Kings Cup rules and online game

Kings Cup (also called Ring of Fire or just Kings) is the drinking card game where every card in the deck has a rule and the fourth King decides who sips from the cup in the middle. Here are the rules for all 13 cards, plus the game ready to play on your phone, no deck needed.

2–12 players · 20–40 min · Party

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Prefer to play on your own phones?Create a room and invite everyone with a QR code. Everyone follows the game on their own phone.

Kings Cup needs at least 2 players. 2 more to go.

Rules

How to play Kings Cup

A deck of cards, an empty cup in the middle and a rule for every card. Use these Kings Cup rules with a real deck, or let your phone shuffle, keep track of turns and count the Kings for you.

  1. 1Set up the table

    Sit in a circle, 2 to 12 people, each with a drink (or water). Put an empty cup in the middle. With a real deck, use a standard 52-card deck, shuffled and face down; here, your phone already has all 52 shuffled.

  2. 2Draw a card and read it

    On your turn, draw a card, read the rule for its value out loud and play it as a group. Suits don't matter: a 4 of hearts and a 4 of spades mean the same thing. Then it's the next person's turn.

  3. 3Cards you play right away

    Ace (Waterfall): one sip each (or water), in order, starting with whoever drew the card and going around to the right. 2 (You): you pick who drinks. 3 (Me): you drink. 4 (Floor) and 6 (Heaven): the last one takes a sip. 8: Rhyme. 9: Categories. 10: Never Have I Ever.

  4. 4Cards that stay in play

    You keep the 5 (Thumb Master): whenever you want, put your thumb on the table and the last one to copy you takes a sip. With the 7 (Mate) you pick a sip buddy until the next 7. The Jack lets you make up a rule until the next Jack, and the Queen makes you Question Master until the next Queen: anyone who answers one of your questions takes a sip. The game reminds you on screen of the active rule, the sip buddy and the Question Master.

  5. 5Every King goes to the King's Cup

    Whoever draws a King pours a splash of their drink (or water) into the cup in the middle. On screen, you'll see four crowns light up as each King comes out.

  6. 6The fourth King ends the game

    Whoever draws the fourth King takes one sip from the King's Cup or, if they'd rather, does a dare the group picks. The rest gets poured out. Game over: start another one with a fresh deck.

  7. 7Always a sip or water

    Every penalty is a sip or water, and any sip can be swapped for a dare. Small sips: the game is about laughing, not drinking fast.

Kings Cup card rules

All 13 Kings Cup rules, one for each card value: they're exactly the ones that come up in the game. Use them with a real deck or tap “Start the game” and let your phone draw for you.

13rules · tap one to copy it

Ace to 10

Reflex tests, quick thinking and a few straight-up sips. Most are played on the spot; the 5 and the 7 stay in play.

  1. A · Waterfall: One sip each (or water), in order. (You go first, then the person on your right, and so on until it's gone all the way around the table.)
  2. 2 · You: Pick someone: they take a sip (or water). (Or give them a quick dare, if they'd rather.)
  3. 3 · Me: You drink. (A sip, or water if you're pacing yourself.)
  4. 4 · Floor: Everybody touch the floor! (Last one down takes a sip (or water).)
  5. 5 · Thumb Master: Keep this card. (Whenever you want, put your thumb on the table: the last one to copy you takes a sip (or water).)
  6. 6 · Heaven: Everybody point to the sky! (Last hand up takes a sip (or water).)
  7. 7 · Mate: Pick a sip buddy. (Every time you drink, they drink too (a sip or water). Until the next 7.)
  8. 8 · Rhyme: Say a word, then take turns rhyming with it. (Whoever blanks or repeats takes a sip (or water).)
  9. 9 · Categories: Pick a category: brands, TV shows, cities… (Take turns naming one. Repeat or blank and take a sip (or water).)
  10. 10 · Never Have I Ever: Say something you've never done. (Anyone who has done it takes a sip (or water).)

Face cards: Jack, Queen and King

The cards that run the table: rules for everyone, trick questions and the King's Cup.

