Put and Take

Put and Take Game – A classic British pub game

Put and Take is a traditional British game, popular in pubs and at family gatherings for generations. The game uses a six-sided spinning top called a teetotum, with each face bearing an instruction that determines whether you put tokens into or take tokens from a central kitty.

The Six Faces

• P1
  Put 1 Place one token into the kitty
• P2
  Put 2 Place two tokens into the kitty
• T1
  Take 1 Take one token from the kitty
• T2
  Take 2 Take two tokens from the kitty
• TA
  Take All Take all tokens from the kitty
• AP
  All Put Every player puts one token in

How to Play Put and Take

To begin, set the total pot size and add your players. When you start the game, the tokens are divided equally among all players, with any remainder going to the kitty. Each player then contributes one token to the kitty to get things started. Players take turns spinning the teetotum and following the instruction shown.

If the kitty ever runs empty, all active players must ante up one token each to replenish it — just like the start of the game. Any player who cannot contribute is eliminated. The last player standing wins and collects everything!

The beauty of Put and Take lies in its simplicity — no complex rules to remember, just spin and follow the instruction. It is a game of pure chance, making it accessible to players of all ages and perfect for any social gathering.

Using This Digital Version

Casual Spinning

Simply click the Spin button to spin the teetotum. Without any players added, you are in casual mode — perfect for quick decisions or just enjoying the spinning animation. Each spin result is recorded in the history panel.

Playing with Friends

For a proper game with multiple players gathered around the same screen:

1. Add players — Click the "+ Add Player" button for each person playing (minimum 2 required).
2. Personalise names — Click on any player's name to edit it. Press Enter or click away to confirm.
3. Set the pot — Enter the total number of tokens for the game in the Game Setup section.
4. Start the game — Click "Start Game" to distribute the tokens. Each player contributes one token to the kitty to begin.
5. Take turns — The current player is highlighted in blue. Click Spin, then the instruction is carried out automatically.
6. Watch the stashes — Each player's token count is shown next to their name. When a player runs out, they are eliminated.
7. Kitty runs dry? — If the kitty hits zero, every active player antes one token. Anyone who cannot pay is out.
8. Win! — The last player with tokens wins the game.

Spin History

Every spin is recorded in the history panel on the right. In game mode, the history shows which player made each spin and what tokens moved. Click Clear to reset the history.

Tips for the Best Experience

• A pot of 20 tokens works well for 2–4 players; try 40–60 for larger groups
• On tablets, prop the device up so all players can see and reach the Spin button
• Use the Reset button to start a fresh game with different settings
• Edit player names to nicknames for more fun — the names appear in the spin history

Frequently Asked Questions