Card drinking game · rules
Kings Cup rules: every card explained
Kings Cup, also called Ring of Fire or Circle of Death, is the classic card drinking game. Here are the rules for every card, how to set up the ring and the house rules people argue about.
What you need
- A standard deck of 52 cards.
- An empty cup or glass for the middle: the King's cup.
- Drinks for everyone, and water on the table.
- Three or more players. It is best with four to eight.
How to set up Kings Cup
Put the empty cup in the middle of the table. Shuffle the deck and spread the cards face down in a circle around the cup so that they touch: that circle is the "ring of fire". Players sit around the table and take turns drawing one card each, going clockwise.
A common extra rule: if you break the ring when you draw, so that there is a gap in the circle, you drink.
Kings Cup rules: every card
The rules below are the most common version. Every group plays a little differently, so agree on the cards before you start.
| Card | Rule | What happens | Common variations |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Waterfall | Everyone starts drinking at the same time, beginning with the person who drew. Nobody may stop until the person before them has stopped. | Some groups let the drawer stop whenever they like, which is crueller for everyone after them. |
| 2 | You | Pick someone to drink. | Some tables play it as "two sips to hand out". |
| 3 | Me | You drink. | Often played as "three is me" with three sips. |
| 4 | Floor | Everyone touches the floor. The last one to do it drinks. | Some groups use "4 is for everyone" or Thumb master instead. |
| 5 | Guys | Every guy drinks. | Many groups swap this for Thumb master or "Drive" (a car-noise round). |
| 6 | Girls | Every girl drinks. | Often swapped for Heaven or "Everyone drinks". |
| 7 | Heaven | Everyone points at the sky. The last one to point drinks. | Sometimes "Seven is never have I ever". |
| 8 | Mate | Pick a mate. Whenever you drink, they drink too, for the rest of the game. | Some groups make it last only until the next 8. |
| 9 | Rhyme | Say a word. Going around the circle, everyone says a word that rhymes. First to fail or repeat drinks. | Also played as "Bust a rhyme" with full lines. |
| 10 | Categories | Pick a category, such as beer brands or Disney films. Going around, everyone names something in it. First to blank drinks. | Some tables use 10 for Never have I ever. |
| J | Make a rule | Make a rule everyone must follow for the rest of the game, like "no first names". Break it and you drink. | Some groups use Jack for Thumb master or "Jack is back" (the last player to sit down drinks). |
| Q | Question master | Until the next queen, anyone who answers a question from you drinks. | Some tables play "Queen is quiz" instead. |
| K | King's cup | Pour some of your drink into the cup in the middle. Whoever draws the fourth king drinks the whole cup and the game ends. | Some groups end the game on the fourth king, others keep playing until the deck is empty. |
How the game ends
The game ends when the fourth king is drawn and that player drinks the King's cup, or when the deck runs out if your group keeps playing after the last king.
Tips for a better game
- Write your house rules down before you start, so nobody argues about what a 5 means.
- Let people pour water into the King's cup if they want to. It is a game, not a test.
- Keep track of the rules people make. Ring of Sin shows them on screen for the whole game (there, the 10 is the new-rule card).
- Never make anyone drink who doesn't want to. A skip should always be allowed.
Questions
What are the rules of Kings Cup?
Cards are spread in a circle around an empty cup. Players take turns drawing; each card has a rule, such as Waterfall for an ace, Mate for an 8 and Question master for a queen. Each king adds drink to the cup, and whoever draws the fourth king drinks it.
Is Kings Cup the same as Ring of Fire?
Yes. Kings Cup, Ring of Fire and Circle of Death are names for the same card drinking game. The rules for each card vary a little from group to group.
What does a Jack mean in Kings Cup?
In the most common version a Jack means Make a rule: you invent a rule everyone must follow for the rest of the game, and anyone who breaks it drinks.
What happens when you draw the fourth king?
You drink the King's cup, the mix of drinks everyone poured in during the game, and in most groups the game ends.
Can you play Kings Cup without cards?
Yes. Ring of Sin on Chug Games is Kings Cup for one phone: it shuffles the deck, tells you what each card means and keeps track of rules, mates and the King's cup.