Card drinking games: 6 easy games for a party
A deck of cards, friends and drinks: that is all you need for a good night. Here are six card drinking games you can learn in two minutes, from the most tactical to the simplest, each with an alcohol-free option.
- 6games
- 152-card deck
- 0obligation to drink
Adults only. Excessive drinking is harmful to your health. Nobody has to drink alcohol: all these games also work with points, dares or soft drinks. And nobody drives after the party.
1. Last Call: the Liar's Bar bluff
Everyone plays cards face down, claiming they match the table card, and is allowed to lie. The next player believes them or shouts “Liar!”. Believing a liar costs sips; a wrong accusation costs double. It is the most tactical game on the list.
What you need: Aces, Kings, Queens and Jokers, plus MhyTom's Last Call mode, which counts the sips, suggests water breaks and sets a limit per player. The detailed rules are in Liar's Bar as a drinking game.
2. Cheat, the drinking version
Use the rules of Cheat (also called BS or I Doubt It): everyone plays cards claiming a rank, and may bluff. Whoever loses a challenge picks up the pile and drinks one sip per card picked up. The first player with no cards left hands out sips.
3. Pyramid
Everyone gets 4 cards. Then lay 15 cards face down in a pyramid: 5 at the bottom, then 4, 3, 2 and 1. Flip the cards one by one, starting from the bottom.
- When a card is flipped, anyone holding the same rank can play it and give out sips: 1 for the first row, 2 for the second, and so on.
- You can bluff by playing a card you don't have. If someone challenges and you lied, you drink double. Otherwise, they do.
4. Ride the Bus
The dealer asks each player four questions, flipping a card after each answer. Wrong answer, one sip.
- Red or black?
- Higher or lower than the first card?
- Inside or outside the first two cards?
- Which suit? Hearts, diamonds, clubs or spades.
5. Kings (Ring of Fire)
Spread all the cards face down in a circle around an empty glass. Players take turns flipping a card and following the rule linked to its rank. Agree on the rules before you start; for example:
- Ace: waterfall, everyone drinks, starting with the player who drew the card.
- 2: you pick who drinks.
- 3: you drink.
- Jack: make up a rule that lasts until the end of the game.
- King: pour a little of your drink into the middle glass. Whoever draws the fourth King drinks it… or, in the sensible version, simply skips a turn.
6. Higher or Lower
The simplest of all. The dealer flips a card; the next player bets that the next one will be higher or lower. Wrong answer, one sip. Right answer, they pass the deck on. Perfect to start the night.
Which one should you pick?
- You love bluffing: Last Call or Cheat.
- Big group, relaxed mood: Kings or Pyramid.
- Just to get the party going: Higher or Lower, or Ride the Bus.
Last Call counts the sips or the points for you.
Open Last CallKeeping it sensible
- Set a limit per player before you start. Last Call does it automatically (15 sips by default).
- Put water on the table and take breaks.
- Swap sips for points for anyone not drinking: the fewest points wins.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest card drinking game?
Higher or Lower: you guess whether the next card will be higher or lower, and drink if you are wrong. It takes ten seconds to learn.
Do you need a special deck of cards?
No. A standard 52-card deck works for all six games. For Last Call you need Aces, Kings, Queens and a few Jokers.
Can you play these games without alcohol?
Yes. Swap the sips for points or dares: the player with the fewest points wins. MhyTom’s Last Call mode has a “Points” unit.
How many players can play?
Most of these games work with 3 to 10 players. Kings and Pyramid are great for big groups.
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MhyTom is an independent project inspired by Liar's Bar. It is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by the creators of the video game.