The Gang
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The FroGames Card
You bet everything on your hand. The first ace arrives. You look at the others. No one moves a muscle. Someone bet too high. Or maybe you're the one who got it all wrong.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
A cooperative heist where the one who bets right in silence wins
John Cooper and Kory Heath did something simple and devastating: they took Texas Hold'em and turned it upside down. You don't play against others. You play with them. And the only rule is that you can't talk. Published by KOSMOS and brought to Italy by Ghenos Games in 2024, The Gang is a cooperative party game that lasts 20 minutes and makes you sweat like a real poker game.
Each player receives two face-down cards. They bet on the strength of their hand by placing a numbered chip. Then, one by one, five community cards are revealed in the center of the table. After each card, you can change your bet. At the end, the hands are compared: if everyone has guessed their ranking relative to the others, you open a safe. If even one person makes a mistake, the alarm goes off. Three open safes = victory. Three alarms = game over.
What they say abroad
"The most tense 20 minutes you'll have with a deck of cards."
The most tense 20 minutes you'll spend with a deck of cards.
— Meeple Mountain
It transforms poker into a test of nerves and reading the table without saying a word. Brilliant in its simplicity.
— FroGames
The Gang
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsYour arsenal
Cards, chips and safes: the pieces of the heist
Your two cards
You receive two face-down cards. Only you see them. Only you know if you have an ace or two unmatched cards. Others have to guess how strong you are by watching how you bet.
The numbered chips
Each player places a chip from 1 to 6 (depending on the number of players). The chip indicates the expected ranking of your hand: 1 = best, 6 = worst. You can change it after each revealed card.
The safes
Three safes to open. Each time everyone guesses their ranking correctly, you open one. Three safes = victory. But one mistake is enough to trigger the alarm.
The alarms
Three alarms available. If even one player incorrectly guesses their ranking, the alarm goes off. Three alarms = game over. The pressure rises with each mistake.
Recommended sleeves 90 cards in 1 size ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting your cards with clear sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 63.5 × 88 mm | 90 |
| Total cards | 90 |
🎲How to PlayThe rules in four steps▼
How to Play
The flow of each round
Each round is a hand of cooperative poker. Predict, observe, adjust, reveal.
Each player receives two face-down cards. Only you look at them. No one speaks. You place a numbered chip in front of you indicating the predicted ranking of your hand compared to the others.
Three community cards are revealed in the center of the table. After seeing them, each player can decide whether to change their chip or leave it as is. Still without speaking.
The fourth card (turn) is revealed. Pause: you can change your chip. Then the fifth and final card (river) is revealed. Last chance to adjust your prediction. No one helps anyone. Only glances and moving chips.
Everyone turns over their two cards. Hands are compared according to poker rules. If the chips match the actual ranking, you open a safe. If even one person makes a mistake, the alarm sounds. Three safes = victory. Three alarms = defeat.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
The silence before the storm
Everyone receives two face-down cards. Absolute silence. Everyone looks at their hand and places a chip: 1 if they think they have the best hand, 6 if they are sure they have trash. No one speaks. No one looks each other in the eye. But everyone is already reading.
The first three cards
The flop arrives: three community cards on the table. Someone changes chips immediately. Someone stays put. You had a low pair, now you have three of a kind. You change your chip from 4 to 2. The player next to you looks at you and lowers theirs from 1 to 3. What did they see?
The turn: everything can change
The fourth card arrives. An ace. The table freezes. Those who had bet high stiffen up. Those who were relaxed start to sweat. Someone changes chips for the third time. You stay put. Maybe it's a mistake. Or maybe not.
The river and the last call
The fifth and final card is revealed. This is it. Last chance to change chips. Someone changes it twice. Another player closes their eyes and breathes. You have a straight. But who has better? Did the one who bet 1 really have a flush or are they just hoping?
The revelation
Everyone turns over their cards. Hands are compared. It's checked whether the chips are correct. Victory or alarm: it depends on a single card. If everyone guessed the ranking correctly, the table explodes. If someone made a mistake, silence and glances. Then shuffle again.
🐸What to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to know beforehand
Three things to know before playing
Silence is mandatory
You cannot speak during the entire round. You cannot gesture, point, or indicate. You can only change chips. If one person in the group can't maintain silence or tends to communicate with their body, the game breaks down.
You must know poker hands
The game assumes that everyone knows the ranking of poker hands (pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, royal flush). If someone at the table doesn't know them, you need to teach them beforehand. It's not difficult, but it's necessary.
With 3 players, it loses its edge
The game works best with 4-6 players. With 3, reading is too easy and the tension drops. With 6, it becomes pure and beautiful chaos. Keep this in mind when you bring it to the table.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
Three safes to open. Three alarms available. A game lasts 20 minutes or until collective nervous breakdown.
Victory
- Open three safes before setting off three alarms
- To open a safe, all players must guess their own ranking at the end of a round
- The ranking is checked by comparing hands: whoever has the best hand should have had chip 1, the worst hand chip 6 (or the highest number in play)
Defeat
- Set off three alarms before opening three safes
- An alarm sounds every time at least one player makes a mistake in their ranking
- It's enough for just one person to make a mistake: if you predicted 3 but were second, the alarm still sounds
The Gang is the perfect game for those who love poker but hate the idea of fleecing their friends. Here you either win together or lose together. And no one can say it wasn't their fault.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about The Gang
What mechanics does The Gang use?
The Gang uses Predictive Bid, Communication Limits, and cooperative mechanics. It is essentially cooperative Texas Hold'em with strict silence rules.
Can I change chips as many times as I want?
Yes, but only at the designated times: after the flop, after the turn, and after the river. You cannot touch the chip during card revelation. And you cannot communicate in any way why you want to change it: you just change it.
What happens if two players have the same hand?
If two players have hands of identical value (e.g., both have a straight), poker rules apply: the highest card is checked. If they are truly identical, they count as the same ranking and the chips must be consecutive or equal according to advanced rules (explained in the manual).
Does it work well with people who don't know poker?
Only if you teach them the hand rankings beforehand. The game is simple, but it assumes everyone knows what three of a kind, a straight, and a flush are. If someone doesn't know, do a practice hand or use a reference card. Once understood, it also works with non-players.
Is it available in Italian?
Yes, this is the Italian edition published by Ghenos Games. Rules, components, and cards with text (if present) are in Italian.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
The Gang is a cooperative card game for 3-6 players, ages 10 and up, with games lasting 20 minutes. Designed by John Cooper and Kory Heath and published by Ghenos Games, it transforms Texas Hold'em into a cooperative experience based on silent prediction and table reading. Each player bets on the strength of their hand without communicating, then observes the community cards and adjusts their prediction. If everyone guesses their ranking correctly, you open a safe. If someone makes a mistake, the alarm sounds. Three safes = victory. Three alarms = defeat. A tense, fast-paced party game perfect for those who love poker but want to play together instead of against each other. Available on FroGames.it.
The Gang
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
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