The Rule of Victory:

The victor is the one of a pair or group who passes through an opening last, without the other parties realising what is afoot until they have crossed over the threshold. At this point it is proper for the winner to make victory known by some form of mild exultation or gloating.

The Rule of Openings:

The opening must be too small for all the members of the group to pass through at once. Thresholds, such as kerbs, are an inadequate measure, as use of them encourages malingering.

The Rule of Stalemate:

If an opponent realises that One-Behindmanship is occurring and makes this known, the resulting stalemate renders the round null and void; the order in which the players then advance does not matter until the next suitable aperture presents itself. Pedantry over, for instance, two sets of doors upon entering a building is bad form; for the purposes of the game they count as one. The spirit of the game is grace and cunning, not pettiness.

The Rule of Dirty Tricks:

Any tricks are allowed, so long as they are within the constraints of these rules. Pushing or wrestling people over thresholds violates or at least clouds use of the Rule of Stalemate, and "I'll meet you outside later" contravenes the Rule of Proximity. "RACE YOU SIR!" and "I think we should go outside" are however perfectly acceptable. Distraction is the way, not coercion.

The Rule of Proximity:

You must actually be in transit with the other players, who must in turn be aware of you. Causing somebody to pass through a door via telegram, carrier pigeon, semaphore or other means of remote communication does not count, nor does sneaking up on them or merely observing during their egress.

The Rule of Hiding:

Further to dirty tricks, running ahead of ones peers and hiding near a door has been made a special exception to the rule of proximity, for it is a feat both cunning and delicious.

The Rule of Risks:

Noteworthy performances will involve a higher number of players, and will also include overtly polite gestures or speech such as "After you". Such actions will of course alert opponents immediately, unless they are especially unmindful or made prey to an expert distraction.

The Rule of Play:

Prevailing against the unaware is invalid, victory is only true when won from other players. The key lies in distracting opponents sufficiently that they only recall the game once they have gone too far.

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Imagery of Gentlemen obtained by The Weekly at Government auctions of the property of the kinless dead.

Site designed and written by David Hayward, licensed by Creative Commons. Original game devised by John Hayes, David Hayward, Jonny Peck, Will Wilkinson and Dennis Pung.