How to Play Tuug iyo Askari - Somali Games Hub Blog

Tuug iyo Askari is a simple but very fun Somali social game that uses five special roles: Boqor, Askari, Tuug, Marqati, and Karbaash. The game is all about reactions, eye contact, guessing, and funny punishments. It works perfectly in small groups and is easy to learn for families and friends.

This version of Tuug iyo Askari is different from Mafia-style games. It is faster, lighter, and designed for only a few players sitting in a small circle.

Players and Roles

The game is designed for:

Maximum: 5 players
Minimum: 4 players

The roles are:

Boqor (King): The leader of the round. Asks the questions, calls the roles, and runs the game.
Askari (Police): Tries to find the Tuug by watching reactions and body language.
Tuug (Thief): Tries to stay hidden and not get caught by the Askari or Marqati.
Marqati (Witness): May agree with Askari or make their own guess about who the Tuug is.
Karbaash (Punisher): The one who “punishes” the players that guessed wrong (fun punishment like clapping, small dare, etc.).

Important: When there are only 4 players, Marqati is removed. The game is then played with: Boqor, Askari, Tuug, and Karbaash.

How to Set Up the Game

All players sit together in a small circle.
Secretly assign roles (you can use small papers with role names written on them).
Each player looks at their role and keeps it secret.
Boqor sits in the center or at the “front” and controls the round.

Only Boqor should know the order of the game. No one else reveals their role unless the game flow calls them.

Round Flow – Step by Step

Each round follows the same simple structure:

1. Boqor calls Askari

The Boqor starts the round by saying something like:

“Askari, where are you?”

The player with the Askari role must now respond:

“Here I am.”

At this moment, everyone at the table learns who the Askari is — but they still don’t know who the Tuug is.

2. Boqor asks Askari to find the Tuug

Next, the Boqor asks:

“Askari, where is the Tuug?”

Now the fun part starts. The Askari looks at everyone’s faces, eyes, and reactions. Players may try to look calm or act innocent. Askari must pick one person they believe is the Tuug.

The Askari then points at one player and says, for example:

“I think the Tuug is him/her.”

3. Boqor calls Marqati (only with 5 players)

If you are playing with 5 players, there is a Marqati in the game. Now the Boqor says:

“Where is Marqati?”

The player who is Marqati now reveals themselves and says something like:

“Here I am.”

Then Boqor asks Marqati:

“Do you agree with Askari, or will you guess your own Tuug?”

Marqati now has two options:

Agree with Askari: Choose the same person Askari chose.
Make their own guess: Point at a different player and say who they think is the Tuug.

This makes the game more exciting: sometimes Askari and Marqati are united, sometimes they disagree.

4. Boqor calls Karbaash

Now comes the final part of the round. Boqor calls:

“Where is Karbaash?”

Karbaash reveals themselves. Karbaash’s job is to “punish” the people who guessed wrong, based on what really happened.

Punishment and Results

At this point, the Tuug is revealed and the punishments are decided. The rules are:

If both Askari and Marqati are wrong about who the Tuug is:
→ Both of them get punished by Karbaash.
If only one of them is wrong about the Tuug:
→ That wrong person and the real Tuug get punished together.

For example:

If Askari says Player A is Tuug, Marqati says Player B is Tuug, but the real Tuug is Player C → both Askari and Marqati get punished.
If Askari says Player A is Tuug, Marqati agrees and also says Player A is Tuug, but the real Tuug is Player B → both Askari and Marqati are wrong and both get punished.
If Askari is correct and Marqati is wrong → Marqati and Tuug get punished.
If Marqati is correct and Askari is wrong → Askari and Tuug get punished.

The “punishment” is just for fun. You can decide your own house rules, for example:

Do 5 push-ups
Clap for everyone
Tell a funny story
Sing a short song

Karbaash is the one who announces or applies the punishment in a funny way.

Playing With 4 Players (No Marqati)

When there are only 4 players, the Marqati role is removed. You only use:

Boqor
Askari
Tuug
Karbaash

The round becomes even simpler:

Boqor calls Askari.
Boqor asks Askari to guess the Tuug.
Askari picks one player.
Boqor calls Karbaash.
Tuug is revealed.

In this 4-player mode, you can use a simple rule, for example:

If Askari is wrong → Askari and Tuug get punished.
If Askari is right → Only Tuug gets punished (or does a dare).

How to Keep the Game Going

After each round, you can:

Shuffle and give out new roles again.
Let a different person be Boqor each round.
Keep score (e.g., how many times Askari was right).

The game is meant to be fast, light, and full of laughter. There is no long “winner/loser” scoreboard unless you decide to add one.

Tips for Each Role

Askari

Watch people’s eyes when Boqor calls you.
Look for nervous smiles or people avoiding eye contact.
Don’t overthink—go with your gut feeling.

Tuug

Stay calm and relaxed.
Don’t suddenly stop blinking or smiling.
You can fake confidence to confuse Askari and Marqati.

Marqati

Decide if you want to support Askari or think for yourself.
You can create drama by disagreeing and choosing another player.

Karbaash

Be funny but kind with punishments.
Make sure everyone is comfortable and having fun.

Boqor

Speak clearly and confidently.
Control the pace of the round.
Keep the game fair and enjoyable.

Why This Version Is Special

This Tuug iyo Askari version is perfect for Somali gatherings, house parties, and youth groups because:

It only needs 4–5 people.
No cards, no phones, no board required.
Everything is based on reactions, eye contact, and psychology.
The roles (Boqor, Askari, Tuug, Marqati, Karbaash) feel like real characters in a mini story.

It is not just a game. It becomes a small performance, full of jokes, accusations, and shared memories.