Circle of Death

Circle of Death is a card drinking game . It is played primarily in English-speaking countries and is also known there as the King's Cup (The King's Cup ), Ring of Fire (The Ring of Fire), Waterfall or simply Kings for short . It is especially popular in student circles.

history

The exact origin of the game can no longer be determined. Like many other drinking games, the rules are passed on and not written down. It can be assumed that each drinking round changes the rules according to one's own preferences and discretion and that this leads to a number of variations.

Rules of the game

At the beginning a French deck of cards is placed face down as a circle around an empty cup. The players (at least two) sit in a circle around the cards. Each player must have an alcoholic drink in front of them. The players take turns to draw a card and turn it over. Depending on the card drawn, a special rule now comes into force. If z. For example, if a seven is drawn, the left neighbor has to take a sip of his drink.

In most variations of the game there are also some basic rules that apply throughout the game. If someone disregards any of these basic rules, they must take a sip as punishment. Which rules apply to which card values and whether basic rules are drawn up depends on the variant, which differs from drinking group to drinking group, from region to region and from country to country.

Example variant

When the first card is drawn, the three basic rules come into effect:

It is not allowed to say "you"
It is not allowed to say "drink"
It must not be pointed at anyone

Anyone who disregards one of these rules will take a sip of their drink.

Each card drawn also has a special meaning. Always starting from whoever pulled it:

map	rule
	Left neighbor has to drink
	Right neighbor has to drink
	Choosing who needs to drink
	Drink yourself
	A rule is established. However, it may only refer to the general public and not to an individual, e.g. B. "It is only allowed to drink with the left hand." Such a rule also lasts until the end of the game.
	The player becomes the question master. He has to say clearly for everyone: “I am the Questionmaster!” If you answer one of your questions without putting “Mister Questionmaster” after the answer, you have to drink. Example: The Questionmaster lets the question flow in, whose turn it is, a player answers: "It's my turn!" And has to drink. But if he replies: "It's my turn, Mister Questionmaster!", He is spared.
	For the first three kings, some of your own drink is poured into the glass in the middle. With the last king, the glass in the middle must be drunk.
	Everyone has to drink. Also called a waterfall. If the person in front drinks more than the player behind him, the latter will be sanctioned with extra gaps.

The game is over when all cards have been turned over and the last task has been completed.

2nd variant

With this variant, the basic rules of the first variant do not count.

The youngest player starts and draws the first card, then the next older player and so on.

map	rule
	The drawn player may distribute 7 sips to any number of players.
	The drawn player may distribute 8 sips to any number of players.
	The drawn player may distribute 9 sips to any number of players.
	The player who drew the 10 has to say something he has never done before, everyone who has already done that has to stand up and finish their drink. For example: "I've never: visited Peter", "I've never: driven a car", "I've never been: drunk" Prerequisite: honesty.
	The player names a list, then the list continues in clockwise order; who does not list can lead to an end, his drink must be finished. For example: Cigarette brands: "West", "Lucky Strike" .......
	The player becomes the question master. He has to say clearly for everyone: “I am the Questionmaster!” If you answer one of your questions without putting “Mister Questionmaster” after the answer, you have to finish your drink. Example: The Questionmaster lets the question flow in, whose turn it is, a player answers: "It's my turn!" And has to drink.
	A rule is established. However, it may only refer to the general public and not to an individual. For example, "You may only drink with your left hand." Such a rule also lasts until the end of the game. If you break the rule, you have to finish your drink.
	Everyone has to drink. Also called a waterfall. If the person in front drinks more than the player behind him, he will be sanctioned with extra swallows.

3rd variant

With this variant, the basic rules of the first variant do not count.

The youngest player starts and draws the first card, the drawing is clockwise.

map	rule
	It is counted in a circle, the player drawn starts with "1", the left neighbor follows with "2" etc. However, instead of the numbers in the "7 series (7; 14; 21 ...), all numbers must contain the number Contain "7" (7; 17; 27 ...) and all schnapps numbers (11; 22; 33 ...) any other word can be called, whoever names a forbidden number drinks.
	The drawn player may distribute 8 sips to any number of players.
	The drawn player may forbid a word (including its conjugations / declinations) whoever says this word from now on drinks.
	The player names a word, the following players have to find rhymes for this word in clockwise order, if you cannot do this or if you take too long to drink.
	Whoever draws this card is allowed "for little boys", no one else! In addition, he may set up any rule during his absence, this may not relate to an individual, i.e. only apply to the general public, and it may not make other rules or mini-games impossible (e.g. prohibiting naming any numbers, the game "7 series" can still be played). If this rule is disregarded, people will drink.
	The player becomes the question master. He has to say clearly for everyone: “I am the Questionmaster!” If you answer one of your questions without putting “Mister Questionmaster” after the answer, you have to finish your drink. Example: The Questionmaster lets the question flow in, whose turn it is, a player answers: "It's my turn!" And has to drink.
	That player becomes the "chin-man" until the next king is drawn. If the "chin-man" touches his chin, all players have to take hold of their own, the player who does this last drinks. The "chin-man" can be active at any time and as often as desired.
	The player names a list, then the list continues in clockwise order; if you can't finish the list, you have to finish your drink. For example cigarette brands: "West", "Lucky Strike" ...