Mitt Rowdy

Mitt Rowdy, a folk game for two. Both players place an oven mitt on their hand and try to pick up a coin.

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU GET HURT PLAYING MITT ROWDY, IT’S YOUR OWN FAULT.

Ideal setup: Two players each put on a traditional oven mitt. A third player stands between them and tosses a coin (preferably a large coin) in the air. The players can only touch the coin with the mitt, and should keep their other arm on their back at all times. The first player to pick up the coin wins. The third player can function as a referee.

Mitt Rowdy has a tendency to result in an all out wrestling match between the players, where they forget about the coin briefly, while trying to place themselves between the coin and their adversary to get just the briefest second alone with the coin, in which they will try to pick it up. Wearing down ones opponent, by relentlessly pushing their mitt hand with your mitt hand, is also a viable tactic.

Variations include a more civil version of the game which can be played with two coins. Or with upwards of two people (also known as Mitt Crowdy).

Mitt Rowdy is largely an abstraction of a mechanic found in a game published by the Council of Europe called The Scramble for Wealth and power.