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Cheater
1995
Rules assistance for Cheater
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 45 min
- 7+
- Complexity 1.1/5
Rules assistant for Cheater
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cheater is a board game released in 1995 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by Darrell Simmons and its main mechanics are Set Collection.
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About the game
Cheater is a Rummy type game with one person having special powers. There are 4 suits of cards with the letters C, H, E, A, T, R on them. With 7 cards in hand the goal is to acquire the cards to spell CHEATER in one suit (color). There are also special cards that allow you to search and take a card from someone else's hand, expose a players hand to all, make a player discard a variable amount of cards from their hand and protect you from other special cards. On your turn you roll 2 dice then draw a card then discard a card. Special cards are used when you discard them. If you roll doubles you become the Cheater, of which there is only one at a time, which allows you to do one of the following in lieu of your normal turn. 1. Draw 2 cards and discard 2 cards. 2. Take the top card from the discard pile and discard a card. 3. Force a player to reveal their hand to everyone, draw a card from that player, and then discard a card.
Editions
- CheaterenEndless Games (I)2005
- CheaterenEndless Games (I)2000
- CheaterenEndless Games (I)2000
- CheaterenEndless Games (I)1995
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Endless Games (I)
- Awesome Games
Questions and answers
Cheater supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cheater is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Cheater for ages 7 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Cheater has a complexity rating of 1.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Cheater belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Cheater are: Darrell Simmons. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Cheater as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.