Ibble Dibble

Ibble Dibble is a proper old British party game, and one of the silliest ever invented. There are no cards and no cups, just a tongue-twister of a chant, a lot of concentration and a steadily growing collection of marks on everyone’s faces. Each time you slip up, you take a sip and pick up another “dibble dabble”, which then makes the chant even harder to get right next time. By the end of the night the whole table looks like a toddler has been let loose with a felt-tip, and nobody can say their own number without giggling.

What You Need

• A drink for each player, alcoholic or not

• At least four players; six to ten is ideal

• Something to make the marks. Traditionally this was a burnt cork, but washable face paint, a soft eyeliner pencil or small round stickers are kinder on skin and much easier to clean off

• A table or circle where everyone can see each other

Setup

1. Sit everyone in a circle.

2. Go round and give each player a number, starting from one. You are now known as, for example, Ibble Dibble number three.

3. Choose someone to start. Traditionally it is the youngest adult, or whoever suggested the game.

How to Play

1. Everyone starts with no marks, which means no dibble dabbles.

2. The first player says who they are, how many dibble dabbles they have, and then calls someone else, again saying how many dibble dabbles that person has. For example: “This is Ibble Dibble number one with no dibble dabbles, calling Ibble Dibble number four with no dibble dabbles.”

3. Ibble Dibble number four must reply straight away in the same way, naming themselves and their dabbles, then calling someone else: “This is Ibble Dibble number four with no dibble dabbles, calling Ibble Dibble number two with no dibble dabbles.”

4. When someone gets it wrong, they take a sip of their drink and get a mark on their face. That mark is a dibble dabble, so from now on they have one dibble dabble.

5. The player who made the mistake restarts the game: “This is Ibble Dibble number four with one dibble dabble, calling Ibble Dibble number six with no dibble dabbles.”

6. Keep going as long as people are enjoying it. You have to count everyone’s marks as you go, and as the faces fill up, the counting gets much harder.

What Counts as a Mistake

• Getting the number of dibble dabbles wrong, either your own or the person you are calling

• Saying “dibble dabble” when it should be “dibble dabbles”, or the other way round (one dibble dabble, two dibble dabbles)

• Hesitating too long, stumbling or mixing up the words (“Dibble Ibble” counts)

• Calling a number that does not exist, or calling yourself

• Calling the person who just called you (optional house rule, but it keeps things moving)

• Laughing so much you cannot finish the sentence. Strict tables count this one too

Tips for a Better Game

• Start slowly: the first few rounds are about getting the rhythm. Once everyone has the chant, speed it up.

• Spread the marks out: put each dibble dabble somewhere clear, such as cheeks, chin and forehead, so others can count them. Keep everything well away from the eyes.

• Pick a referee: arguments about whether someone has three or four dabbles are part of the fun, but a referee stops them dragging on.

• Take a photo at the end: with everyone’s permission, the group photo of spotty faces is half the point.

Variations

• Sticker Ibble Dibble: use small coloured stickers instead of marks. They are easy to count and peel straight off afterwards, which is ideal if anyone has work or a family lunch the next day.

• Colour-coded dabbles: use two colours of face paint, and make the chant include the colour (“with one red and two blue dibble dabbles”). Fiendish.

• Elimination: anyone who reaches five dibble dabbles is out and becomes the referee. The last player standing wins.

• Soft-drink version: forget the drinks altogether and play for marks alone. It works brilliantly at family gatherings and is just as funny.

Drink Responsibly

Ibble Dibble is about the tongue-twister and the ridiculous faces, not about how much anyone drinks. Agree on small sips, keep water and soft drinks on the table, let anyone play with a non-alcoholic drink, and stop when people have had enough. Use skin-safe, washable products for the marks and check nobody minds having their face drawn on before you start. Never drink and drive, and make sure everyone has a safe way home.