How To Win at Clue (Board Game): 15 Tips, Tricks & Strategies

Last Updated on January 25, 2024 by Gamesver Team and JC Franco

Clue, also known as Cluedo, is a famous murder mystery game created by Anthony Pratt. Clue was conceptualized in 1943 but only manufactured in 1949. Since its inception, Clue has grown to become a game night classic and one of the world’s most popular and iconic board games.

To win at Clue, you need a strategy. There are a few strategies, but the most popular is taking notes as the game progresses and suggesting a few of your own cards to throw your opponents off. Investing time into playing Clue will also better your chances of winning.

Clue is a deduction game, and the most crucial aspect of Clue is the information passed throughout the game. If you keep track of the information, you’re on your way to winning at Clue. There are a few strategies, tips, and tricks to help you win at Clue. These tips will help give you an advantage over the rest of the players without cheating.

1. Take Notes

Keeping track of information by taking notes is crucial. Notes should include who the players are, their suggestions, all the cards they have shown, and the cards you have shown the other players. If you’ve shown a player a card, make a note of it. 

When the turn comes around again for you to show your cards, show them the same ones. This way, you will have an advantage over the other players by not giving them new information that they can use to win.

2. Cross Off Your Cards As The Game Progresses

Crossing off your cards is one of the most overlooked tips for winning Clue. In some instances, you may forget to cross off a card or cross off an incorrect card; this will lead you astray and further away from winning. Instead, try to eliminate cards as you go round per round to avoid missing cards and crossing them off.

3. Spend Time In The Rooms You Have

There are a total of 9 rooms in most versions of Clue. While the names may vary slightly depending on the edition, they will be similar to the following:

• Dining room
• Bedroom
• Kitchen
• Study
• Bathroom
• Living room
• Courtyard
• Game room
• Garage

Spending time in the rooms you have are likely to throw some of the other players off. For example, if you have an inclination to which room is the murder room, you can spend time in your room but distract other players from that room. Then, once you see another player wanting to go into the possible murder room, you can accuse them of being the murderer. This results in them having to move to your room.

This is a great tactic to delay some players from reaching the suspected murder room and winning the game.

4. Pay Attention To Repeated Card Names

If a card is repeated and other players don’t seem to have it, then that card may be the murder weapon or the murderer. Taking notes of who called out which card comes in handy here because if most players call out the same cards, you’ll deduce who the murderer is and what the murder weapon was.

5. Try To Strategically Throw Your Components Off

In Clue, it’s okay to be sneaky and partly deceptive. This can also be a strategy. You can implement this by pretending to know who you think the suspect is and making suggestions to throw off the other players. You can also make suggestions on the cards you have in your hand. This will likely make the other players consider your tips and delay them in finding the murderer.

6. Eliminate One Possibility Every Turn If You Can

If you can rule out suspects, you have a greater chance of finding out who the murderer is. Each suggestion should be well thought out to get you closer to winning the game. Keeping note of who has been ruled out gives you a better opportunity to win the game. While eliminating suspects may not be possible at every turn, it’s best to try to eliminate them as fast as possible.

7. Keep Your Clues A Secret

As with any game, giving away too much information could be more harmful than helpful to your strategy. So instead, keep the clues you have a secret. As much as you’d like to share a clue with your favorite family member, you’ll be no closer to winning and could even open the door to your opponent winning.

8. Utilize The Secret Passages

Secret passages are the best opportunity to get ahead. Secret passages allow you to move from one room to another without rolling the dice. This delay tactic will enable you to collect information from the other players during their turn and makes room for you to only play each consecutive turn.

9. Keep An Eye On Your Body Language

Do you have a poker face? If not, you may need to watch your body language. You may be secretly smiling while holding your cards if you’re close to figuring out who the murderer is. This may give the other players an indication that you’re close to winning. Instead, keep a calm demeanor and slump your shoulders to avoid giving too much away.

10. Make Sense Of What Your Opponents Know

If your opponents continuously suggest the same cards, it may help you cross a few suspects off your list. They could also be presenting the same murder weapon and room repeatedly, allowing you to narrow your list of suggestions for your next turn.

11. Make New Suggestions Based On What You Know

If a player makes particular suggestions on their turn, see which options you can rule out based on your notes and the options crossed out on your list. For example, if someone suggests a card you have, like the murder weapon and the suspect you have, you know the only card to consider is the murder room. Since you have the other two cards.

12. Use A Custom Spreadsheet

Create a custom sheet if the Clue sheet isn’t the best for you to take notes and record which suspects can be ruled out. The custom excel sheet can help make it easier to determine who the murderer is and help you win. The best part about creating a sheet is that no one else will have the same sheet.

13. Plan Your Guesses

Strategically planning your guesses for each turn will help you stay on track. This will also help avoid repeating the same suggestions unnecessarily. Notes can help plan your guesses and decide which guesses should be used on your next turn.

14. Avoid Calling Out Cards That You know Your Opponents Have

If your opponents have already shown you cards they have, avoid calling these out on your turn. This will only be wasting your turn, repeating variables that will not get you closer to winning the game. The best is to eliminate as many variables as you can to win the game.

15. Change Up Suggestions Every Turn

By suggesting new cards every turn, you can eliminate cards faster. You can also use this method to make notes and observe the other players.

All in All

Whether you’re up against the best Clue players or attending a game night with this list of tips and tricks, you’ll have the best advantage going into your next game of Clue. With Clue, anyone can win, as long as you have a winning strategy!