these things for you and gives tips.
How to spot the lie
Nobody can read minds, and there is no reliable “lie tell” in real life. But in this game, some patterns come up again and again:
- The odd one out. A statement that is longer, shorter or much more dramatic than the others is suspicious.
- Too many details, or too few. A lie is often either bare (“I’ve been to France”) or overloaded with made-up detail.
- Absolute words like “never” and “always” are easy to say and hard to live up to.
- Ask a follow-up. “What was the name of the hotel?” Real memories come back quickly; invented ones need a moment.
- Know your storyteller. Friends who never cook probably did not win a baking contest.
Practice on the daily Truth or Lie puzzle, which uses facts instead of people, with sources for every answer.
Playing online and on video calls
On Zoom, Teams or Google Meet, share your screen with Party Mode in big-screen mode (press F). Players say their statements on camera, and you enter everyone’s guesses, or use the “Count hands” option and type in the totals from the call’s poll or chat. The Icebreaker Host is set up for exactly this. Friends who can’t join the call can play with a challenge link instead.
Playing with kids and students
Start with A Truth and a Lie (two statements) for children under eight, or play Two Truths and a Wish. Keep statements to hobbies, pets, food and talents, and remind children not to share private details like addresses. There is a class-safe list of ideas for students.
FAQ
What are the rules of Two Truths and a Lie?
Each player says three statements about themselves, two true and one false. The others guess which is the lie, then the player reveals it. Optionally, correct guessers score a point and the player scores for everyone fooled.
How do you win Two Truths and a Lie?
With scoring on, the player with the most points after everyone has had a turn (or two) wins. You earn points by spotting lies and by fooling people with your own.
Can the lie be partly true?
Agree before you start. Most groups say a lie must be clearly false, not a true story with one detail changed, because half-truths lead to arguments.
How many rounds should we play?
One turn each is perfect as an icebreaker. For a game night, play two or three turns each: players get sneakier every round.
What is Three Truths and a Lie?
A harder version with four statements: three true and one lie. It suits experienced groups because there is more to remember and more places to hide the lie.