# Red — Blue game: a team exercise on trust and cooperation

> Experience the choice between winning "for myself" and "for both", and see how distrust triggers escalation. 45 minutes, pairs, a group of 6 or more. Flow, debrief q

Source: https://couchinfo.com/en/exercises/red-blue-game/

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Exercise · Conflict Resolution for Managers

## The Red — Blue Game

Experience the choice between winning "for myself" and "for both", and see how distrust triggers escalation.

Time **45 minutes**

Participants **Pairs, a group of 6 or more**

Materials **A red and a blue card per participant, score sheet**

From the training **Conflict Resolution for Managers**

### Why this exercise

The game is based on the prisoner's dilemma. The rules never say who you are playing against — and most pairs still start competing. Afterwards the group sees for itself how one "red move" destroys trust and why it takes so long to rebuild. It is the best way into a conversation about cooperation between colleagues and departments.

### How to run it

1. Split the group into pairs, partners sitting face to face. Everyone gets a red and a blue card.
2. Announce the goal: score as many points as possible in 10 rounds. Don't say whether for yourself or for the pair.
3. Scoring: both blue — +4 each; both red — −4 each; red against blue — +8 to red, −8 to blue.
4. On the signal, both show a card at the same time. No talking. After rounds 4 and 8 — one minute to negotiate.
5. Rounds 9 and 10 — points are doubled. At the end pairs report their scores; the maximum for a pair is 96.

### Debrief questions

- How did you understand "as many points as possible" — for yourself or for the pair?
- What happened after your partner's red move?
- Were agreements kept after the negotiations?
- Where at work have you seen the same game?

 **Tips for the facilitator**

- Don't say "opponent" or "team" — the uncertainty is what you debrief.
- Debrief the moves, not the players: resentment after round 9 is valuable material, not a reason to judge.

This exercise is part of a training kit

#### [Conflict Resolution for Managers](https://couchinfo.com/en/training/conflict-resolution-for-managers/)

2 days · 13 hours · 18 exercises · trainer guide with what to say, slide deck, workbook, cards and tests.

 [The kit from $229](https://couchinfo.com/en/training/conflict-resolution-for-managers/)

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### Similar exercises

 [The whole library](https://couchinfo.com/en/exercises/)

 [Conflict Resolution for Managers #### What Is Behind the Position? Learn to uncover the interests behind demands with questions — without persuading and without "why". 20 minutesPairs](https://couchinfo.com/en/exercises/whats-behind-the-position/)  [Conflict Resolution for Managers #### The Rapoport's Rule Debate Build the habit of restating the other person's position until they agree, and only then disagreeing. 40 minutesTwo teams, 8 or more people](https://couchinfo.com/en/exercises/rapoport-rule-debate/)