Ready to mix strategy, skill, and just the right amount of chaos into your next party? Enter Drunk Poker, where bluffing takes on a whole new meaning when drinks are involved. Combining the timeless appeal of poker with hilarious drinking penalties, this game is guaranteed to keep everyone entertained.
What Is Drunk Poker?
Drunk Poker is a drinking game spin on traditional poker. Players aim to win hands like in a standard poker game, but the stakes are much more entertaining—losers drink based on their performance, or winners assign sips as they see fit. It’s fun, competitive, and often results in laugh-out-loud moments when drinks loosen up your poker face.
What You'll Need
- A deck of cards: A standard 52-card deck will do.
- Poker chips or substitutes: Use actual poker chips, coins, candy, or even bottle caps.
- Drinks: Your favorite beer, cocktails, or non-alcoholic beverages (for those taking it easy).
- A table: Enough space for everyone to sit and play comfortably.
- Optional poker setup: A felt table cover and dealer’s button if you want the full casino vibe.
How to Set Up
- Prepare the Chips: Distribute chips evenly among players. Decide their value—chips represent drinks, with each chip equal to a sip, a gulp, or a full drink, depending on the house rules.
- Seat the Players: Arrange players around the table. One person is designated the dealer for the first round.
- Set the Stakes: Decide the drinking rules before you begin (e.g., how much each chip costs in drinks, penalties for losing, etc.).
- Shuffle the Deck: The dealer shuffles the deck and gets ready to deal.
How to Play Drunk Poker
- Ante Up: Each player places a starting bet (e.g., 1 chip or 1 sip) into the pot.
- Deal the Cards:
- For Texas Hold’em, each player gets two face-down cards, and five community cards are dealt later.
- For Five-Card Draw, each player receives five cards.
- Bet or Drink: Players bet their chips (and drinks!) to stay in the game.
- If a player folds, they drink the current pot value in sips.
- If a player loses the round, they drink a penalty based on the chips they lost.
- Showdown: After all betting rounds, players reveal their hands. The winner takes the pot, and the losers drink according to house rules (e.g., sips equal to the chips they contributed).
- Repeat:
The dealer role rotates, and the game continues until chips run out—or everyone is too entertained to keep playing.
Game-Specific Rules
Drinking Penalties
- Folding: Take a small sip penalty for bowing out early.
- Bluffing Fail: If caught bluffing, drink double the pot size.
- Lowest Hand: The player with the worst hand drinks an additional penalty.
Winner’s Power
The winner of each hand can assign drinks to any player, making alliances (and rivalries) part of the fun.
Drunk Dealer Rule
If the dealer misdeals, they must take a penalty drink before reshuffling the deck.
Variations and Custom Rules
- High Stakes Shots: Replace chips with shots for more intensity, but use this variation sparingly for safety.
- Double Down Drinks: Allow players to double their drinks instead of raising chips in the betting round.
- Wildcard Madness: Introduce jokers as wildcards, with a twist—any player who gets a joker assigns double drinks to another.
- Social Cheers: At random points, the dealer can call for a “social,” where everyone takes a drink to celebrate.
- Reverse Pot: The winner of the pot chooses someone else to drink the total pot value, flipping the usual strategy.
Strategies to Master Drunk Poker
- Manage Your Drinks: Bluff wisely and pace yourself to stay in the game longer.
- Read Your Opponents: Look for tells—drinks can loosen inhibitions, making it easier to spot a bluff.
- Bet Big Early: Push players to drink more chips early on to gain control of the table.
- Stay in Control: Alternate with water or non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy the game responsibly.
Why Drunk Poker Is a Must-Try
Drunk Poker combines the thrill of traditional poker with the lighthearted chaos of drinking games. It’s perfect for parties, bonding with friends, or leveling up your poker night with laughs and good vibes. Just remember to drink responsibly and know when to fold ’em.
Gather your crew, shuffle the deck, and let the chips—and drinks—fall where they may. Ready to ante up and drink up? Drunk Poker is waiting for you!
