Best Drinking Card Games

Are there many drinking games that are played with cards?

How can you choose the best drinking games with cards?

What are some of the qualities that make these games great?

Here are a few to keep in mind:

• These games should be easy to learn how to play with rules that are simple and make sense even to players who have had a lot to drink.
• The games should be quick enough that a round doesn’t take too long, encouraging new players to jump in when they’re ready.
• The games should be competitive but fun so no one feels left out or gets upset when they lose.

Finding the best card drinking games can be tricky, but we’re here to help. Keep these suggestions in mind as you look through our list of the top 7 card-based drinking games below.

Read on to learn about the best drinking card games around.

Option #1. Circle of Death

[amazon bestseller="custom beer mug" items=3 grid=3 button=none]

Number of Players: 3 or more

Best Alcohol: Beer, plus something strong for the center cup

Materials Needed:

• Deck of cards
• Tall middle cup
• Table

How to Play

1. This game plays more or less like Kings.
2. Fill the center cup with a strong drink or with a combination of many types of alcohol.
3. Spread the cards in a circle around the center cup.
4. The first player picks a card, responds to it, and then play continues to their left.
5. Different cards have different meanings.
   • For example, the first three Kings drawn can make a new rule for the game. The fourth King drawn is the loser and has to drink the middle cup.
   • Queen means asking a question to another player.
   • Jacks mean any time you put your thumb on the table, everyone else has to do the same. The last person to do so has to take a shot. The next person to draw a Jack takes this right from you.
   • Tens are categories. The player who drew the card names a category and everyone else must say a word in that category. Anyone who can’t or who is too slow takes a shot.
   • Nine is rhymes. It functions the same as the categories, except with rhymes instead.
   • For eight and below, reds mean the person who drew the card drinks that number of shots. Black cards mean the person can give away the shots and make someone else take them.
   • Ace means chug.

Option #2. Beeramid

Number of Players: 2 or more

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Deck of cards
• Table
• Drinks for everyone

How to Play

1. Set up a pyramid of playing cards on the table. Begin with seven cards on the bottom row and go up to one card on the top. If you’re only playing with a couple of people, start with five cards instead of seven for a smaller game.
2. The first row is one drink per card. The number of drinks increase with every row of cards.
3. The dealer should then deal an equal number of cards to each player.
4. Players must look at their cards and memorize what they have, then keep them face-down in front of them.
5. The dealer then turns over the first card.
6. If a player has the matching card, they announce it. Players can also lie and claim to have a card they don’t have.
7. If someone doesn’t believe you have the card, they can call you on it. If you can prove you do have it, they must take a shot. If you’re caught lying, you must take a shot.

Option #3. Shithead

Number of Players: 2 or more

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Deck of cards
• Drinks for each player

How to Play

1. Begin by shuffling a deck of cards and dealing each player nine cards. These should include three face-down, three face-up, and three hand cards.
2. Any player who has a 3 in their hand cards starts. The 3 is played first.
3. The next player must play an equal or higher card and then draw another card for their hand cards.
4. Play continues this way. If a player cannot do this, they must pick up all the cards from the in-play pile.
5. If a player plays the fourth card in a group (i.e. 4 of hearts, 4 of clubs, and 4 of spades have been played, and the player is going to lay down the four of diamonds), this “burns” the pile and clears out all the cards in the in-play pile.
6. When a player is out of cards, they are out of the game. The last player playing is the “shithead,” and is the loser. The loser has to chug.

Option #3. War

Number of Players: 2

[amazon bestseller="alcohol drinking accessory" items=3 grid=3 button=none]

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Deck of cards

How to Play

1. This choice is a very common game that is often played without an alcohol component.
2. For this version, play the game like you normally would: divide the deck evenly between both players, face-down.
3. Each player flips over a card at the same time. The player with the higher value takes both cards and adds them to the bottom of their stack.
4. The losing player each round takes a sip.

4.Blow Me

Number of Players: 2 or more

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Deck of cards
• Full, opened beer bottle

How to Play

1. Lay the deck of cards face-down on top of the bottle.
2. Each player takes turns blowing on the sides of the cards.
3. If nothing falls, the player must take a shot.
4. If a player knocks the whole deck off, they must chug the whole bottle.
5. If a player blows only one card off, they do not have to take a drink.
6. No player should play twice in a row.

Option #5. Mushroom

Number of Players: 3 or more

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Deck of cards
• Full, opened beer bottle

How to Play

1. Place one beginning card on top of the bottle.
2. The next player should place a card on top of that one, with at least two corners hanging off the first card.
3. Play continues around the table in this way.
4. If a player places a card without two corners hanging off, they must take as hot.
5. If a player knocks off several cards, they must take two shots.
6. If a player knocks off all the cards, they must chug the bottle.

Option #6. Asshole

Number of Players: 4

Best Alcohol: Beer

Materials Needed:

• Deck of cards
• Table

How to Play

1. Each player is dealt an equal number of cards.
2. Player one draws a card. Player two must then play a card of a higher value, and so on through the group.
3. A 2 clears the round, and two 3’s also clear the round.
4. The first person to get rid of all their cards in a round plays first in the next round.

Conclusion

Did you find a drinking game you’ll want to try with your favorite deck of cards? These games are a fun way to break the ice or enjoy your time at almost any party where alcohol is present, so learning how to play them is a good way to improve your party experiences.

These games get even more fun when you’ve had more to drink, because they become more difficult as well. The challenge increases and so does the entertainment value. However, remember to always drink responsibly!