About Sheriff of Nottingham
The ultimate bluffing party game. Declare what's in your bag (always legal goods, naturally). The Sheriff decides to inspect or let you through. Bribe, negotiate, and lie your way to the most gold.
Is Sheriff of Nottingham Right for You?
Best for
Sheriff of Nottingham is the bluffing and negotiation game for groups of three to five who love lying to each other's faces. You declare what is in your merchant bag while one player as Sheriff decides whether to inspect or wave you through, and the bribery and table talk make it a riot at game nights with a brazen crowd.
Maybe skip it if…
It is a poor fit for shy or honesty-bound players and for those who hate confrontation, since the whole game is built on bald-faced lying and haggling.
How to Play Sheriff of Nottingham
Setup
Each player gets a merchant bag and starting cards. One player is Sheriff per round.
On Your Turn
- Load your bag with 1–5 cards. Declare what's inside (legally).
- Sheriff inspects or lets through — negotiation and bribery encouraged.
- Rotate Sheriff every 2 rounds.
How to Win
After 2 Sheriff rounds each, score goods + bonuses for most of each type.
💡 Strategy Tips
Mix truth and lies. A Sheriff who always inspects runs out of time. A Sheriff who never inspects loses.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- As Sheriff, inspecting timidly; the penalty for a truthful bag is paid by you, so weak inspections bleed you dry.
- Declaring only legal goods every round and never smuggling, which leaves big contraband points on the table.
- Forgetting to chase the King and Queen bonuses for having the most of a given legal good.
- Failing to negotiate; bribes are paid openly and a good deal can save a fat contraband bag.
Advanced Strategy
- Mix one or two contraband cards under legal goods so a bluff is believable but the loss is survivable if caught.
- As Sheriff, read body language and bribe size; a frantic bribe often guards real contraband.
- Track the King and Queen majorities and load up on whichever bonus good is contested.
- Sometimes wave a suspicious bag through to bank trust, then pounce the round it matters.
Variants & House Rules
2nd Edition
The updated printing with refined components and rules support for up to six players out of the box.
Merry Men expansion
Adds modules including new Merry Men deputies, special goods, and rules to push the count to six players.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
We love Sheriff of Nottingham as a loud, social filler that rewards a good poker face and a quick tongue. It overstays slightly at 60 to 90 minutes and lives entirely on table personality, but with the right group the negotiations are unforgettable. Get the 2nd edition if you want six players.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players is Sheriff of Nottingham for?
Three to five in the base game; the 2nd edition and the Merry Men expansion push it to six.
Is lying actually part of the rules?
Yes. You must declare your bag's contents aloud, but you are explicitly allowed to lie about what is really inside.
How long does a game take?
About 60 to 90 minutes, since each player serves as Sheriff and the round count scales with player count.