How to build a board people love to play

You have seen it happen: someone shares a board, you play one round, and nobody wants to play again. Here is what makes a great board instead of a forgettable one.

Pick photos with variety

Every face on your board should look different at a glance. If someone squints and cannot tell two cards apart, the board has a problem. Different hair, glasses, hats, faces and clothes all help.

Mark each face with a tight box

The box you draw round a face is what your opponent sees on their card. A big box shows too much background and makes questions harder to ask. A tight box round the face makes a much better card.

Aim for 12 to 16 cards per board

Every face you mark becomes a card, and a board needs at least 3. With too few cards a round is over in 3 questions; too many and it drags. 12 to 16 is the sweet spot: both players need to think, but a round never takes forever.

Give each board a theme

The best boards have a clear theme, like a family, a team or a group of friends, so players can ask good yes or no questions. A random mix of photos makes good questions hard to find.