Four Corners Game: Classroom Rules and the Odds
Four corners is a classroom game of pure chance. One player, the counter, closes their eyes and counts while everyone else quietly walks to one of the four corners of the room. The counter then calls out a corner, and everyone standing there is out. The game goes on until only one player is left. Nobody needs to be fast or strong to win, which is why teachers often use it as a brain break or on indoor days.
What you need
- A room with four corners that are safe to walk to. Number them 1 to 4 with signs, or use colours.
- A group of about 8 to 30 players and one counter.
- A fair way to pick the counter and, if you like, the corner, such as the random name picker or the dice roller.
How to play
- Pick a counter at random. The counter sits in the middle of the room and closes their eyes.
- The counter counts down slowly from 10. Everyone else walks quietly to a corner and stays there. Nobody may change corners after the count ends.
- With eyes still closed, the counter calls out a corner number or colour.
- Everyone in that corner is out and sits down.
- The counter counts again, the players still in the game move to new corners, and another corner is called.
- When only one player is left, they win and often become the next counter.
Rules differ between classes. In some, if a corner is empty, the counter calls again. In others, when only a few players are left, the counter calls two corners at once so the game ends quickly. Agree on the rules first.
Picking a corner at random
Because the counter has their eyes closed, the game is already mostly fair. But some counters always call the same corner, and players learn to avoid it. To keep it fair, let the counter roll a die with the dice roller (1 to 4 picks the corner; roll again on 5 or 6), or spin the picker wheel with four slices. You can use the random name picker to pick the counter for each new game so everyone gets a turn.
Odds of being out
If the corner is picked at random, your chance of being out each round depends only on how many corners there are, not on how many players are in each corner. The table shows the numbers. “Corners” is how many corners are used, “Out” is the chance your corner is called in one round, “Safe 3” is the chance you are still in after 3 rounds, and “Safe 5” is the chance you are still in after 5 rounds.
| Corners | Out | Safe 3 | Safe 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 33% | 30% | 13% |
| 4 | 25% | 42% | 24% |
| 5 | 20% | 51% | 33% |
| 6 | 17% | 58% | 40% |
With four corners, about 1 in 4 players goes out each round on average, so a class of 24 usually needs somewhere around 7 to 14 rounds to get down to one player (based on simulating random games). That range includes rounds where an empty corner is called, which happens more often near the end. Some teachers add a fifth spot, such as the middle of the room, to make games last longer.
Teacher tips
- Clear the corners of bags, chairs and anything people could trip over.
- Ask players to walk, not run, and to stay quiet so the counter cannot hear where they go.
- Keep the counter’s eyes covered with a hand or blindfold if they peek.
- Give players who are out a job, such as helping to count or checking for peeking.
- Use the corners for learning: label them with answers to a question, and players choose the corner they think is right.
Variations
- Quiz corners: each corner is a possible answer to a question; wrong corners are out.
- Colour corners: use colours instead of numbers for younger children.
- Two calls: when few players are left, call two corners at once.
- Safe corner: one corner is safe each round, chosen at random before the count.
- Movement corners: players must hop, skip or crawl to their corner.
For more quiet classroom games, try silent ball, heads up seven up or sleeping lions.
FAQ
How do you play four corners?
A counter closes their eyes and counts while players walk to one of four corners. The counter calls a corner, and everyone in it is out. The last player left wins.
Is four corners a game of luck?
Mostly, yes. If the counter calls a corner at random, every corner has the same chance of being called, so where you stand does not change your odds.
What are the odds of being out in four corners?
With four corners and a random call, there is a 1 in 4 chance your corner is called each round.
What if a corner is empty?
Many classes have the counter call again. Others just count it as a round with nobody out.
How do you pick the counter?
Use a random name picker, or let the last player left become the next counter.