Crooked Derby

BET IN SECRET. LIE IN PUBLIC. RIG THE RACE. Crooked Derby is a turn-based digital board game for 2–6 players, playable solo against bots or online. Secretly bet on one of six equally matched horses, then publicly claim which horse you support. Every card is played face-up, so you must manipulate the race without revealing where your money really is. Watch how your opponents play, question their stories, and Call the Bluff before the finish—but every accusation puts money at risk. When the race ends, all bets and lies are revealed. Win races, expose your rivals, protect your bankroll, and finish the series with more money than anyone else. PLACE YOUR SECRET BET Before each race, choose which horse carries your money and how much of your bankroll you are willing to risk. Your stake is visible to everyone. Your chosen horse remains secret until the end of the race. A larger wager can deliver a larger payout, but it also gives your opponents more reason to study every move you make. TELL THE TABLE YOUR STORY After placing your bet, publicly declare which horse you claim to support. This is your Public Story. You can tell the truth, construct a convincing lie, or choose the horse your cards give you the best chance of defending. Telling the truth lets you play more directly, but makes your intentions easier to follow. Lying can redirect suspicion and sabotage towards another horse, but maintaining the deception may force you to make less efficient moves. If your lie survives the race and your secret bet wins, you can earn an additional bluff bonus. MANIPULATE THE RACE Once the gates open, every card is played face-up. Push a horse forward, drag the leader back, rescue a long shot, or prepare a late-race reversal. Your cards will not always favour your secret horse. Sometimes the strongest move for the race is the worst move for your story. Sometimes helping the wrong horse is exactly what keeps your real bet hidden. Every action becomes evidence. Are your opponents protecting their money, supporting their Public Story, building an alibi—or trying to bait you? CALL THEIR BLUFF Watch how your rivals play and compare their actions with the stories they told. Before the finish, you can Call the Bluff on another player. Accusations are not free: both players put race money on the line. Call correctly and the liar pays you. Call incorrectly and you pay the truthful player instead. The larger the target’s stake, the more valuable—and dangerous—the accusation becomes. The cards are visible. The intentions are not. WIN THE RACE BEHIND THE RACE When a horse crosses the finish line, every secret bet and Public Story is revealed. Winning players collect their share of the pot. Bluff Calls transfer money between callers and targets. Successful, unchallenged lies can earn an additional bonus. Then the table resets. New bets. New stories. New opportunities to deceive—or be deceived. One race can make you rich. One reckless wager, failed bluff, or incorrect accusation can cost you the match. Finish the series with the largest bankroll to win. KEY FEATURES - Secret bets, public stakes — everyone sees how much you risk, but not which horse carries your money. - Public Stories — tell the truth, construct a believable lie, or claim the horse your hand can best defend. - Face-up card manipulation — every move changes the race and reveals something about the player behind it. - Risk-based Bluff Calls — challenge another player’s story by putting race money on the line. - Six equally matched horses — favourites and long shots emerge entirely from the players’ decisions. - Bankroll management — decide when to play cautiously and when to risk everything. - Solo and online play — compete against bots or face other players online. - Matches for 2–6 players — every additional player introduces more stories, motives, and opportunities for deception. - Compact multi-race matches built around tension, misdirection, and sudden reversals.