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I really enjoyed this piece about the Iraqi bluffing game mheibes. It's pretty amazing- one person on a team of 50 is secretly holding a ring. The opposing captain looks into each of their eyes. Then he has ONE GUESS who has the ring (and in which hand!!!) www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

theatlantic.comThe World’s Hardest Bluffing GameWhy are some Iraqis so good at figuring out when a person is lying?

Alexander King

@literallyaking.com

30 July 2025

It's pretty short, but the author has some additional info on their substack (boo), going into more detail about the game- afterbiggame.substack.com/p/the-mind-r...

afterbiggame.substack.comThe Mind-Readers of Iraq: Part 1Iraq hosts a stadium sport that seems frankly impossible to play. Here's what I learned from spending time with the mheibes masters in Baghdad.

Alexander King

@literallyaking.com

30 July 2025

Watched a few videos of it on youtube, and reading about it definitely doesn't capture the intense tension of a match and then the raucous crowd response. www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXNx...

youtube.comMheibes - A traditional Ramadan game in IraqYouTube video by Prashant Rao

Alexander King

@literallyaking.com

I love, LOVE learning about games like this. But I also feel an intense sadness that this is the first time I've ever heard about this amazing game and the people who play it, even though my country has been in various states of war with theirs off and on for basically my entire life.

30/7/25, 5:59 pm1 repost8 likes

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