How to keep score in Taboo | Tallynight Games

In Taboo, your team scores a point for every word it guesses before the timer runs out. Every card you pass, or get buzzed for saying a taboo word, gives the other team a point. When everyone has given clues the same number of times, the team with the most points wins.

At a glance

Players: 4 or more, in 2 teams
Who wins: Most points when everyone has given clues
Each turn: One minute on the sand timer
Buzzed or passed: A point to the other team

How a turn scores

After each turn, sort the cards into two piles: guessed, and buzzed or passed.

Card	Points
Guessed by your team	1 to your team
Buzzed: you said a taboo word or broke a clue rule	1 to the other team
Passed	1 to the other team
Still in play when time runs out	0

As a house rule, some tables take a point off your own team for a buzzed or passed card instead. Either way, the gap between the teams moves by one.

Taking turns

One player on your team gives the clues. Someone from the other team watches the cards over their shoulder, ready to buzz.

When the minute is up, the other team plays with its own clue giver. Swap clue givers every turn, so everyone gets a go.

When the game ends, and ties

The game ends when every player has given clues the same number of times. If one team has a player fewer, one of its players gives clues twice.

If the teams are tied, each team takes one more turn. Older rules have each team pick its best clue giver for it.

What gets you buzzed

Saying the guess word or a taboo word on the card, or any part of one: no space or ship for spaceship
Gestures, noises or sound effects (singing is allowed)
Sounds like, rhymes with, or starts with
Abbreviations, like TV for television, and sneaky plurals, like feet for foot

Variants

Minus a point: a buzzed or passed card takes a point off your team instead of giving one to the other team.
Double time: when the timer runs out, turn it over and keep going. The other team gets the same on their turn.
One guesser: only one teammate may guess on your turn.

A scoring example

Two teams, two turns each, a minute a turn. Each row is one team's turn, with the points for both teams.

Turn	Team A	Team B
Team A: 7 guessed, 2 buzzed or passed	7	2
Team B: 5 guessed, 1 passed	1	5
Team A: 6 guessed, 3 buzzed or passed	6	3
Team B: 8 guessed, none passed	0	8
Total	14	18

Both teams guessed 13 words. Team A's five buzzed and passed cards gave Team B the win, 18 to 14.

Keep score in Tallynight

Taboo is set up for you: a running score, highest wins, a point a tap. Add each team as a player and start the 60-second timer for each turn.

Tap your team's tile for every word guessed, and the other team's tile for every card buzzed or passed.

A 60-second turn timer for each clue giver
A big tile for each team, in its colour
Undo, and a scoring log to fix any point
Tap End game when everyone has given clues

Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.
Print a Taboo score sheet if you'd rather keep score on paper.

Questions

How do you score Taboo?

Your team scores 1 point for each word it guesses in the minute. Every card you pass or get buzzed on gives the other team 1 point.

What score do you need to win Taboo?

There's no target score. The game ends when everyone has given clues the same number of times, and the team with the most points wins.

What happens if you say a taboo word?

The other team buzzes, the card is out, and they score a point for it. You carry on with the next card while the timer runs.

Can you pass in Taboo?

Yes, as often as you like, but every card you pass gives the other team a point.

How long is a turn in Taboo?

One minute, timed with the sand timer in the box.

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