A slightly easier alternative version (see below for details) is known as Spots.

This tongue-twisting drinking game required any number of players around a table, a cork and a lighter or matches.

How to Play

First of all, assign a number to each player around the table (i.e. numbers 1 to 7 if there are 7 players). Then, using the lighter or matches, blacken one end of the cork.

There are two pieces of terminology used in the game:

• ibble dibble - which is used to refer to players in the game
• dibble ibble - which is used to refer to a black mark on a player's face made by the cork

The first person starts by passing play onto somebody else by stating the following information:

1. who they are
2. how many black marks they have
3. who they are passing play onto
4. how many black marks that player has

For example, if player 1 passes onto player 3, then they say:

Player 4 then immediately responds in a similar fashion, passing on to whoever they choose. If there are any hesitations, incorrect wording or getting the number of dibble ibbles wrong, then the culprit receives a black mark from the cork on the face and drinks 2 fingers.

Later play might therefore include statements such as:

Alternative Version (Spots)

Spots is played almost in the exact same way as Ibble Dibble, but with 2 major differences:

• each player is known as One Spot, Two Spot, Three Spot... etc (rather than Ibble Dibble number One etc), and
• the phrase used to pass on to another player is:
  • "This is [players name], I have [how many spots on their face], [players name]to [new players name]"

Thus, if player 1 passes onto player 3, then they must say:

As with Ibble Dibble, if the player hesitates, messes their words up, gives a wrong name, or forgets how many spots they have, they must take a drink and are given a spot on their face.

Thus, later play might include statements such as: