Reaction Race

The game

Under a swagged velvet backdrop, a ring of round bulbs chases through five carnival colours — ruby, emerald, gold, sapphire, rose. The instant the agreed colour ignites, the fastest finger takes the point. Jump the lamp and you gift your rival one: false starts flash your side of the marquee red while the opponent's score plate pops up. First to 7 points, win by two — and gold bezels, drifting dust motes and a confetti storm make the winner's moment feel like the whole theatre is applauding.

How to play

• Player 1 presses Q; Player 2 presses P — the first correct tap after the agreed colour lights the whole ring takes the point.
• Tap before the ignition (a false start) and your opponent scores a free point; your side glows red as the banner calls it out.
• The ignition moment is unpredictable each round, so nobody can count seconds — only watch the lamps.
• If neither player taps within the window the lamp burns out and the round runs again.
• First to 7 points, win by two. On phones and tablets the two screen halves replace Q and P.
• Click, Space or Enter starts the match (and a rematch); Esc pauses.