Game Jargon Definition: “I Cut, You Choose”

I Cut, You Choose. (phrase) - / ī kət yo͞o CHo͞oz /

“I cut, you choose,” also known as “dividing and choosing” or “cutting and choosing,” is a game mechanic or procedure for the division of a resource—such as a deck of cards, tokens, or actions.

Generally, this involves dividing non-fungible in-game resources into two distinct piles. Player A (the “cutter”) first divides the resources. Then, player B (the “chooser”) chooses which of the two piles of resources to take, leaving the cutter with the remaining pile.

The general strategy is that the cutter will try to cut the available resources into two equally valuable piles. Then, regardless of which pile the chooser takes, the cutter will be left with a pile of resources that are just as valuable as the pile the chooser took. The chooser, on the other hand, will select whichever pile of resources they consider to be most valuable (either directly for their own needs or because they believe their chosen pile would be more valuable to the cutter, and consequently want to deny the cutter access). Therefore, even if in the eyes of the chooser, the cutter divided the two piles unequally, the chooser has no right to complain since they get first pick.

Some games that use “I cut, you choose” mechanics include: Castles of Mad King Ludwig (2014), Junk Art (2016), New York Slice (2017), Skyward (2017), and Tussie Mussie (2019).