King's Cup is a card-based drinking game that helps college students all over the world get tipsy quickly. 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, including what each card in the classic drinking game means.
If you're after the best card games for when you're sober, we can recommend the best card games for adults. And why stop there? The best board games can provide just as much fun at a party – or on the morning after.
Before we begin, though, it should go without saying: 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?
How to set up King's Cup
King's Cup uses a regular deck of playing cards, minus the jokers. We recommend you pick a waterproof playing card game set, as this game is guaranteed to get sloppy. Everyone should bring their own drink, and you'll need a spare cup to be the 'King's Cup'. We recommend a cup that can hold at least a pint of liquid.
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. For reference, the image above shows what that might 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 represents a different challenge or rule that will force one or more players at the table to sip or chug their drink.
If you want to make the game extra boozy, add a drinking penalty any time a player creates a break in the Ring of Fire when they pull a card out.
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. No one can stop drinking until the person before them puts their cup down. Player order starts with the person who pulled the Ace and moves clockwise.
If you run out of alcohol before the Waterfall is over, you're allowed to stop drinking. And obviously you can stop in case of emergency (choking, spontaneous combustion, etc.).
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 – Jive
The player who picked up the five shows off a dance move (or if they're too drunk for that, flails their arms and legs around). Everyone at the table must copy them, and the first person to make a mistake drinks.
Alternative – 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.
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 – Questions
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?
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.
That being said, you might want to establish when the game actually ends. Here are some suggestions:
- 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 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. Otherwise, go forth and enjoy your new favorite party card game.