Sport Mafia gestures
At night nobody speaks, so gestures carry the game. Here are the gestures we could verify, split by who makes them.
How to read this page
- Gestures of the host and of the players are listed separately.
- The first two groups follow the text of the FIIM tournament rules. The club rules are based on FIIM rules, and your host may simplify them for beginners.
- The last group are club variants: widely used at clubs, but not part of the rules text and not allowed everywhere. We mark them so nobody mistakes them for rules.
- The drawings are simple schematic pictograms, not exact hand positions.
Gestures of the host
The host answers players at night without speaking.
Nod or shake of the head
Answers the Don at night: a nod confirms the player the Don has named as the Sheriff, a shake of the head says it is not the Sheriff.
Nod with the thumb up
Answers the Sheriff at night: the player the Sheriff checked is red (a peaceful citizen or the Sheriff).
Nod with the thumb down
Answers the Sheriff at night: the player the Sheriff checked is black (Mafia or the Don).
Gestures of the players at night
Players wake up only when the host calls them, and they answer by gesture.
A player's number on the fingers
The Don and the Sheriff each show the host the number of the player they want to check, using their fingers.
A mimed shot
The Mafia team, eyes closed, mime the shot with their fingers on a raised hand to agree on who is shot.
The sleeping posture
When the host says night falls, arms are crossed on the shoulders and the head is tilted forward about 45 degrees.
Hands over the ears
When the host asks for it, players cover their ears.
Gesture in voting
A vertical fist on the table
This is how you vote against a candidate. The hand stays on the table until the host announces the result. Voting with a palm, a finger or an elbow is a violation.
Club variants
These are used at many clubs but are not in the text of the FIIM rules. Agree the meanings with your table before you play, and do not use them at tournaments unless the host allows it.
A hooked index finger, or a question mark drawn in the air
Asks a question or asks for clarification.
Miming a ring on a finger
Used to say "I am the Don".
Two fingers quickly to the shoulder
Used to say "I am the Sheriff", like showing an epaulette.
Palms forming the letter T
Asks the host for a short timeout.
What not to do
- Do not give night hints to the Don or the Sheriff, and do not touch other players at night. These are serious violations in the FIIM rules.
- Do not knock on the table or gesture excessively during the day.
- Do not pull your hand back during voting or put it on the table early.