How to Play Beer Pong

Beer pong is one of the few games that is widely popular at parties and loved by many. While it is essentially a drinking game, beer pong requires skill, a bit of luck, and is open to anyone of legal drinking age. This article will introduce some basic rules of beer pong and a few variations you can apply if you'd like to mix things up.

You can play one-on-one or in teams of two. For teams of two, each player takes turns throwing the ping pong ball when it's their turn.

Fill half of a 500ml plastic cup with beer until there are 20 cups in total. If you don't want to drink too much beer, you can only fill about a quarter of each cup. Adjust the amount of beer in each cup to ensure both sides have an equal amount.

Fill a basin with clean water to wash the balls before throwing them. Although cleanliness isn't a major concern when playing beer pong, no one wants to drink from a dirty cup. Prepare some clean water for players to rinse the balls before each throw, and have paper towels ready to wipe up any spilled beer.

Arrange 10 plastic cups in a triangular formation at both ends of the table. The pointed tip of the triangle should face each other. The first row will have one cup, the second row two cups, the third row three cups, and the final row will have four cups. Make sure the cups are not tilted.

Decide who will play first. Many games begin with one member from each team playing a game of rock-paper-scissors. The winner will go first. Another way to decide is by playing a game called 'eye-to-eye'. In this game, teams try to throw the ball into the cup while making eye contact with the opposing team, and the player who lands the ball in the cup first gets to play first. You can also flip a coin.

Take turns throwing the ball into the cups. Each team gets one turn to throw. The goal is to land the ball in the other team's cup. You can either throw the ball directly into the cup or bounce it off the table into the cup.

Drink from the cup you hit. When the ball lands in a cup, you and your teammate will take turns drinking the beer – if you drink from the first cup, the second cup will be for your teammate. Set the cup aside after drinking.

Rearrange the remaining cups into a diamond shape when there are only four cups left. After the six cups of beer have been consumed, you will arrange the remaining four cups into a diamond formation. This makes it easier for everyone to throw the ball.

Place the two cups in a horizontal line. Once all eight cups have been drunk, arrange the last two cups side by side in a straight line.

Keep playing until one team runs out of cups. The team that runs out of cups first loses, and the other team wins the game.

Throw two balls per turn. There are many variations in beer pong rules. In this version, one team will continuously throw two balls each round until they miss. Once their turn ends, the other team throws balls into the first team's cups, and this continues until one team misses.

Designate the cup you're aiming for. This is a popular variation of beer pong. If you land the ball in the specified cup, the opposing team must drink from it. If you miss the target and the ball lands in another cup, it is still considered a miss, and that cup stays on the table.

Give the losing team a final round after the winner is decided. The losing team gets one last turn, called the "counterattack." They continue throwing balls into the winner's cups until they miss, at which point the game ends. If they manage to sink a ball in each of the winner's cups, the game continues with three cups per team. Then, the two teams play a sudden death round to determine the winner.

Count each bounce as two cups. In this rule variation, a bounce counts as two cups, and the player who made the bounce can choose another cup to remove.

• People often have their own way of playing. It's a good idea to discuss with others to decide which rules to apply.
• Your hand shouldn’t just focus on throwing the ball into the air; try to guide it to the cup you're aiming for.
• To make the game suitable for all ages and to avoid over-consuming alcohol, consider replacing beer with non-alcoholic beverages. Apple cider vinegar is a good alternative as it has a similar taste to alcohol.
• Always aim for a specific cup when throwing.

• Never drink beer if you plan on driving afterward.
• To reduce the risk of contamination and the infamous "beer flu" from drinking contaminated beer, consider using water in the cups during the game and save the beer for when you lose points.
• Always drink responsibly.

• 500ml plastic cups
• Beer (at least 12 cans/bottles)
• Ping pong balls
• Long table