How to Play the Game Marco Polo In & Out of the Pool

If you’ve heard people shout out “Marco” or “Polo” at a pool, then you already know the basics for this fun version of tag. Marco Polo is a classic game, and it’s so easy to play whether you’re swimming in a pool or staying on dry land. Keep reading, and we’ll cover all the rules you need to start playing with your friends, as well as some fun variations to try out!

Marco Polo Rules Overview

To play Marco Polo, get in a pool or choose a play area with your friends. Pick someone to be Marco, and have them close their eyes and count to 10 out loud so other players can run away. When Marco says “Marco,” the other players have to say “Polo.” If Marco tags another player, they become Marco for the next round.

Section 1 of 5:

How to Play Marco Polo in a Pool

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Choose a player to be “Marco.” Pick someone at random to start the game as Marco. Whoever is Marco is “it” like in a game of tag, and they have to keep their eyes closed until they catch someone else.^{[1]
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- Marco Polo works with 2 people, but it’s even more fun with more players.
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Have Marco count to 10 while other players get away. Start out in the pool, and have Marco stand in one place, close their eyes, and count out loud to 10. While that’s going on, everyone else swims far away to avoid getting caught. After Marco says 10, the game officially begins.^{[2]
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- If Marco has really good hearing, make them spin around or go underwater while they’re counting so it’s harder for them to figure out where other players are hiding.
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Call out “Marco” and let players respond with “Polo.” During the game, Marco keeps their eyes closed and shouts out the word “Marco!” as many times as they’d like. The other players must reply by saying “Polo!” That way, Marco has a clue to where the other players are in the pool.^{[3]
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- If a player above water does not shout "Polo!" back, Marco can say the person’s name and call them out for not responding. If they’re correct, the player who didn’t respond gets caught and they become the new Marco.
Marco can only figure out where other players are based on the sounds they make. If you’re Marco, walk around slowly and swing your arms around so you’re more likely to tag someone. Follow any sounds that you hear, and reach out for someone if you think they’re nearby.^{[4]
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Become the new Marco if you get tagged. All the other players try to swim away and avoid getting tagged by Marco. If Marco ever touches another player, that person is now “it.” Count to 10 and let the other players swim away before starting a new round of the game.^{[5]
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- Play the game until you’re tired, or until everyone has had a chance to play as Marco.

Section 2 of 5:

Rules for Marco Polo on Dry Land

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Choose a play area and set the boundaries. When you play Marco Polo on land, choose a specific area where players have to stay throughout the entire game. It could be a single room at home, a backyard, or any area that has enough room for all the players to move around.^{[6]
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- Marco Polo works with 2 people, but you’ll have the most fun if you get a big group to play.
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Pick a player to start the game as “Marco.” Choose a person at random to start the game as Marco. They’ll close their eyes for the entire time they’re “it” and try to tag another player.^{[7]
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Have Marco count to 10 as other players run away. Make Marco stand in one spot in the middle of the play area, and count out loud to 10. While Marco is counting, all the other players run far away so they’re harder to find and tag. When Marco reaches 10, the game begins!
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Say “Marco” out loud and have players respond with “Polo.” When you’re playing as Marco, shout “Marco” out as often as you’d like. Every other player has to say “Polo” out loud to give away where they are.
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Try to tag people as Marco to make them “it.” When you’re Marco, keep your arms out and try to reach for other nearby players. If you touch another person, then they become the new Marco. They close their eyes and count to 10 again so the other players can find a new spot in the play area.
- Be extra careful walking around with your eyes closed so you don’t trip over anything or injure yourself.
- Keep playing until you get tired or until everyone has had a chance to be Marco.

Section 3 of 5:

How to Do Well at Marco Polo

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Call out “Marco” frequently to find other players. There’s no limit to how many times you can say “Marco” and the other players always have to respond to you. Listen to where their voices are coming from and start walking in their direction.
- Keep your arms stretched out and wave them around so it’s harder for anyone to get around you.
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Listen closely for people making noise (if you’re Marco). Whenever you’re playing as Marco, keep your ears open and listen for splashing, talking, and laughing. Pay attention to the direction the sounds are coming from and follow them.
- When you think you’re getting close to someone, say “Marco” so they have to say “Polo” right next to you.
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Keep your body underwater to move around quietly (for players). If you’re trying to get away from Marco, only keep your head above water and swim slowly. This stops you from splashing around and makes it more difficult for Marco to find you.
- If Marco gets close to you, go underwater and try to swim away quickly to get away.

Section 4 of 5:

Variations on Marco Polo

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Alligator Eyes Normally, whoever plays as Marco has to keep their eyes closed. In Alligator Eyes, Marco can open their eyes when they go underwater. That way, they can get an idea of where the other players are before coming back up to the surface and closing their eyes again.
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Fish out of Water In this version, players can get out of the pool to avoid Marco. However, if Marco calls out “Fish out of water!” whoever is on dry land becomes “it.”
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Mermaid on the Rocks In this variation, whoever is Marco can yell “Mermaid on the rocks!” if they think someone is sitting on the edge of the pool with their feet in the water. If there’s someone doing that, then they’re “it” and become Marco.
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Blind Tag Rather doing a call and response like in Marco Polo, you play Bling Tag in complete silence. Whoever is “it” still has to close their eyes, but now they can only find other players by listening for splashing water and moving around.
- Once the person who’s “it” tags someone else, that person becomes it and has to count to 10 to give other players time to get away.

Section 5 of 5:

History of the Marco Polo Game

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Marco Polo was an explorer, but he doesn’t have a real connection to the game. Marco Polo was an Italian writer and explorer in the 1200s who was best known for being one of the first westerners to travel to China.^{[8]
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Research source} Even though the pool game borrows his name, nothing else about the game rules really relates back to him.
- Some theories claim the game references how he went off into unknown lands, similar to how the person who’s “it” has their eyes closed and doesn’t know where they’re going.
- The game may also use his name just because “Marco Polo” is a fun thing to say!

Community Q&A

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Do we have to play it in water?

Community Answer

Although it is most fun, and probably safest to play it in water, you can play it elsewhere. I have played Marco Polo in a ball pit and on a playground before.

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What if the red fish calls out of the water and nobody gets out?

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The players who don't get out will receive a penalty for breaking the rules.

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Do I have to answer when they say Marco?

Rey Starchaser

Top Answerer

Yep! That's how the game is played, and that's how the person saying "Marco" can possibly find you.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If more than one person is out of the water when Marco yells, "Fish out of water," have them play Rock Paper Scissors to decide who is "It."
If you are playing in deeper water, wear a flotation device so the game is safer and easier, especially for whoever is Marco.

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Warnings

Stay aware of other people if you’re playing in a public pool so you don’t bump into anyone. It may help to have another person or parent supervise the game to ensure everyone stays safe.

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Only play the game in shallower water where you can touch the bottom so you don’t worry about keeping your head above the water.

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