What are the rules of play in Marco Polo?

Verdict

Marco moves carefully toward voices and other natural sounds. The other players may change position before or after answering.

Why people argue about this

People often assume that Marco Polo must move directly toward voices and sounds, which leads them to argue about whether they can change position before answering. However, the actual rule states players may change their position both before and after answering, so the focus should be on what they do after hearing the command rather than how they approach it.

Send this to your friend — argument over.

Section 5: Rules of Play

Starting a turn

Confirm the boundaries, stop signal, and any variations before play.
Place Marco in a clear starting position. Marco closes their eyes; nobody spins or disorients them.
Marco counts aloud to ten while the other players spread out within the water. This ten-count is the setup convention used in this rulebook.
After the count, Marco calls “Marco!” to begin the chase.

Calling and moving

Every active player other than Marco must answer each “Marco!” with an audible “Polo!” promptly enough to be useful. Answer from your actual position; do not have someone else answer for you. Marco may call repeatedly, allowing enough time to hear each response.

Marco moves carefully toward voices and other natural sounds. The other players may change position before or after answering. In this version, everyone keeps their face above the surface and moves at a controlled pace. Deliberate underwater hiding, breath-holding contests, and loud splashing to drown out replies are not allowed.

Making a tag

A tag is a light touch with an open hand to another player’s arm, shoulder, back, or torso. Do not tag the head or neck, grab clothing, hold a person, push, or pull. Marco must have their eyes closed at the moment of the tag for it to count.

On a clear tag, announce “Tag!” and stop movement. The tagged player becomes Marco. Everyone resets and the new Marco begins a fresh ten-count, preventing immediate tag-backs. If it is unclear who was touched first, pause and agree on one new Marco before restarting.

Pauses and common variations

Anyone may call “Stop!” for danger, discomfort, a needed rest, or a dispute. All players stop the chase, and Marco opens their eyes. No tag counts during a pause. Resume only after everyone is ready.

Walking-only: Everyone moves by walking carefully through shallow water. This can make the game easier to control.
Rotating turns: Give each willing player a turn as Marco in an agreed order, ending each turn after a tag or an agreed interval.
Call-and-response alternatives: Agree on another clearly recognizable pair of words before starting.
Fish out of water: A familiar house rule lets Marco call “Fish out of water!” to catch someone who has left the pool. Groups differ on what counts as being out and what happens after a false call. This version excludes deck escape and does not use that rule.

Section 5: Rules of Play

Starting a turn

Confirm the boundaries, stop signal, and any variations before play.

Place Marco in a clear starting position. Marco closes their eyes; nobody spins or disorients them.

Marco counts aloud to ten while the other players spread out within the water. This ten-count is the setup convention used in this rulebook.

After the count, Marco calls “Marco!” to begin the chase.

Calling and moving

Making a tag

Pauses and common variations

Walking-only: Everyone moves by walking carefully through shallow water. This can make the game easier to control.

Rotating turns: Give each willing player a turn as Marco in an agreed order, ending each turn after a tag or an agreed interval.

Call-and-response alternatives: Agree on another clearly recognizable pair of words before starting.

Fish out of water: A familiar house rule lets Marco call “Fish out of water!” to catch someone who has left the pool. Groups differ on what counts as being out and what happens after a false call. This version excludes deck escape and does not use that rule.

Section 5: Rules of Play