Kings Cup: The Crown Jewel of Drinking Games

Ah, Kings Cup. The quintessential party starter, the ice-breaker supreme, the game that has probably fueled more memorable (and sometimes hazy) nights than any other. If you've never played, you're in for a treat. If you have, you know exactly why it's a timeless classic. It's simple to learn, incredibly fun, and each card drawn brings a new twist to the game. Let's dive in!

What You'll Need

A standard deck of 52 playing cards (jokers removed)
Plenty of your favourite beverages (beers, ciders, spirits – whatever floats your boat!)
A large central cup (the 'King's Cup')
A group of thirsty friends (minimum 2, but the more the merrier!)

Setup

Place the large, empty 'King's Cup' in the centre of your playing area (a table works best).
Carefully spread the deck of cards face down in a circle around the King's Cup. Make sure the cards are touching, forming a 'ring of fire' – if the ring breaks, there's a penalty!
Each player should have their own drink ready.

How to Play

Players take turns drawing one card at a time from the circle. Each card drawn has a specific rule associated with it that dictates who drinks, who makes a rule, or who performs an action. Once a card is drawn and its rule is executed, it's discarded. The game continues until all cards are drawn, or more commonly, until the fourth King is drawn, which ends the game with a bang!

The Rules: What Each Card Means

Here’s the breakdown of what happens when each card is drawn:

2 - You: Point at someone. They take a drink. Simple!
3 - Me: You take a drink. Cheers to yourself!
4 - Floor: Everyone points to the floor. The last person to point takes a drink.
5 - Guys: All male-identifying players take a drink.
6 - Chicks: All female-identifying players take a drink.
7 - Heaven: Everyone points to the sky. The last person to point takes a drink.
8 - Mate: Choose a 'mate'. For the rest of the game, whenever your mate drinks, you drink, and vice versa.
9 - Rhyme: Say a word. The player to your left must say a word that rhymes with it. This continues around the circle until someone can't think of a rhyme or repeats one. That person drinks.
10 - Categories: Choose a category (e.g., 'types of beer', 'football teams', 'TV shows'). Go around the circle, with each player naming something within that category. The first person to hesitate, repeat, or fail to name something drinks.
Jack - Rule: The player who drew the Jack gets to make a new rule for the game. This rule must be followed by everyone until the game ends. (e.g., 'no pointing with your index finger', 'you can only drink with your left hand', 'every time someone says 'drink', they have to drink twice'). Be creative and mischievous!
Queen - Questions: Ask a player a question. That player must then ask another player a question, and so on. If someone answers a question, or fails to ask a new question, they drink.
King - King's Cup: This is where the central cup comes into play! The first three Kings drawn, the player who drew it pours some of their drink into the central King's Cup. When the fourth and final King is drawn, the player who drew it must drink the entire (and often potent) contents of the King's Cup. This usually signals the end of the game!

Breaking the Ring of Fire

If a player breaks the circle of cards around the King's Cup while drawing a card (i.e., separates the cards so they are no longer touching), they usually have to take a penalty drink or sometimes even drink the King's Cup immediately (if a King hasn't been drawn yet, or if it's a house rule). Agree on this rule before you start!

Drink Responsibly!

Kings Cup is a high-energy game, and drinks can add up quickly. Please remember to drink responsibly, know your limits, and ensure everyone playing is comfortable and safe. Always have water available and never pressure anyone to drink more than they want to. Have fun, but be sensible!

Variations & House Rules

Many groups have their own unique twists on Kings Cup. Feel free to adapt these rules to suit your crew:

Waterfall (often on an Ace): When an Ace is drawn, the player who drew it starts drinking. The player to their left then starts drinking, and so on, around the circle. No one can stop drinking until the person to their right stops. The player who drew the Ace can stop whenever they like.
Thumb Master (often on an Ace or a specific number): The player who draws this card becomes the 'Thumb Master'. At any point they choose, they can put their thumb on the table. Everyone else must follow suit. The last person to put their thumb on the table takes a drink. The Thumb Master remains so until another Thumb Master card is drawn.
Never Have I Ever (often on an Ace): The player who drew the card says 'Never Have I Ever...' followed by something they have never done. Anyone who HAS done that action takes a drink.