Carrot in the Box
| Type: | communication game, brain game |
| Number of players: | 2 |
| Location: | everywhere |
| Equipment: | two boxes, carrot |
| Duration: | a few minutes |
| Preparation: | none |
Carrot in the Box is a brain game and communication game for two players. The objective is to bluff convincingly or to detect the opponent's bluff and determine their true intentions.
Equipment
The game requires:
- two boxes (small cardboard boxes or similar)
- one fresh carrot
- optionally, a prize for the winner
Procedure
The game leader explains the rules so that both participants and the audience understand them.
The two players stand facing each other with two boxes between them: one for player A, the other for player B.
Player A begins by looking into their own box. Player B is not allowed to look into any box and does not know what is inside their own or the other box.
Player A can then either keep their box or swap it with player Bs box. Additionally, they may explain their reasoning for keeping or swapping the box.
Once player A has finished, player B takes their turn. They must make the final decision: keep their current box or swap it with player As box? This decision is binding—whatever box they choose is theirs.
The goal for both players is to end up with the carrot. Player A must bluff effectively to convince B to select the wrong (empty) box. Player B, however, must see through As bluff. While B has the final decision, they also have less information, as only A knows which box contains the carrot.