How to Play King’s Cup: Drinking Game Explained
A million drinking games are out there that help make parties so much fun and memorable. Whether with several close friends or total strangers, we all love a party with some good drinking games. A classic favorite you should know how to play is King’s Cup.
King’s Cup is one of those great party games because it is fun and quite easy to understand because of its simple rules. The King’s Cup game involves a drink in hand and a pack of cards. The cards have an action or mini-game associated with them and can make for some serious fun.
If you need to learn how to play the game, here are the King’s Cup rules to prepare you for your next game night. You’ll need only a deck of cards and a drink — thankfully, there will be no shortage of that at a party.
What You Need to Play King’s Cup
To properly set off the game, you will need a large cup (also known as the King’s Cup) positioned at the center of the table, a pack of cards, and a drink of your choosing. It may not even have to be alcoholic, but if it is, make sure to use something not too strong because there will be a lot of drinking.
How to Set Up a King’s Cup Game
Setting up is quite easy. You must place the large cup at the center of the table and distribute the surrounding cards uniformly. Also, ensure everyone has their cups with liquor to sip from, and that’s it; you are ready to begin.
How to play King’s Cup
When the game begins, every player takes turns selecting cards from the center of the table. Each card has a task that accompanies it, and various cards have various tasks. The following are the most popular King’s Cup rules and the different card meanings:
Ace – Waterfall
The waterfall rule sounds just like the name. If someone picks an Ace, everyone has to start downing their drinks, hence the name Waterfall. The person who picks the card can stop whenever they want. Only then can the person to their right stop too, and so on, until everyone stops.
Two – You
This one is quite simple, anyone who picks this card can point to any other person, and that person will have to drink.
Three – Me
If a player picks a three, that player drinks.
Four – “Whores”
A bit offensive going by the name, but the rule is that if any player picks a four, all the females drink.
Five – Never Have I Ever
In this round, if someone picks a five, every player raises three or five fingers, whatever you decide. The player that picked the card starts the game “Never Have I Ever.”
If you have done something that’s been said, you put a finger down, and the first person to drop all fingers loses and must drink.
Six – “Dicks”
The opposite of Whores, when a player picks this card, it means all the guys must drink.
Seven – Heaven
This is one for the fastest fingers, literally. When a seven is picked, everyone must raise a finger or their hand to heaven by pointing upward. The last one to do this must drink.
Eight – Mate
When an eight is picked, the person must pick another player to be their mate. When one mate drinks, the other has to drink as well. After all, what are mates for? This rule will continue until another person picks another eight.
Nine – Rhyme
This one might be a little tricky, especially as the alcohol starts to kick in, so pay close attention. When someone picks a nine, the person will say a word, the person to the right must say a word rhyming with the previous word, and so on, until someone fails, that person must drink.
Ten – Categories
Another tricky one is when a player picks a ten, they have to think of a category of items such as colors, cars, musicians, etc. The person to the right must say something in the previously mentioned category. When a player fails to answer correctly, they have to drink.
Jack – Make a Rule
Whoever picks a jack card has the opportunity to create their own rule. This is a fun variation as it allows players to get creative, and whoever breaks this newly made rule will drink.
Queen – Questions
When a player picks a queen, that player becomes the question master and gets to ask anyone in the game any question they choose. That player has to reply to the initial question with another question.
For example, “Where is the car?” “Is it outside?” This will continue until someone fails to reply with a question, and they drink.
King – King’s Cup
This is the main event since it is, after all, the King’s cup. How this works is that there are four King cards.
When a king is drawn, each player pours some of their drink into the King’s Cup on the table. The player who drew the fourth King drinks the entire content of the King’s Cup.
King’s Cup Rules With Variations
King’s Cup, like every other party game, can be varied. Some variations may involve putting an unopened beer can at the center of the table instead of a cup.
Players slide-picked cards under the tab throughout the game until the pressure pops the can. The player whose turn pops the can have to drink it all.
How to Play King’s Cup – Conclusion
You are now fully prepared for the next party you attend with the knowledge of the King’s Cup game. Feel free to change the rules to fit the occasion or come up with even more creative and fun rules and tasks.
Remember, you’re there to have fun, so have fun. But if you cannot continue, stop drinking, take a break, and relax. What’s more important than having fun is your safety and the safety of others. Drink responsibly!
