How many guesses do you get in Codenames?
Up to the clue's number plus one, as long as every guess is one of your own words. A wrong guess ends your turn at once, and you can stop early, but only after your first guess.
The rule:
With a standard clue in Codenames, you get up to the clue’s number plus one guesses, as long as each guess is one of your own words; a wrong guess ends your turn at once, and you can stop early only after your first guess.
Your turn keeps going while you guess your own words. It ends when:
- You guess wrong: a bystander, the other team’s word, or the assassin (which loses the game).
- You choose to stop. You must make at least 1 guess first.
- You’ve used the “plus one” rule: after a clue for 2, your 3rd correct guess is your last.
The extra guess doesn’t have to fit the current clue. It’s usually best spent on a word you missed from an earlier clue.
Optional expert rules: a spymaster can say unlimited instead of a number, or 0 (meaning “avoid the words linked to this clue”). Either way there’s no cap: keep guessing until you miss or choose to stop. The plus-one limit doesn’t apply.
Example:
The clue is ocean: 2. Mia's team finds both ocean words, then uses the extra guess on a word left over from last turn's clue. That was their third guess, so the turn is over.
Why players argue about it:
Many groups stop exactly at the clue's number and never use the bonus guess. It's mainly useful for picking up words you missed from earlier clues.