The Name of the Game (ABBA song)

"The Name of the Game" is a song by the Swedish recording group ABBA, taken from their fifth studio album The Album (1977). It was released on 14 October 1977 by Polar Music as the album's lead single. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus both wrote and produced the track, with Stig Anderson co-writing; this marked the last time Anderson co-wrote a single. Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad both share lead vocals, but also have solo verses. The song was a notable departure for the group, featuring a more progressive and art pop song alongside the usual Europop influences. "Hole in Your Soul" was originally pegged as a single, but was later shelved in favor of "The Name of the Game". Ulvaeus remarked of how the group were initially worried about releasing the single due to its length.

The single received acclaim from music critics, and has continually been ranked as among ABBA's best songs. While not as successful as previous singles, "The Name of the Game" still proved a chart hit, topping the UK Singles Chart for a month, and also charting in the top ten across nearly all of Europe and Australasia. It also nearly became ABBA's third top ten single in the United States, stalling at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single has gone on to be certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for 500,000 certified units sold. It is included on ABBA Gold (1992).