King's Cup is a drinking game played with cards, and it's the perfect way to pregame before a big night out. You might also know it as Ring of Fire, Circle of Death, or Waterfall - though whatever you call it, the King's Cup rules remain the same. This guide will teach you how to play King's Cup, with clear descriptions of what each card does that you can follow even when you're sloshed.
King's Cup has a well-earned place on our list of the best drinking games, and it's right at the top of our guide to the best drinking card games. If you fancy a drinking game with a little more meat to it to start your evening, check out our guide to the best drinking board games.
Before we get to the King's Cup card rules, remember: drink within your limits, and don't be a dick to someone who doesn't want to drink. What's the point of an epic night out that you can't remember? This goes double if you're in a town with a waterfront or river - you do not want to be tomorrow's front page news.
King's Cup setup
King's Cup uses a regular deck of playing cards, minus the jokers. We recommend you use a waterproof deck, as King's Cup always gets sloppy. Everyone should bring their own drink, and you'll need a spare cup to be the 'King's Cup'. Any red solo cup or average beer glass should be the right size.
Put the King's Cup in the middle of the table, and spread the deck of cards out around it face down to create a Ring of Fire. Make sure there aren't any breaks between the cards - they should all be packed together. The image above shows what that should look like.
How to play King's Cup
Players take it in turns to pull a card from the Ring of Fire, flipping it face up. Each card has a different challenge or rule that will force one or more players at the table to sip or chug their drink.
King's Cup card meanings
Here are the King's Cup card meanings:
Ace - Waterfall
When an Ace is pulled, everyone must start chugging their drink, starting with the person who pulled the ace and moving clockwise around the table. Except for the person who started the waterfall, you can't stop drinking until you down your drink or the person who set you off puts their cup down.
Two - You
The player who pulled this card chooses someone else to take a swig of their drink.
Three - Me
The person who picked up the three has to take a drink. Oh no! What a horrible consequence in a game about voluntary drinking.
Four - Floor
Everyone tries to touch the ground as fast as possible. The last person to touch the ground has to drink.
Five - Guys
All the men at the table take a drink.
Six - Chicks
All the women at the table drink.
Seven - Heaven
Everyone puts their hands in the air. The last person to stick 'em up takes a swig of their drink.
Eight - Mate
The player who pulled the eight chooses a drinking buddy. Whenever one of you drinks, the other has to as well.
Nine - Rhyme
Choose any word you like. The player next to you (clockwise order) must say another word that rhymes. This keep going around the circle until one player can't think of a word, or says one that doesn't rhyme - they've got to drink. If you choose 'orange' as your word, you're officially a dick.
Ten - Categories
Choose a type of thing, for example 'fish' or 'football players'. In clockwise order, players take turns naming something that fits the category. The first player to hesitate or mess up drinks.
Jack - Never Have I Ever
It's that other classic party game! The player with the Jack lists something they've never done, and anyone who has done it takes a drink. A great way to get confessions out of your friends. If you can't think of any spicy Never Have I Ever questions, we've got a guide that can help.
Queen - Question Master
Become the question master. Any time someone answers a question you ask, they have to drink. The next time a player draws a Queen, they become the question master instead of you.
King - King's Cup
Pour some of your drink into the King's Cup. Then add a new rule to the game - for example, 'Yes means no and no means yes'. From now on, anyone who breaks the rule drinks.
Whoever pulls the fourth King from the Ring of Death has to drink the whole of the King's Cup, no matter how foul the mixture has become. Tequila, Bud Light, and Baileys Cream Liqueur, anyone?
King's Cup variants
King's Cup has many names, but it also has several variants. Here's an alternative way to play:
Ace: Waterfall
Same as above.
Two: You
Everyone at the table must switch seats with someone else, and the last person to sit down takes a sip of their drink.
Three: Me
The turn order switches from clockwise to counter-clockwise (or vice versa).
Four: Floor
Same as above.
Five: Chicks
Instead of men taking a drink, the women do. Why? Because six rhymes with a specific part of the male body…
Six: Dicks
This time, all the men take a sip of their drink.
Seven: Heaven
Same as above.
Eight: Mate
Same as above.
Nine: Rhyme
Same as above.
Ten: Never Have I Ever
The player who pulled this cards names something they've never done, and anyone who has done it takes a drink.
Jack: Little Green Man
The player who drew the Jack must imagine that they have a 'little green man' sitting on their glass. They must remove him before taking a sip, and they must put him back afterwards. Forget to do this, and you must take an extra sip.
Queen: Questions
Same as above.
King: King's Cup
The same as above, but no new rule is made.
Optional King's Cup rules
King's Cup plays differently depending on who you're playing with and just how drunk you all want to get. But if the regular version isn't quite chaotic enough, these optional extra rules are great:
- Never break the circle: If a player creates a break in the Ring of Fire when they pull a card out, they must drink.
- Make a rule: Swap one of the card meanings out for 'make a rule'. Draw this card, and you get to create a new rule that'll remain in force for everyone for the rest of the game, with a drinking penalty for breaking it.
- Gecko: Swap one of the card meanings out for 'gecko'. Draw this card, and you must shout 'Gecko' and immediately place as many of your hands and feet against the wall as possible, with every player following suit as fast as possible. Last one to do it drinks.
- Grenade: Swap one of the card meanings out for 'grenade'. Draw this card, and you must shout 'Grenade', mime throwing a hand grenade, then get your whole body on the floor as quick as you can. Everyone else has to get on the floor too - last one to do it drinks.
How do you win King's Cup?
How long is a piece of string? The sole aim of King's Cup is to get a table of people drunk - so once you've achieved that, you're all winners.
Alternatively:
- The game ends when every card has been drawn from the deck.
- The game ends when someone drinks the King's Cup.
- The game ends when everyone wants to stop drinking - or at least drinking competitively.
King's Cup tips
King's Cup is a simple game, but there are still extra ways you can ensure your drinking buddies have the best possible time. Here are our King's Cup tips:
- Avoid sticky tables that make it tough to pick cards up from around the King's Cup. We've already suggested investing in waterproof cards, but you might also want to try using trading card sleeves to protect your deck.
- Make sure everyone can reach the King's Cup. It makes things a lot easier when cards start getting messy.
- If you're playing for a long time, have refills available nearby. Just make sure those extra cans and bottles don't get in the way of the game!
- Get creative with new rules. Don't be afraid to get silly or strange - just make sure that everyone at the table is on board.