  1. J · Make a Rule: Make up a rule for the whole group. (It lasts until the next Jack. Break it and take a sip (or water).)
  2. Q · Question Master: You're the Question Master. (Anyone who answers one of your questions takes a sip (or water). Lasts until the next Queen.)
  3. K · King's Cup: Pour a splash of your drink (or water) into the cup in the middle. (Whoever draws the fourth King takes a sip from the King's Cup (or does a dare); the rest gets poured out.)
Quick game

No time for 52 cards? Drinking Card Game

Just 13 cards, one rule on each, and quick games. No deck of cards and no King's Cup: perfect for kicking off the night.

Play Drinking Card Game →

What is Kings Cup?

Kings Cup is a drinking card game that goes by a lot of names: Ring of Fire, Circle of Death or just Kings. The idea is always the same: every card value has a rule, you take turns drawing cards and, with every King, the cup in the middle fills up a little more.

What makes it so fun is the mix: reflex cards (Floor, Heaven and the Thumb Master), quick-thinking cards (Rhyme and Categories), confessions (Never Have I Ever) and rules that keep piling up. And in the background, the King count: the more Kings come out, the more tension there is every time someone draws.

Kings Cup tips: rules that actually work

The Jack rules make the game: the best ones are funny and easy to keep an eye on, like no first names, drinking with your left hand only or talking in the third person. Skip the ones that make people drink nonstop or that nobody remembers to follow.

With the Thumb Master (the 5), the trick is to wait: put your thumb down when everyone's distracted. And if you're the Question Master (the Queen), any question works to catch someone: “Can you pass the chips?” works better than you'd think.

Kings Cup variations and house rules

Kings Cup rules change from group to group, and almost every table has a house rule or two. In some groups, for example, the cards are spread in a ring around the cup and whoever breaks the ring when drawing takes a sip. If you want to change a card, agree on it before you start so everyone knows.

One rule doesn't change here: the fourth King takes one sip from the cup or does a dare, never the whole cup. And if someone would rather not drink alcohol, the King's Cup can be filled with water or soda: the game works exactly the same.

When to play Kings Cup and who with

It's the classic card game for pregames, college parties and big groups: 2 to 12 people and a game that lasts about 20–40 minutes. One phone in the middle of the table is all you need, and if you'd rather everyone follow along on their own screen, you can create a room and play long-distance too.

If you like Kings Cup, try the Drinking Card Game, with 13 cards and shorter games, or Three Man if you feel like swapping cards for dice.

Before the first round

Kings Cup FAQ

01How do you play Kings Cup?

Put an empty cup in the middle and take turns drawing a card and following the rule for its value. With each King, pour a splash of your drink (or water) into the cup, and whoever draws the fourth King takes a sip from it or does a dare.

02What does each card mean in Kings Cup?

Ace is Waterfall, 2 is You, 3 is Me, 4 is Floor, 5 is Thumb Master, 6 is Heaven, 7 is Mate, 8 is Rhyme, 9 is Categories, 10 is Never Have I Ever, Jack is Make a Rule, Queen is Question Master, King is King's Cup. Every rule is explained above.

03What happens when the fourth King is drawn?

Whoever draws it takes a sip from the King's Cup or does a dare the group picks, the rest of the cup gets poured out and the game ends. Nobody ever has to drink the whole cup.

04Are Kings Cup, Ring of Fire and Kings the same game?

Yes, they're different names for the same drinking card game. The rule for each card can vary a little from group to group, but the cup in the middle and the four Kings are always the same.

05Does the suit of the card matter?

No. Only the value counts: every card with the same number or face has the same rule, whatever the suit.

06How many people do you need to play?

From two people, although it works best with five or more: the “pick who drinks” and categories cards are a lot more fun with a bigger group. The site supports up to 12 players.

07Can you play Kings Cup without a deck of cards?

Yes. On this site your phone shuffles all 52 cards, keeps track of turns and counts the Kings. You can play with one phone or create a room so everyone follows along on their own.

08Do you have to drink alcohol to play?

No. Every sip can be water or soda, or swapped for a dare, and the King's Cup can be filled with water. This site is for adults only (18+ and of legal drinking age where you live).