Up, Jenkins!

by Amy Brown, Photograph by Joe Polillio

A silly sleight-of-hand game is sure to get guests giggling around the table.

Instructions

The Setup: Split players into two teams and have the teams sit opposite one another at a table (after the dishes are cleared!). Give one team a coin.
To Play: The team with the coin passes it among themselves under the table, minimizing their movements and giving false clues as to its whereabouts. When someone on the opposing team thinks he knows who has the coin, he points at that player and shouts "Up, Jenkins!"

The player in question must stand up and show his open hands. If indeed he holds the coin, the guessing team scores a point and the coin changes teams. If not, the opposing team gets a point and keeps the coin. The first team to earn five points wins.
Variations: Instead of calling "Up, Jenkins!" the guesser calls either "Slam" or "Sink." If he calls "Slam," the entire passing team must slam their hands on the table, palms down. If he calls "Sink," they must slowly lower their hands to the table, palms down. Either way, their challenge is to conceal the noise of the coin as it hits the table -- a sound that would give away the coin's location.