The Circle of Death Rules & Cards (The Drinking Card Game)

Circle of Death is a popular drinking card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards and is also known as King’s Cup, Donut, or Ring of Fire. The Circle of Death Card game can be played with two to eight players, who take turns drawing cards and must play according to the guidelines for each card they draw. The game typically involves a variety of mini-games and drinking rules, making it a fun and engaging social activity and game night.

The Circle of Death Rules – Cards

To play the circle of death game, each player takes turns drawing cards from the deck and must act according to the specific rules that correspond with each card they have drawn. For example, drawing a king requires the player to make a statement about something they’ve never done, and anyone who has done it must drink. Drawing an ace forces the player to start drinking, with the other players in the circle following suit.

In addition to the king and ace, other cards have specific meanings, and rules associated with them. For instance, drawing a queen designates the player as the question master, allowing them to ask anyone a question at any time. The person asked must respond with another question to avoid drinking.

The Rules for Circle of Death Card Game

When playing Circle of Death, it’s important to establish and understand the rules (all rules and instructions are given below in a list). The dealer, referred to as the “dealer of death,” is responsible for distributing the cards clockwise, starting with the player on their left.

The players are required to adhere to specific regulations, such as addressing the dealer by their designated name. Failure to do so will result in a penalty of five seconds of intoxication. House rules and variations are often established by the group according to the interests of all players in the game.

Set-Up

To set up the game, players gather in a circle with a deck of cards. The dealer of death is randomly chosen, and the cards are picked up and placed face-down in the center. The dealer then begins handing out the cards in a clockwise direction, starting with the player on their left.

Game Play

The game begins with the first player drawing a card and following the rules, and each player takes turns drawing cards and conforming to the corresponding rules. When the draw pile becomes empty, players continue with the cards in their hands, playing one card per turn.

The game ends when a player is unable to play the minimum number of cards required on their turn. At this point, the player with the fewest cards remaining is declared the winner. If a player runs out of cards, they are still included in the final outcome of the game, sharing in the victory or defeat with the other players.

How to Play Circle of Death Drinking Card Game

To play the Circle of Death, also known as Kings, you’ll need a standard deck of cards, a large cup, and a lot of drinks. To set up, spread the deck of cards faces down in a circle around the cup placed in the central position. All the players sit around the cards, and someone starts by picking a card to play.

Starting and Dealing Cards

When starting and distributing the cards, the player who starts picks a card from the circle and follows the rule associated with the card that they chose. The game continues in a clockwise direction, with each player drawing a card and following the instructions (each card’s rule is discussed below) for each card in their hands.

Taking Turns and Playing Cards

In Kings or Circle of Death, all players take turns, and playing cards begins by following the specific rules associated with each card in the deck (here below are some instructions that may help you decide on the rule for each card in the deck):

• Ace – Waterfall; everyone starts drinking and cannot stop until the person to their right stops;
• 2 – You, the player who picked the card, select someone to drink;
• 3 – Me, the player who picked the card drinks;
• 4 – Floor, everyone must touch the floor, and the last person drinks.
• 5 – Guys, all male players drink.
• 6 – Chicks, all female players drink.
• 7 – Heaven, everyone reaches for the sky, and the last person drinks.
• 8 – Mate, pick someone to be your mate, and when you drink, they drink, too.
• 9 – Rhyme, say a word, and everyone must say a word that rhymes, the first person to hesitate or repeat a word drinks.
• 10 – Categories, pick a category, and everyone must say something that fits in that category, and the first person to hesitate or repeat drinks.
• Jack – Make a Rule, like create a rule that everyone must follow, and if someone breaks it, it results in drinking.
• Queen – Questions, ask a question to someone, and they must respond with a question to someone else, and the first person to fail drinks.
• King – Pour your drink into the cup in the center, and the player who draws the fourth king must drink the entire cup.

Winning

The game ends when all cards have been drawn, and the player who draws the final card is the winner. They get to create a rule for the next game or assign a drinking task to someone else. Always be sure to drink responsibly and be conscious of the limits.