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Logic Games

Tabletop guide

How to play Codenames

Connect your agents while avoiding dangerous associations.

Play Codenames online with teams of spymasters and operatives. The spymaster sees the hidden identities and gives a one-word clue with a number. Good clues connect your own words while remaining clearly separated from the assassin and the other team’s agents.

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01 / The essentials

Codenames rules

  • Split into two teams, each with a spymaster and at least one operative. Only spymasters see the hidden word identities.
  • The active spymaster gives one word and a number indicating how many agents the clue connects.
  • Correct agents allow the team to continue. A bystander or opposing agent ends the turn, and the assassin loses the game immediately. Reveal all of your team’s agents to win.

02 / Build the habit

Codenames strategy

Scan the dangerous words first

Before giving a clue, read the assassin and opposing agents. A strong connection to three friendly words is unsafe if it points even more directly at the assassin.

Prefer clear shared meanings

Look for categories or associations your teammates will recognize. Test the clue against every visible word, not just the intended group. A smaller clear clue can outperform an ambitious ambiguous one.

Discuss alternatives as an operative

Name the likely connection and compare competing words before guessing. Use the number to understand the intended group, but do not treat it as proof that every speculative guess is safe.

03 / Worked example

Check the whole board

If APPLE and PEAR are friendly words, “fruit, 2” connects them naturally. But if ORANGE is the assassin, the same clue becomes dangerous. The clue’s quality depends on every visible word, not only the two you meant.

04 / Put it into practice

Learn with your table

  1. Start a casual table and rotate the spymaster role between games.
  2. After a turn ends, discuss which unintended word the clue could have suggested.
  3. Practice finding safe two-word connections before attempting clues that link larger groups.
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A common mistake

Do not add facial, verbal, or chat hints after submitting the clue. Operatives should solve from the agreed clue, without extra confirmation from the spymaster.

Is Codenames a solo word puzzle?

This version is a team table game with different information for spymasters and operatives. If you want to practice individual word deduction, try Wordle instead.

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Related games & guides

Guide updated . Rules describe the version on Logic Games.