I got the idea for this game from reading Treasure Island. It also may be like some game I played when I was a kid, I forget.
Materials:
Piece of paper and a pencil.
Candle (optional)
Number: 6-12 per circle
Tear up a sheet of paper into scraps (1 for each player). Mark one scrap with a large dot with the pencil. Put these scraps in a hat and have everyone choose one and show it to no one. Next have everyone look at their scrap to see who has the Black Spot. This should be kept a secret. Whoever has the Black Spot is now the Pirate. The Pirate’s goal is to “wink-out” everyone else in the circle by winking at them. Note: Only winks (one eye shut) work, blinks (both eyes shut) do not. Everyone must maintain eye contact with others in the circle. If you are “winked-out” by the pirate, you are out, and must turn away, lower your head, etc. Players not yet winked out try to observe the Pirate in his dastardly deeds and call him out by saying “The Pirate is none-other than_______” The person calling out must still maintain eye contact while reciting this phrase. This gives clever pirates a last chance to wink them out before they can finish the sentence.
Note: This game works very well in a small circle around a single candle. circles larger than 12 tend to be too big to see that someone’s winking at you.