If you’re looking for a fast-paced, exciting drinking game that’s easy to learn and full of fun, Horserace is the way to go. Perfect for college parties, Horserace is a card-based game that combines strategy, luck, and of course, drinking! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-timer, this game will have everyone at the table laughing and competing. Let’s break down the setup, rules, variations, and pro tips for winning!
What You Need to Play Horserace:
- A Standard 52-card deck: This is the main item you’ll need.
- Drinks: Pick your poison! Beer, mixed drinks, or any other beverages of your choice.
- A Flat Surface: A table or counter to lay out your cards and play.
- Players: Typically played with 4 or more people, though it can be enjoyed by larger groups as well.
How to Set Up Horserace:
- Get the Players Ready: Gather your friends and have them sit around the table.
- Shuffle the Cards: Shuffle the deck well to ensure randomness.
- Set the Track: Lay out 4 (or more) suits in front of the players, each representing a “horse.” You’ll have hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades on the table, each aligned as a column.
- Deal the Cards: Each player should have a stack of cards. You’ll draw cards from the deck as the race begins.
How to Play Horserace:
Step 1: Bet on Your Horses
- The Goal: Your goal is to have your horse (the suit you choose) be the first to cross the finish line (reach the final row of cards).
- Betting: At the start of the game, players place a drink in front of each suit, representing their bet. You can bet on one of the four suits or decide to bet on more for added fun. The more bets you have, the more drinks you may need to finish!
Step 2: The Race Begins
- Draw Cards: The dealer draws one card at a time from the deck and places it face-up on the table.
- Card Movement: When a card is revealed, the suit of the card determines which horse moves forward. For example:
- If a heart is drawn, the heart suit “moves forward” by one space.
- Each suit is represented in a separate row or space, and as cards are drawn, the suit moves forward to the next space.
- Continue Drawing: Draw cards until one of the suits reaches the final space, aka the finish line!
Step 3: The Finish Line
- Winning: The first suit to reach the finish line wins! Whoever bet on that suit wins the round. However, the players who bet on losing suits must drink based on the amount of bet they placed.
Step 4: The Losing Horses
- Drinking: All players who bet on the losing suits drink as follows:
- If your horse didn’t win, take a drink.
- If you have multiple bets and multiple horses lose, you drink for each one that didn’t win.
- Celebration: The winning player, the one who bet on the winning suit, gets to hand out drinks to the losers. This is a great time for some playful trash talk!
Extra Information
- Card Values: The rank of the cards doesn’t matter—only the suit. If a heart is drawn, the heart “horse” moves, regardless of the number on the card.
- No Jokers: Make sure to remove the jokers from the deck before starting the game.
- Multiple Bets: If you want to increase the intensity, players can bet on more than one suit. But be warned—this also increases your chances of drinking!
- The Final Lap: If you’re running out of cards and no horse has crossed the finish line, shuffle the used cards and continue the race.
Variations of Horserace
- Double or Nothing: Players can choose to double their bet at any time. If they win, they get two drinks instead of one; if they lose, they have to drink two drinks instead of one.
- Wild Card Races: Insert one or more wild cards (like jokers or specific numbered cards) that will instantly move a specific suit forward by two spaces. This adds unpredictability and excitement to the game!
- Reverse Movement: In this variation, whenever a certain card (like a 7 of any suit) is drawn, the movement is reversed for all horses, making it more challenging and fun.
- Fast Track: For a faster-paced game, set a timer for each player’s turn to draw a card. If they don’t draw in time, they automatically lose the round.
- Handicap Races: If you want to create more of a challenge, assign different starting positions for each suit. For example, the spades might start at the back of the track, and hearts may start near the finish line. This makes it harder for certain players and more exciting for others.
- Extra Challenges: Add some fun challenges if someone’s horse is falling behind. For example, make players do a silly dance if their suit is losing or require them to tell a joke if they’re still in the race.
- Championship Rounds: If you’re playing multiple rounds, the winner of each race gets to skip the first card draw in the next round, giving them a head start.
- Themed Horses: Create themed horses for added flavor! For example, each suit could represent a different character, animal, or personality, and players can bet on them as if they’re real competitors.
Strategies for Winning Horserace
- Keep an Eye on the Cards: Pay attention to which cards have already been drawn. This can give you a slight advantage in predicting which suits are likely to move.
- Bet on Multiple Horses: While betting on one horse is great for focusing, placing bets on multiple suits gives you more chances of winning.
- Risk It for the Biscuit: If you’re feeling adventurous, bet on the less-favored suits! The underdogs often win in this game, and it can give you a boost in drinks if you win.
- Know When to Cut Your Losses: If you’re stuck with multiple losing bets, take a deep breath, enjoy your drink, and get ready for the next round!
