Competitive Mafia: Tournament Rules and Format

Competitive (tournament) Mafia is a formalized version of social Mafia with fixed rules, timed speeches, and a scoring system. It is played at tournaments sanctioned by FIIM (the International Intellectual Mafia Federation) and in Mafia clubs around the world — primarily across the Russian-speaking competitive circuit, though the scene is steadily growing internationally.

Always 10 players + 1 Game Master:

• Citizens — 6 players
• Mafia — 2 players
• Don — 1 player (Mafia leader)
• Sheriff — 1 player (Citizen leader)

No additional roles. No Doctor, Courtesan, or Maniac. Only four roles — and pure deduction.

Citizen (x6)

• No night abilities
• Wins when all Mafia members are eliminated
• Primary task: observe, reason, vote

Sheriff (x1)

• Checks one player each night
• The GM signals: "red" (Citizen) or "black" (Mafia)
• The Don checks as black (unlike some casual variants)
• Main goal: find the Mafia and convince the table

Mafia (x2)

• At night the black team (Mafia + Don) agrees on a target to kill
• If they cannot agree, there is no kill (the GM decides)
• During the day they pose as Citizens

Don (x1)

• Leads the Mafia and takes part in the nightly kill
• After the Mafia's action, wakes alone and checks one player
• The GM signals: "Sheriff" or "not Sheriff"
• Main goal: find and eliminate the Sheriff

Night Zero (introduction)

1. Everyone closes their eyes
2. Mafia and the Don wake up, see each other, agree on signals
3. The Sheriff wakes up and identifies himself to the GM
4. No kill occurs — this is acquaintance only

Day Phase

1. The GM announces the start of day
2. Each player gets exactly 1 minute to speak — in order around the table, starting from a seat chosen by the GM
3. During another player's speech it is forbidden to interrupt, nod, or gesture
4. After all speeches — nomination phase: players nominate candidates for the vote
5. Each nominee gets 30 seconds for a defense speech
6. Voting: show of hands, the GM counts
7. The player with the majority is eliminated

Night Phase

1. "The city falls asleep"
2. Mafia wakes and points to a target
3. The Don wakes (after Mafia) and checks one player for the Sheriff role
4. The Sheriff wakes and checks one player
5. The GM announces morning and the result of the night

"Best Move" (testament)

A player killed during the night earns the right to a "best move" — they name three suspects. If all remaining Mafia members are among those three, the team earns bonus points.

Competitive Mafia strictly regulates behavior:

• Hands on the table. You may not hide your hands, gesture, or touch your face during another player's speech.
• No reactions. Nodding, shaking your head, facial expressions — all forbidden while someone else is speaking.
• The timer is absolute. Exactly 60 seconds. The GM cuts your speech without warning.
• No off-speech discussion. You may only communicate during your own minute.
• Fouls. Violations earn warnings. Three warnings mean removal from the game.

A tournament consists of a series of games. Points are awarded for:

The exact formula varies by tournament regulations, but the general principle is: win, play clean, make precise moves.

For Citizens

• Listen carefully to speeches. Contradictions, nervousness, shifting arguments — these are the key tells.
• Do not reveal the Sheriff early. The longer the Sheriff stays hidden, the more checks they complete.
• Vote consistently. Erratic voting confuses your teammates more than your opponents.

For Mafia

• Find the Sheriff as fast as possible. The Don should check active, confident players — they are more likely to be the Sheriff.
• Split roles in discussion. One Mafia member accuses, another defends — creating the appearance of independent opinions.
• Do not kill players who suspect Citizens. If a Citizen is leading the table astray, let them live.

For the Don

• Priority: identify the Sheriff. Every night the Sheriff survives means another check against you.
• Watch accusation patterns. A player who accuses accurately and logically may well be the Sheriff.

For the Sheriff

• Do not reveal yourself on day one. You have too little data yet.
• Check active players. Quiet players are less likely to be Mafia — Mafia needs to steer the discussion.
• Prepare a "testament." If you are killed, the table should know your check results.

Competitive Mafia is played in Mafia clubs worldwide. Tournaments are organized under FIIM and regional federations. Search for a local club or league — or start your own with a group of ten and the rules above.

• How to Play Mafia: Complete Rules
• Mafia Roles: Complete Guide

Start a game — roles are assigned automatically. Free, works on any phone.