Kings Cup rules
Who will end up with the King’s Cup?
Game Details
How to Play Kings Cup
Kings Cup is a classic drinking game played with playing cards and a glass in the middle: the King’s Cup. Players take turns drawing a card and performing the corresponding action. Each card has its own unique Kings Cup rules. As soon as the fourth king is drawn, that person must drink the entire King’s Cup. Place a glass or cup in the middle of the table; this is the “King’s Cup”. Shuffle the cards and place them in an unbroken, facedown circle around the glass.
Kings Cup Card Rules
Every card in Kings Cup has a special action. This is what they mean:
A: Waterfall
Everyone starts drinking at the same time. You can only stop when the player to your left stops. The person who drew the card may stop first.
2: Give Two
You get to give out 2 sips. Give them to one person or split them between two players. You choose!
3: Drink Two
This one’s for you. You must drink two sips yourself. No excuses, just drink!
4: Categories
The drawer picks a category (e.g., beer brands). Everyone takes turns naming something. Whoever fails or repeats first, drinks.
5: Thumb Master
You are the Thumb Master. At an unexpected moment, place your thumb on the table. The last player to follow must drink.
6: Rhymes
The drawer says a word. Going clockwise, everyone must say a word that rhymes. Whoever can’t think of one, repeats, or waits too long, drinks.
7: Heaven
Heaven When this card is drawn, the player who drew it must point up to the sky (or ceiling). All other players must immediately do the same. The last player to point up to ‘Heaven’ must drink.
8: Drinking Buddy
Choose a ‘drinking buddy’. From now on, you always drink together. If you have to drink, your buddy drinks too (and vice versa). This will mean a lot of drinking!
9: Snake Eyes
Watch out! From now on, everyone must avoid eye contact with you. Anyone who accidentally looks you in the eye, drinks. This lasts until the next 9 is drawn.
10: Pointing
Count down from 3. On ‘NOW’, everyone points at another player. The person with the most fingers pointing at them must drink.
J: Quizmaster
You ask questions. If a player answers your question, they must drink. This lasts until another player draws a Jack.
Q: Make a Rule
You get to make a new rule (e.g., “only drink with your left hand”). Everyone must follow it. Whoever breaks the rule, drinks.
K: Fill the King’s Cup
Drew a King? Pour some of your drink into the King’s Cup. If you draw the 4th King? You lose and must drink the entire cup!
How do you lose at Kings Cup?
As soon as the fourth King is drawn, that player loses and must drink the ‘King’s Cup’. However, this isn’t the only way to lose. According to the official Kings Cup rules, you must also be careful when drawing cards. If you accidentally break the circle of cards (causing two cards to no longer touch), you also lose and must drink the King’s Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kings Cup
How many players do you need for Kings Cup?
A minimum of 3 players, but it’s most fun with a large group of five or more.
What do you need for Kings Cup?
A deck of cards, a large glass, and plenty of drinks!
How long does a game of Kings Cup take?
On average, a game of Kings Cup lasts 20 to 40 minutes.
What happens when you draw the fourth king?
You have to drink the King’s Cup.
Kings Cup Drinking Game Variations
Have you played Kings Cup a hundred times already? Are you ready for more chaos or looking for a new twist? These popular (new) house rules and variations add a whole new layer of strategy and hilarity to the classic Kings Cup.
Floor is Lava!
As soon as a 4 is turned over, everyone must get off the ground as quickly as possible. The last person still touching the floor drinks.
Vikings
You’re the Viking. The players to their left and right are the rowers. The rest are the sea. The Viking randomly points with their horns to designate a new Viking.
Bathroom Pass
Did you draw an 8? You get a ‘bathroom pass’. You can save this card and use it once to go to the bathroom. Don’t have a pass? Then you’ll have to hold it!
Kings Cup Strategy
Kings Cup (or King’s Cup) seems like a game of pure chaos and luck. You draw a card and do what it says. But don’t be fooled. While you can’t influence the outcome of a single card draw, you can approach the game strategically.
You lose Kings Cup in two ways. The first is by breaking the circle of cards. The second is if you draw the 4th King card.
The Circle
This is the most unnecessary way to lose. The rule is simple: don’t break the circle.
- Don’t draw a card that’s stuck under the glass or one that connects two other parts of the circle. Always pick an easy card and take no risks.
- Be the player with the steady hand. Don’t let yourself be rushed. If you break the circle, you drink the King’s Cup, regardless of how many Kings are still in the game.
The 4th King
The chance of drawing a King increases dramatically as the game progresses and more Kings have been drawn.
| Kings Drawn | Cards Left (Estimate) | Chance of a King | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 van 4 | 52 (Start) | 4/52 (7,7%) | ⬤ |
| 1 van 4 | 35 (Middle) | 3/35 (8,6%) | ⬤ |
| 2 van 4 | 20 (End) | 2/20 (10%) | ⬤ |
| 3 van 4 | 15 (Danger Zone) | 1/15 (6,7%) | ⬤ |
| 3 van 4 | 5 (Endgame) | 1/5 (20%) | ⬤ |
Strategies for the Social Skill Cards
The rest of the game is about minimizing the sips you drink. You have the three social skill cards (4, 6, 7). With these, you can easily win by being smarter, not just lucky.
4. Category: You choose. Don’t be nice.
- Bad choice: “Beer brands” (everyone knows 5).
- Good choice: “Car models from before 1980,” “Capitals in Africa,” “Elements from the periodic table.”
6. Rhymes: You start.
- Bad choice: “Card” (Hard, yard, guard…).
- Good choice: “Orange,” “Purple,” “Month.” Choose words that are phonetically difficult or that simply have no common rhyming words in English.
7. Heaven: Reaction speed. This rule is about reaction speed, not brains. The only strategy is to not drink too much on the other cards, so your reflexes can still handle it.
Strategies for the Attack Cards
You also have several cards that let you directly make other players drink. Use them.
2. Give Two: Always give sips to the sharpest player. Give them to the person who is best at “Categories” or fastest at “Heaven” to break their focus.
5. Thumb Master & 9. Snake Eyes: Timing is everything.
- Bad timing: Right after you draw the card. Everyone is paying attention.
- Good timing: Wait until someone starts a “Category” (4) or is in the middle of a “Waterfall” (A). Their focus is elsewhere. Then you put your thumb down or look at them.
10. Pointing: This is group dynamics. Don’t just point at random. Point at the player who is already the most popular (or unpopular). Reinforce the majority to avoid having the fingers pointed at you.
J. Quizmaster: Be merciless and subtle. Fire simple questions at players who just had their turn (“Was that a fun card?”, “Are you done now?”). Their automatic answer will be “yes” or “no.”
Q. Make a Rule: Make the rule effective.
- Bad rule: “No swearing” (too easy).
- Good rule: “Only drink with your non-dominant hand,” “No using names,” “You must touch your nose before you drink,” or “Everyone has a tiny invisible green man on their glass. You have to take him off before you drink and put him back when you’re done.” This one is always forgotten.
Strategies for the “Bad Luck” Cards
These cards just happen to you. You can’t change much. The only thing you can do is damage control.
A. Waterfall: You drew the card, so you decide when to stop. Stop immediately. You have nothing to prove.
Drink Two: No strategy. Drink and move on.
8. Drinking Buddy: This is a dangerous card. Don’t choose the drunkest player; you are guaranteed to go down with them. Choose the most sober or sharpest player. This forces them to match your (hopelijk lower) drinking level and balances the game.
K. Fill the King’s Cup: As mentioned: pour as little as possible. If you end up drinking it, you’ll be thanking yourself.