Ring of Fire is the ultimate drinking game. Also going by the name of 'Kings', 'King's Cup' and various other aliases, you can't go wrong with this one.
All you need is a pack of playing cards and a large beverage container. Typically this means a pint glass, but if you're low on glasses, you can use a jug, vase or even a frying pan, I don't care.
Spread the cards around the glass in a circle facing downwards, and moving around the room, take turns picking up a card.
Each card number corresponds to a different action or task (colour/suit doesn't matter in this game).
Now, the main problem with Ring of Fire is that the exact rules for the drinking game vary around the country and often lead to disagreements. So without further ado, here is the Save the Student *official* version, to help you solve any arguments.
Ring of Fire rules
- Ace: 'Waterfall' – One player starts drinking, then the player to their left starts to drink, and so on. Once the whole circle is drinking, the person who started the chain may stop, but you cannot stop drinking until the person before you stops.
- Two: 'You' – Nominate a person to take a swig of their drink.
- Three: 'Me' – Take a gulp of your own beverage.
- Four: 'Boys' – All males in the circle drink.
- Five: 'Thumb Master' – When you put your thumb on the table, everyone must follow. The last person to put their thumb down, drinks. You remain Thumb Master until someone else picks up a five. Ooh, the power!
- Six: 'Chicks/Girls' – All females in the circle drink.
- Seven: 'Heaven' – The same as Thumb Master, except you put your arm in the air. The last person to do so drinks.
- Eight: 'Mate' – Someone who has to drink whenever you have to drink (until someone else picks up an eight).
- Nine: 'Rhyme' – Choose a word, and the person to your left has to think of a word that rhymes with it. It then continues around the circle with everyone taking a turn with a rhyming word. Whoever hesitates first or repeats a word that's already been said drinks.
- Ten: 'Categories' – Similar to Rhyme, pick a category (such as breeds of dog), and everyone must go round the circle taking turns to name something within that category (poodle, for example). The first person to repeat or hesitate takes a drink.
- Jack: 'Make a rule' – Make up a rule of your own and it must be followed on penalty of drinks for the rest of the entire game. The more ridiculous, the better of course.
- Queen: 'Question Master' – If you ask a question and someone answers, they have to drink. The idea is to catch people off guard by asking causal questions they'd answer without even thinking, like "What time is the taxi booked for again?".
- King: 'Pour/Drink' – The first three kings to appear indicate you have to pour some of your drink into the glass in the middle of the table. The final king means you have to down the lot! The final king can be the destroyer of many a good night out so take it easy. And make sure you're not too far from the bathroom!
Also, make sure you don't break the circle of cards, or the drinking game rules dictate you must down your entire drink.
Be sure to drink safe, drink responsibly, and never drink and drive.