In Cluedo, when a player makes a suggestion or enquiry, the player to their left must attempt to answer. If that player possesses any of the cards mentioned in the suggestion, they must show one of them to the player who made the suggestion secretly. The rulebook specifies that they should never show more than one card. This ensures that the identity of the cards remains hidden from the other players at the table.
Step-by-Step
Step 1: A player makes a suggestion involving a suspect, a weapon, and a room.
Step 2: The player to the left of the suggester checks their hand for the requested cards.
Step 3: If the player has a matching card, they show exactly one card secretly to the suggester.
Step 4: If the player does not have the card, they say 'I cannot answer' and the enquiry passes to the next player.
Example Play Situation
Alice suggests that it was Miss Scarlett with the Rope in the Library. Bob, sitting to Alice's left, looks at his cards and sees the Rope. Bob shows the Rope card secretly to Alice only, while the other players remain unaware of which card was shown.
Common Misconceptions
Showing the card to everyone at the table
Showing multiple cards to disprove a suggestion
Thinking the whole table sees the card
Quick Reference
You Can
You Cannot
Show exactly one card to the suggester
Show more than one card to the suggester
Keep your own cards secret from others
Show your cards to the entire group
Cross off cards on your sheet when seen
Reveal your cards to players who did not make the suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official rule for showing cards in Cluedo?
Cards must be shown secretly to the player who made the suggestion.
Do I have to show my card to everyone if I can answer?
No, you only show one card privately to the person asking the question.
Can I show two cards to disprove a suggestion?
No, you must only show one card to the player making the suggestion.
What happens if I don't have any of the cards asked for?
You simply say 'I cannot answer' and the turn passes to the next player.
David Noah is a board game rules specialist and content creator who writes clear, dispute‑free guides for modern tabletop games. On this site, he focuses on answering the exact rules questions players argue about at the table, using official rulebooks, expansions, and tournament rulings as his primary sources. His goal is to turn confusing edge cases into simple, step‑by‑step explanations so you can spend less time debating and more time playing.
