Buzz: the counting game with 7

Buzz is a classic counting game for groups, often played in classrooms, at camps and around the table. Players count in turn, and on certain numbers you have to say "Buzz" instead of the number. It's also known as 7 Boom, and it's a close cousin of Fizz Buzz.

How to play Buzz

1. Sit or stand in a circle. Someone starts by saying "1".
2. Going around, each player says the next number.
3. When a number is a multiple of 7 (7, 14, 21...) or has a 7 in it (17, 27, 70...), say "Buzz" instead.
4. Anyone who says the number, says "Buzz" on the wrong number or hesitates too long is out (or the count starts again from 1).
5. The last player left wins. Or play together and try to reach 100 without a mistake.

So a round goes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Buzz, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, Buzz, 15, 16, Buzz...

Popular variations

• Reverse: every "Buzz" switches the direction of the circle. Much harder to keep track.
• Fizz Buzz: the version with 3 and 5. Say "Fizz" on multiples of 3, "Buzz" on multiples of 5 and "Fizz Buzz" on multiples of both. Some groups combine it with 7.
• Clapping: clap instead of saying a word, with no talking allowed.
• Different numbers: younger kids can start with multiples of 3 or 5.

Play Buzz online: Cafufa

Cafufa is a solo, online take on the same idea. Numbers show up on the screen one after another, faster and faster, and you hit CAFUFA on every multiple of 7 and every number ending in 7. Miss one or tap on the wrong number and the game is over.

One difference from classic Buzz: in Cafufa, a 7 in the tens place doesn't count. 71 to 76 are traps, not CAFUFAs (70 and 77 still count, since they're multiples of 7). See the full list on the multiples of 7 page.

Play with friends

Sign in with Google and, after each game, you can send a challenge link: your friends see how far you got, and the game tells them when they pass you. You can also start a Brawl, a 24-hour contest for up to 5 friends where everyone's best game counts.

Common questions

Is Buzz the same as Fizz Buzz?

They're related. Fizz Buzz uses 3 and 5; Buzz uses 7. Fizz Buzz is also a famous programming exercise.

What age is Buzz good for?

Kids who are learning their times tables, usually around 8 and up. It also works as a party game for adults.

Why 7?

The 7 times table has no easy pattern, so multiples of 7 are hard to spot at speed. That's what makes the game fun.