Flip Cup: how to play the best team drinking game
Flip Cup is a relay race between two teams on either side of a table. Each player has a cup with a small amount of drink. On go, the first player on each team drinks, sets the empty cup at the table edge and flicks it until it lands upside down; then the next teammate can go. The first team to have every cup flipped wins.
What you need
- A long table (a kitchen table works; a folding table is perfect)
- One plastic cup per player, the lighter the better
- Drinks, poured short: a finger’s width per cup
Setup
Split into two even teams and line up on opposite sides of the table, facing an opponent. Every player puts a cup in front of them with a small pour in it. The first two players are the starters, usually at one end of the table.
How to play
- Toast. The two starters tap cups (or the table) and drink.
- Flip. Each puts their empty cup mouth-up, with the rim hanging just over the table edge, and flicks the rim up with one finger so the cup turns over and lands upside down.
- Miss? Set it up and try again. Nobody else on your team can start until your cup is down.
- Next. As soon as your cup lands, the next teammate drinks and flips.
- Win. The first team to land the last cup wins the round. Best of five is a good match.
The losing team usually takes one extra sip. If you want less drinking, the losing team only refills the cups.
Flipping tips
- Hang about a third of the cup over the edge.
- Flick the rim up gently, not hard: the cup should turn half a turn.
- A cup with a drop of liquid left in it flips worse. Finish the sip first.
Variations
Survivor Flip Cup
After each round, the losing team drops a player (they pick who), and the players who are left flip more than once to cover the empty spots. The first team to run out of players loses. Great for big groups, and anyone who drops out can stop drinking for the rest of the game.
Flip Cup Tic-Tac-Toe
Draw or tape a 3×3 grid on the table. One player from each team flips at the same time; the first to land picks a square. Three in a row wins. It is slower and much more tactical.
Around the World
One team, one cup per player in a circle, and a timer. Beat your best time. Works when you only have five or six people and nobody wants to split up.
When to play it
Flip Cup is the best team game for a big group, because everyone plays at once and a round lasts a minute. It is a staple of college parties, works for 6 people and up, and is the perfect thing to run during the ad breaks of a Super Bowl party. Have a ping pong ball? See Beer Pong rules.
Keep it a game
Flip Cup is fast, which is exactly why the pours should be small. Keep water on the table, swap in soft drinks for a round, and let anyone flip with an empty cup. More on our responsible drinking page.
Questions people ask
How many players do you need for Flip Cup?
Four is the minimum (two teams of two), but it is best with six to sixteen. Teams should be even; with an odd number, one player goes twice or acts as referee.
How much should be in a Flip Cup cup?
Very little: a finger's width or a couple of sips. The game is about the flip, and short pours keep the relay fast. Many groups use water or a soft drink for every other round.
Can you touch the cup again if it falls off the table?
Yes. Put it back at the edge and keep flipping. The usual rule is that you can only flip with one finger under the rim, and you cannot use your other hand to catch or turn it.
What is the difference between Flip Cup and Beer Pong?
Flip Cup is a fast team relay where everyone plays at once, which makes it great for big groups. Beer Pong is a throwing game for two teams of one or two, with everyone else watching.
Who's gettingwrecked tonight?
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