Official Watergate Rules

Last Updated on May 14, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Watergate is a tense, two-player strategy game that immerses players in the infamous political scandal that brought down a U.S. president. With a dynamic card-driven system, historical depth, and tactical decisions, Watergate offers an engaging and cerebral battle of wits where history hangs in the balance.

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How to Play Watergate

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Game Overview

Watergate is a 2-player, asymmetric, card-driven game based on the real-life political scandal of the 1970s.

• One player takes the role of a Washington Post Editor, aiming to uncover the Watergate scandal and connect informants to Nixon.
• The other plays as the Nixon Administration, trying to suppress the evidence and survive until the end of Nixon’s term.

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Game Objective

• Nixon wins by collecting 5 Momentum tokens on their momentum card.
• The Editor wins by connecting 2 informants to Nixon using a chain of face-up evidence tokens on the evidence board.

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Components

• 20 player cards (Editor)
• 1 Momentum card (Editor)
• 20 player cards (Nixon)
• 1 Momentum card (Nixon)
• 1 Game board
• 1 Initiative card
• 1 End-of-Round overview card
• 36 Evidence tokens (in 3 colors + dual-color)
• 7 Picture tiles (Informants)
• 9 Momentum tokens
• 1 Initiative token
• 1 Bag

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Setup

1. Choose sides: One player is Nixon, one is the Editor.
2. Place the board between players so that it’s upright for the Editor and upside-down for Nixon.
3. Each player:
   • Takes their 21 role-specific cards (20 player cards + 1 Momentum card).
   • Shuffles their 20 player cards into a personal deck.
   • Places their Momentum card face-up next to the research track.
4. Place the Initiative card next to the research track with arrows pointing to the Editor.
5. Place:
   • The Initiative token and 1 Momentum token on space 0 of the research track.
   • The remaining 8 Momentum tokens as a supply.
6. Create a supply of the 7 picture tiles (“Potential Informant Supply”).
7. Place all 30 Evidence tokens into the bag.

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Gameplay Structure

Watergate is played over several rounds, each consisting of three phases:

Phase A: Initial Phase

1. Draw cards:
   • Each player draws cards equal to the value on their side of the Initiative card (either 4 or 5).
   • If your deck runs out, shuffle your discard pile into a new deck.
2. Nixon draws evidence:
   • Nixon draws 3 evidence tokens from the bag, looks at them in secret, and places them face down on the 0 space of the research track.
   • Nixon can view face-down tokens at any time. The Editor cannot.

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Phase B: Card Phase

Players take alternating turns starting with the Initiative holder. On your turn:

• Play 1 card from your hand.
• Each card has:
  • A Value Part (move a token on the research track 1–4 spaces toward your side), or
  • An Action Part (resolve the event text on the card).
• You must choose one, not both.

Using the Value Part

• Move a token (Initiative, Momentum, or Evidence).
• To move an Evidence token:
  • Token must match the color on the card.
  • Dual-color tokens match either color.
  • Joker symbols allow moving tokens of any color.

Special Rules for Face-Down Evidence Tokens:

• Nixon: May flip face-down tokens and move them directly.
• Editor: Must ask Nixon if a matching color exists. If so, Nixon chooses which to reveal and move.

Using the Action Part

• Follow the instructions on the card.
• Card types:
  • Events (one-time effects; removed from the game after use).
  • Journalists (Editor only; discarded after use).
  • Conspirators (Nixon only; discarded after use).
  • Reactions (played in response to specific opponent plays).

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Phase C: Evaluation Phase

1. Return neutral evidence tokens (on space 0) to the bag.
2. Initiative token:
   • Goes to the player on whose side it ended up.
   • If still on space 0, the other player gains it.
3. Momentum token:
   • Claimed by the player whose side it’s on.
   • If on space 0, it returns to the supply.
4. Award evidence tokens:
   • Tokens are pinned to the evidence board:
     • Editor: face-up (used to build connections).
     • Nixon: face-down (blocks connections).
   • Color must match the space.

If an evidence token has a special symbol, move the momentum token 1 space toward your side.

5. Start the next round:
   • Place the Initiative and 1 Momentum token back on space 0.
   • If there are no Momentum tokens left to place: Nixon wins immediately.

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Winning the Game

• Nixon wins when:
  • 5 Momentum tokens are placed on their momentum card, OR
  • No Momentum token is available during setup of a round.
• Editor wins when:
  • 2 Informants are connected to Nixon via face-up evidence tokens.
  • Connections must be unbroken lines—no gaps or face-down tokens.

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Card Effects and Strategy Notes

• Many cards feature quotes (flavor only).
• Some cards require conditions to activate.
• Reaction cards cancel opponent’s specific actions (e.g., canceling a Conspirator or Event).
• Card discard/removal rules vary:
  • Events = removed from game
  • Conspirators / Journalists = discard pile

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Pinning Rules

• Evidence tokens:
  • Must go to an empty space matching the token’s color.
  • Editor: face-up to build connections.
  • Nixon: face-down to block.
• Picture tiles (Informants):
  • Cards may instruct you to “pin a picture.”
  • Editor pins face-up, Nixon pins face-down.

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Appendix: Historical Context

The rulebook includes 10+ pages of historical background on:

Informants and Conspirators (John Dean, Martha Mitchell, John Ehrlichman, etc.)

The Watergate break-in

Nixon’s administration and resignation

Deep Throat (Mark Felt)

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein