Looking to add some excitement to your next gathering? “Ride the Bus” is a popular drinking card game that combines elements of luck and strategy, making it a favorite at parties and social events. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
Objective:
The primary goal is to avoid being the last player with cards remaining, as this player must “ride the bus” in the final round, facing a series of challenges that can lead to significant drinking penalties.
Equipment Needed:
- A Standard 52-card deck: You’ll need a full deck for the game.
- Drinks: Players will drink based on the results of each round.
- A Flat Surface: A table or similar surface to lay out the cards.
- Players: It’s typically played with 4-10 people, but can be adjusted depending on your group size.
Setup:
- Create a Circle or Table Setting: Arrange the players in a circle around the table.
- Deck Distribution: The dealer shuffles the deck and distributes all the cards to the players. Each player should have a small stack of cards, which they will keep hidden from others.
- Lay the Pyramid: The dealer arranges the cards in a pyramid formation on the table, with a row of one card on top, two cards in the second row, and so on, creating a total of 5 rows.
How to Play:
Step 1: The Pyramid Phase
In this phase, players take turns guessing the value of cards based on specific rules. The rows of the pyramid dictate how to play.
- First Row (Base): The first row consists of one card. The player guesses if the card is red or black. If they guess correctly, nothing happens. If they guess incorrectly, they take a drink.
- Second Row: The player guesses whether the next card is higher or lower than the previous card. If the guess is correct, they proceed. An incorrect guess means taking a drink.
- Third Row: The player guesses if the next card will be between or outside the values of the two previous cards. If they guess right, they proceed. An incorrect guess means they must drink.
- Fourth Row: The player guesses the suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades) of the card. Again, a correct guess allows the player to move on, but an incorrect guess results in a drink.
- Fifth Row (Top Row): In the final row, players guess the exact card value (Ace, 2-10, Jack, Queen, King). A correct guess means they are done with that card. A wrong guess results in a drink.
Step 2: Ride the Bus Phase
Players who have cards left after the pyramid phase face the final challenge—Riding the Bus. In this phase, players draw cards and perform various tasks, each of which comes with a drinking penalty. Here are the rules for this phase:
- First Card Draw: The player guesses if the card is red or black. An incorrect guess results in a drink.
- Second Card Draw: The player guesses if the card is higher or lower than the previous one. Again, a wrong guess results in a drink.
- Third Card Draw: The player guesses the suit of the card. If they guess wrong, they drink.
- Fourth Card Draw: The player guesses the value of the card. If they guess incorrectly, they take a drink.
The process continues until the last person finishes the “Ride the Bus” challenge, and that player is crowned the loser of the game.
Variations and Custom Rules:
- Speed Round: To add some urgency, set a timer for each guess. Players must guess within a certain time limit. If they fail, they take a drink.
- Waterfall Mode: In this version, instead of individually drinking after each incorrect guess, everyone must start drinking when a player begins their “Ride the Bus” phase. The last person to stop drinking takes a penalty drink.
- Themed Ride the Bus: Adapt the rules to fit specific events or themes. For example, for a Halloween-themed party, players might have to guess spooky icons like pumpkins or ghosts for extra fun.
- Double Trouble: Each time a player guesses incorrectly, the drinking penalty doubles (i.e., 1st wrong guess = 1 drink, 2nd wrong guess = 2 drinks, etc.).
For a visual demonstration and further clarification of the rules, you might find the following video helpful:
