A Noble Game of Kings Cup

Stuck in a cabin or need to break the ice with your sister’s new beau? Kings Cup is the great unifier. It’s the trick up your sleeve that can turn strangers into friends and a quiet night in into a jolly holiday. Great for groups of 4 or more and doesn’t require a lot of movement. All you need is a deck of cards, adult beverages and a bit of humor. Bottom’s up!

How to Play:

To start, fan out a deck of cards face down around an empty vessel (preferably a large one.) Make sure that all players have a beverage of some sort. (Note: Lighter beer is ideal for this game since you’ll drink a fair amount. Cocktails beware.) Whoever’s birthday is next goes first. Player 1 draws a card from the table and everyone must follow the “rule”. Each card has a corresponding rule/activity (see below). When the rule has been carried out, the person to the left picks a card. Continue in this fashion until the final King card is drawn or there are no more cards on the table, the choice is yours. Remember, there are no losers in King’s Cup!

Card - Meaning - What to do.

Ace - Waterfall - Everyone starts chugging their drink. A player cannot stop drinking until the player to their right has stopped drinking. 2 - You - The player who draws can choose another player who must drink. 3 - Me - The player who draws must drink. 4 - Floor - Everyone at the table must reach down and touch the floor. The last player to do so must drink. 5 - Guys - All of the male players must drink. 6 - Chicks - All of the female players must drink. 7 - Heaven - Everyone at the table must put their hands in the air. The last player to do so must drink. 8 - Mate - The player who draws picks another player to be their “mate.” The mate must drink every time the original player does. This keeps going until another 8 is drawn. 9 - Rhyme - The player who draws must say phrase (“There’s so much holiday cheer”). Going to the left, players have to make up a rhyming phrase to stay in the noun (“I like to drink beer” or “the weather’s been clear”). The first player who fails to think of a rhyme must drink. 10 - Never Have I Ever - Everyone at the table must put up three fingers. Start a game of never have I ever (You say, “Never have I ever….” and if someone has done that, they put a finger down). The first player to lower all three fingers must drink. Jack - Make A Rule - The player who draws can make a rule that must be followed for the rest of the game. Any player who breaks the rule must drink. Any player who draws a jack can overturn the rule. (ex: No pointing, must speak in an accent, must refer to all players as “sir and/or madam.”) Queen - Question Master - The player who draws a Queen can ask questions throughout the game, but whoever answers the question must drink. Continue until another queen is drawn and a new question master is crowned. King - King's Cup - The player who draws must pour the remnants of their drink into the King’s Cup. When the last king is drawn, that player has to drink the King’s Cup and the game is over! Huzzah!