Ring of Fire (Kings Cup)

Ring of Fire, also known as Kings Cup, is the international classic. You take turns drawing a card from the ring and do the task that goes with that card right away. In the Netherlands people play their own version called Kingsen.

What is Ring of Fire?

Ring of Fire drinking game with cards in a ring around a glass

Type

Card game

Players

2 to 12

Duration

30-60 minutes

What you need

Playing cardsCupDrinks

How to play

Take the jokers out of the deck.
Put a cup in the middle.
Lay all the cards face down in a ring around the cup.
Agree beforehand which task goes with every card.
The first player carefully draws a card from the ring.
That player does the task of the card right away.
Then it's the next player's turn.
Drew a king? Then pour some of your drink into the cup in the middle.
Drew the fourth king? Then you drink the whole cup.
Does someone break the ring of cards? Then that player takes the penalty you agreed on.

What every card means

2: You. The player who draws the card points at someone. That person drinks.
3: Me. The player who draws the card drinks.
4: Everyone who identifies as a woman drinks.
5: Thumbmaster. The player who draws the card puts their thumb on the table whenever they like, before the next five is drawn. Wait too long? Then you lose the right. The last player to put their thumb on the table drinks. In another version the Thumbmaster picks a penalty for the last player.
6: Everyone who identifies as a man drinks.
7: Heaven. The player who draws the card points at the sky whenever they like, before the next seven is drawn. The last player to point at the sky drinks. In another version the player who drew the seven picks the penalty.
8: Mate. The player who draws the card picks a drinking mate. From now on that mate drinks every time the player drinks. Agree beforehand whether it works the other way round too.
9: Rhyme. The player who draws the card says a word. Then everyone takes turns saying a word that rhymes with it, until someone makes a mistake and has to drink.
10: Categories. The player who draws the card picks a category, like chocolate brands or car brands. Then everyone takes turns naming something from that category, until someone makes a mistake and has to drink.
Jack: The player who draws the card makes up a new rule, like always drinking with your right hand or calling everyone by their middle name. Whoever breaks the rule for the rest of the game drinks.
Queen: You become the question master. Does someone answer a question you ask? Then that person drinks. This goes for every question.
King: The player who draws the card pours part of their drink into the cup in the middle. Whoever draws the last king drinks the whole cup.
Ace: Waterfall. Starting with the player who draws the card, everyone keeps drinking. You only stop once the player to your right has stopped.