Step 1: Gather your materials

To play flip cup, you’ll need a table, plastic cups, and a beverage of your choice (commonly beer).

Step 2: Set up the playing area

Arrange two teams on opposite sides of the table. Make sure each player has enough room to comfortably flip their cup.

Step 3: Fill the cups

Pour a small amount of the beverage into each player’s cup. The amount can vary based on personal preferences, but it’s typically one-fourth to one-third full.

Step 4: Determine the starting players

Each team should choose a starting player who will begin the game. They should be standing at the corner ends of the table.

Step 5: Establish a countdown

To signal the start of the game, someone should count down from three and yell “go” or “flip” at the end.

Step 6: Drink and flip

When the countdown ends, the starting players must drink their beverage as quickly as possible. Once they have finished drinking, they must attempt to flip their cup upside down by flicking it with their fingers.

Step 7: Proceed down the line

Once a player successfully flips their cup, the next player on their team can begin drinking and flipping. This continues until one team has had each member successfully flip their cup.

Step 8: Tagging your teammates

When a player flips their cup, they should slap hands with or high-five the next player on their team. This touch is known as tagging and signals that it’s time for that teammate to start drinking and flipping.

Step 9: Winning the round

The first team to have all of its players successfully flip their cups wins that round. It’s common for teams to play multiple rounds in order to determine an overall winner.

Step 10: Switching sides

After each round, players can swap positions within their team or with someone on the opposing team. This is an excellent way to change up the game and create a new dynamic.

Step 11: Apply variations for added fun

There are many variations of flip cup to try, such as Survivor Flip Cup in which a player is eliminated from the losing team each round, or Relay Flip Cup where players run to another table between turns. Experiment with different rules and variations to keep the game fresh and exciting.

Now that you know how to play flip cup in 11 steps, gather your friends and materials, and start flipping!