How to Play You Lying Sack: Bluffing Game Rules
By Exploding Kittens | Party card games, puzzles, greeting cards | Published: 2026-10-26
Category: How-to Guides
Learn the complete rules for You Lying Sack, the bluffing card game from Penn Jillette. Master the art of deception with step-by-step instructions.
Quick answer
You Lying Sack is a bluffing game where you grab Good or Bad Things from a sack, then bluff opponents about what you have. The last player holding a Bad Thing loses.
What makes You Lying Sack different
Unlike most bluffing games, You Lying Sack changes the odds every turn because the contents of the sack shift as players grab items. This means you can't rely on a fixed probability—you have to read the table and adapt your strategy on the fly.
The game was created in collaboration with Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller, so deception is baked into the design. Expect double-bluffs, triple-bluffs, and moments where everyone is lying at once.
Trade-offs and strategy tips
Because the sack hides what you grab, you never know for sure what an opponent holds. A confident player might be bluffing with a Bad Thing, or they might actually have a Good Thing and want you to challenge them. The key is to watch for patterns: players who grab quickly often have a Bad Thing and want to pass it fast, while slow grabbers might be trying to find a Good Thing.
There is no single winning strategy—what works in one round may fail in the next. The best approach is to vary your bluffing style and pay attention to how others react to your challenges.
How to play You Lying Sack: step by step
- Set up the game: Place the Lying Sack in the center of the table. Each player should have enough room to reach in without seeing inside. The game works best with 3-6 players. Common mistake: players peek into the sack. Keep the opening facing down so no one sees the contents.
- Grab from the sack: On your turn, reach into the sack and secretly grab either a Good Thing or a Bad Thing. Do not show it to anyone. You can choose to grab one or multiple items, but you must grab at least one. Checkpoint: if you grab multiple items, you must bluff about how many you have—opponents will try to deduce your total.
- Offer your closed fist: After grabbing, close your fist and extend it toward the table. Go around the circle—each player takes a turn offering their fist. You can choose to offer a fist that actually contains something, or an empty fist as a bluff. Common mistake: always offering a fist with something inside. Mix in empty fists to keep opponents guessing.
- Challenge or pass: When a player offers their fist, the next player in turn order can either challenge them by saying "You Lying Sack!" or pass. If you challenge and the player is bluffing (holding a Bad Thing), they take a penalty. If they were telling the truth (holding a Good Thing), you take the penalty. Checkpoint: if you never challenge, you give up control. Challenge at least once per round to stay in the game.
- Resolve the round: After all players have had a turn to offer and be challenged, reveal what each player was holding. The player who ends up with a Bad Thing (either by being caught bluffing or by being last to hold one) loses the round. Play continues until one player has lost three rounds—that player is out. Common mistake: forgetting to track round losses. Use a token or paper to keep count so no one is surprised.
Product details
- You Lying Sack: You Lying Sack is a first-of-its kind collaboration with Penn Jillette of the legendary magic-duo Penn & Teller. The game is designed by a master of deception, so the bluffing mechanics are more layered than typical party games.
You Lying Sack
