JOYRiders PLAY

HAND × GRAPPLE

Thumb Wrestling

The smallest possible wrestling ring still has escapes, pins, and comebacks.Classics & remixes · JoyRiders rules edition
classic gamehand gameduelgrappling
PLAYERStwo people
TIME2–10 min
ENERGYlow / medium
PLACEindoors / outdoors / anywhere
SETUPnone
COMMUNITYNot yet rated

HOW TO PLAY

Start here.

YOU’LL NEEDNothing
  1. 1Face each other and clasp the fingers of one hand so both thumbs remain free and upright. Keep elbows supported or close to the body.
  2. 2Say ‘One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war,’ moving the thumbs past each other once with each beat. When the chant ends, both players may attack and escape at the same time.
  3. 3To win the round, hold the top of the other player’s thumb down with your thumb for a slow count of three. If the trapped thumb escapes before three, play continues without resetting.
  4. 4A completed pin scores one round. Release, reset both thumbs upright, and begin again. The first player to win three rounds wins the best-of-five match.

REMIX THE RULES

Complete twists.

Escape counterA pin still requires a slow count of three, but escaping after the count reaches two earns the defender one point. A completed pin earns the attacker two points, and every point resets both thumbs upright. Alternate the hand used after each reset; first player to seven points wins.
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