How to Play Carrot in a Box — Rules & Strategy

Carrot in a Box is a free online two-player bluffing game: two boxes, one carrot, and one player who knows where it is. Here are the full rules, the two roles, and how to win.

The rules, step by step

1. Set the boxes. There are two identical boxes. One holds a carrot; the other is empty. Each player is assigned one box.
2. The peek. The peeker (player one) secretly looks inside their own box to learn whether they have the carrot — the decider never sees inside.
3. The bluff. Knowing the truth, the peeker talks up their box — bluffing, double-bluffing, doing whatever it takes to mislead (or honestly confuse) the decider.
4. The decision. The decider reads the tells and chooses: keep their own box, or switch boxes with the peeker.
5. The reveal. Boxes open. Whoever ends up holding the carrot wins the round. Roles swap and you go again.

Frequently asked questions

Is Carrot in a Box free?

Yes — it’s completely free, plays in your browser, needs no download, and you can start instantly as a guest with no signup.

How many players do you need?

Exactly two. Share a room link with a friend to play online, or pass one device back and forth.

What are the rules of Carrot in a Box?

Two boxes, one carrot. One player secretly peeks inside their own box, then talks it up or plays it cool. The other player decides: keep their box or switch. Whoever holds the carrot when the boxes open wins the round.

Who made Carrot in a Box famous?

The late comedian Sean Lock, who turned it into a legendary bluffing bit against Jon Richardson on the 2015 Christmas special of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

What’s the best strategy?

As the peeker, keep your bluff consistent whether you have the carrot or not — vary your behaviour and you give nothing away. As the decider, look for changes in pace, certainty and eye contact rather than the words themselves.