Flip Cup

1 Setup

Two teams of equal size (typically 4–8 per side) line up facing each other across a long table. Each player has one plastic cup filled with a set amount of beer (usually 3–4 oz, a full cup makes the game much slower). Teams decide which end starts first.

2 Gameplay

On "Go," the first player on each team drinks their entire cup, places it upside-down on the edge of the table (overhanging slightly), and flips it right-side-up using only one hand from below. Once their cup lands upright, the next teammate starts drinking and flipping.

The relay continues down the line until all players on one team have successfully flipped their cups.

3 Rules

• You must finish your entire drink before attempting to flip
• The cup must start right-side-up on the table edge before flipping
• Only one flip attempt per touch, you must reset if you knock the cup off the table
• Use only one hand, touching only the bottom rim to flip
• Next player cannot start until your cup is fully upright

4 Winning

First team to have all players successfully flip their cups wins the round. Play best of 3, 5, or however many rounds are agreed upon before starting.

5 Strategy

The Flip Technique

Place the cup so it overhangs the table edge by about a half-inch. Use your index finger to flick the bottom rim upward in a controlled motion. The cup should rotate exactly once (180°) and land rim-down. Overshooting (spinning too far) is the most common mistake.

Drink Fast, Flip Slow

The drinking phase rewards pure speed. The flipping phase rewards controlled technique. Rushing the flip after chugging leads to sloppy attempts. Take one breath and focus.

Put Your Best Flipper Last

A cleanup player at the end who can reliably land the flip under pressure is valuable. Don't bury your best flipper in the middle where consistency matters less.

6 Variants

Survivor Flip Cup: After a round, the losing team votes off one member. Play continues until one team is eliminated entirely.

Civil War: No relay, everyone starts at the same time and flips as fast as possible. First team to have all cups flipped wins. Much more chaotic.

Slap Cup: Everyone has a cup. Two players race to bounce a ping pong ball into their cup; whoever finishes first slaps any unfinished player's cup to add a new one. Last player standing drinks the large communal cup.