Party GamesCoin in the Tumbler
A steel tumbler stands at the bottom of a bucket of water. Players drop coins from the surface and try to make them land inside the tumbler. The coin slides sideways through the water in a most annoying way, and the game that looks easy turns out to be mostly luck with a little science. It suits kitty parties and mixed-age gatherings, since everyone plays seated and nobody needs to move fast.
- Ages
- 8 and up
- Players
- 3 to 12
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Place
- a table
- Energy
- quiet
- Group size
- Small group (4 to 8), Medium group (9 to 20)
- Good for
- Teenagers, Adults, Elders, All ages together, Ladies' parties, Office
What you need
A bucket or deep bowl filled with water, a small steel glass or katori, five coins of the same kind for each player, a towel.
How to play
- Place the tumbler upright at the bottom of the bucket, in the centre. Fill the bucket almost to the top.
- Each player in turn stands or sits beside the bucket with five coins.
- The player holds a coin at the surface of the water, anywhere they like, and lets it go. Hands may not go below the surface.
- Count how many of the five coins come to rest inside the tumbler.
- Fish the coins out and pass them to the next player.
Who wins
The player with the most coins in the tumbler wins. Ties play off with three coins each.
Variations and tips
- Use a wider bowl as the target for children, and a smaller one for experts.
- Team version: teams add up their coins.
- Dry version: toss coins from a line into a row of three bowls worth 1, 2 and 3 points.
Safety and kindness
Put the bucket on a towel or outdoors; floors get wet. Dry the coins and return them. Small children must not be left alone with a bucket of water.
Common problems and how to fix them
- Nobody gets any in. Use a wider target, or lower the water level.
- A player lowers the coin under water. The coin is placed back; the turn is lost on a second offence.
Party plans that use this game
Host tools
Time the round with the party timer, make chits or random teams with the chit maker, and keep the points on the scoreboard.
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