Kinsi is a relatively ancient game thought to be inspired by the Weapon of the same name. It involves two participants, but some modified versions have been devised by clever children to include any number of participants. In its original form it works like so:
To begin one player is designated the “monster” and the other is the “hero”. The monster puts their palm facing flat towards the hero and spreads their fingers to open any number of gaps between one and three (the thumb is not traditionally included in play). The hero then matches that number of outstretched fingers and attempts to quickly push them through the gaps and pull back out without the monster snapping their fingers tight capturing the hero’s fingers. If the monster closes their fingers before the hero’s fingers are actually between them then they lose the round and the hero gains a number of points equal to the gaps created. However if at least one or more of the hero’s fingers are caught the monster scores the same number of points. The monster and hero then swap roles and go until either a point threshold is reached or the participants tire of the game.
The extended version of play works very similarly except that each player now plays as both the monster and the hero, one on either side. Many children are particular fond of the inevitable chaos this mode creates which generally leads to much shrieking, laughing and arguing.