Kings Cup

What is Kings Cup?

Kings Cup (also called Ring of Fire or Circle of Death) is a card-based drinking game where each card in a deck corresponds to a rule or mini-game. A large cup (the King's Cup) sits in the center of the table. Draw a King and pour some of your drink into it. Whoever draws the 4th and final King has to drink the whole cup - whatever concoction has accumulated.

Rules vary by group. The list below is the most common version.

Setup

1. Shuffle a standard deck of 52 cards and spread them face-down in a circle around the King's Cup (a large empty cup or glass in the center).
2. Each player has their own drink.
3. Players sit in a circle. The youngest player draws first; play proceeds clockwise.

Card Rules

On your turn, draw a card from the circle. Each rank has a rule:

• Ace - Waterfall: Everyone starts drinking at the same time. You can't stop until the person to your right stops. They can't stop until the person to their right stops - all the way around.
• 2 - You: Pick someone to take a drink.
• 3 - Me: You take a drink.
• 4 - Floor: Last person to touch the floor drinks.
• 5 - Guys: All men drink.
• 6 - Chicks: All women drink.
• 7 - Heaven: Last person to point up drinks.
• 8 - Mate: Pick a drinking buddy. Whenever one of you drinks, the other does too for the rest of the game.
• 9 - Rhyme: Say a word. Each player in turn says a word that rhymes. First person who can't rhyme drinks.
• 10 - Categories: Pick a category (e.g., "types of beer"). Players list items; first to fail drinks.
• Jack - Make a Rule: Create a new rule that lasts the rest of the game (e.g., "no first names," "must speak in an accent").
• Queen - Question Master: You become Question Master. Anyone who answers your questions must drink. New Queen replaces old one.
• King - King's Cup: Pour some of your drink into the center cup. The player who draws the 4th King must drink the entire King's Cup.

Ending the Game

The game ends when the 4th King is drawn (and the King's Cup is consumed), or when all cards have been drawn. There are no winners - just survivors.