Kings Cup

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Also known as Kings, Circle of Death, and Ring of Fire, Kings Cup is a popular icebreaker or past-time at college or house parties.

While the name and rules vary widely, the set up is the same. A ring of cards is arrayed around an empty cup, called the Kings Cup. Players take turns drawing the cards and performing the action. For instance, if a player draws a two (“Two is You”), that player can point to anyone at the table, who then must take a sip of their drink. Seven is often “Seven is Heaven,” where the last person to get both hands in the air must drink. Whenever someone draws a king, all players pour a little of their beverage into the cup. The person to draw the final king in the deck must chug down the contents of the cup—i.e., the not-so-regal Kings Cup.

The origins of the game, not unlike beer pong, are obscure, though anecdotal accounts claim that the game was created on college campuses in the 1950s. The term was first entered on Urban Dictionary in 2004 and was notably alluded to in the chorus of singer Charlee Remitz’s 2015 song, “King’s Cup”: “You’re playing games like them kids playing King’s Cup.” The game is now commercialized, with companies such as Loaded Kings and Red Pong Cup now selling special water-proof cards designed for the game. Many online guides provide the rules to the game, most calling it Kings Cup.