On one of those five-day trips I took on the Main Salmon River, I learned a game called “Odd But Not Peculiar.”

This is a great game. It is simple, can be played with an unlimited number of people, and can be easily stretched out over several days.

It is called “Odd But Not Peculiar.” The name is important, and since you are going to be running the game I will explain just what the title means.

The object: You must say two words in the form ODD but not PECULIAR. You literally say it that way. For example, “Tree but not bush” or “Green but not brown”.

Everything must be in that form. Something but not something.

Since you are running the game, you will say what is right and what is wrong. I know, you are already confused. Well, this is how you explain it to the group:

“We are going to play a game called ‘Odd but not Peculiar.’ It is really simple. We go around in a circle. Each person will say ’something but not something’ where the ’something’ is any word they want. I will tell them if they are right or wrong. Ready? I will start.”

Sound simple?

Here is the trick. YOU CANNOT SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE!! This is a special river game. If everyone knows the secret then it is no fun!

Ok. Here it is. The first word must have double letters and the last word cannot have double letters.

Get it?
Odd — double ‘d’
Peculiar — no double letters.

Here are some correct phrases:
Green but not black
Tree but not bush
Beer but not wine
Letter but not envelope.

It is that simple. You go around in a circle. Sometimes a player will get lucky and get it right. But they won’t know why. When it is your turn you will always give a correct answer. There is no correlation between the two words! But you want to make them think there is.

Man, I am laughing just thinking about this.

Eventually a few players will pick up on the pattern. If they are good, they will play along until everyone figures it out.

Good luck. Have fun!!