Irish Poker: The Fast-Paced Drinking Game Explained
Irish Poker, also known as Card Guessing Game, Never Have I Ever Poker, or simply Guessing Game, is a fast-paced drinking game perfect for parties and gatherings. It’s simple to learn, requires minimal equipment (just a deck of cards and drinks!), and can lead to hilarious and memorable moments. This guide will walk you through the rules, variations, and strategies to become an Irish Poker master.
## What You Need
* **A Standard Deck of 52 Playing Cards:** Make sure all cards are present.
* **Drinks:** Beer, mixed drinks, shots – whatever your group prefers. Choose responsibly!
* **Players:** 2 or more players (the more, the merrier!).
* **A Flat Surface:** A table or floor works well.
## Setting Up the Game
1. **Gather Your Players:** Have everyone sit around the table or playing area.
2. **Shuffle the Deck:** Ensure the deck is thoroughly shuffled to randomize the cards.
3. **Deal Four Cards:** Deal four cards face down to each player. These cards should be placed in front of each player and remain face down. Players are NOT allowed to look at their cards at any time during the game.
4. **Prepare the Drinks:** Make sure everyone has their drink of choice ready. Agree on the drinking penalties beforehand (e.g., a sip, a gulp, a shot).
## How to Play Irish Poker: Step-by-Step
The game proceeds through four rounds. In each round, players must guess a specific attribute of their four face-down cards. If they guess incorrectly, they must drink. The drinking penalties usually increase with each round.
**Round 1: Red or Black?**
1. **The Dealer:** The dealer (usually the player to the left of the previous dealer, rotating clockwise) starts by asking the first player (to their left) to guess whether their first card is red (hearts or diamonds) or black (spades or clubs).
2. **The Guess:** The player states their guess: “Red” or “Black.”
3. **Reveal the Card:** The player reveals their first card by turning it face up.
4. **Outcome:**
* **Correct Guess:** If the player guessed correctly, they get to choose another player to drink. The duration or amount of the drink is pre-determined (e.g., the chooser nominates someone to take one sip).
* **Incorrect Guess:** If the player guessed incorrectly, they must drink themselves. The amount of the drink is also pre-determined.
5. **Move On:** The first card remains face up. The dealer then proceeds to the next player, and the process repeats until all players have guessed the color of their first card.
**Round 2: Higher or Lower?**
This round is about guessing whether the *second* card is higher or lower than the *first* card that has already been revealed. Ace is considered high in this game.
1. **The Dealer:** The dealer asks the first player to guess whether their *second* card is higher or lower than their *first* revealed card.
2. **The Guess:** The player states their guess: “Higher” or “Lower.”
3. **Reveal the Card:** The player reveals their *second* card by turning it face up.
4. **Outcome:**
* **Correct Guess:** If the player guessed correctly, they nominate another player to drink. The drink penalty is usually increased from the first round (e.g., the chooser nominates someone to take two sips).
* **Incorrect Guess:** If the player guessed incorrectly, they must drink themselves. The drink penalty is also increased from the first round.
5. **Same Card:** If the second card has the same value as the first card (e.g., both are 7s), the player must drink. This rule applies to all rounds. The amount to drink is usually the same as if they had guessed incorrectly. Some variations may specify a higher penalty.
6. **Move On:** The second card remains face up. The dealer then proceeds to the next player, and the process repeats until all players have guessed the value of their second card.
**Round 3: Inside or Outside?**
This round involves guessing if the *third* card’s value falls between the values of the first two revealed cards.
1. **The Dealer:** The dealer asks the first player to guess whether their *third* card’s value is “Inside” (between) or “Outside” (not between) the values of the first two revealed cards. Remember to clarify with your group *before* the game whether or not the same card value counts as ‘inside’ or ‘outside’.
2. **The Guess:** The player states their guess: “Inside” or “Outside.”
3. **Reveal the Card:** The player reveals their *third* card by turning it face up.
4. **Outcome:**
* **Correct Guess:** If the player guessed correctly, they nominate another player to drink. The drink penalty increases again (e.g., the chooser nominates someone to take three sips).
* **Incorrect Guess:** If the player guessed incorrectly, they must drink themselves. The drink penalty also increases.
5. **Same Card:** If the third card has the same value as either of the first two cards, the player must drink. As before, clarify *before* beginning how to handle the same value.
6. **Move On:** The third card remains face up. The dealer proceeds to the next player, and the process repeats until all players have guessed the position of their third card.
**Round 4: Suit Guess**
This is the final and often most challenging round, where players must guess the suit of their *fourth* card.
1. **The Dealer:** The dealer asks the first player to guess the suit of their *fourth* card: “Hearts,” “Diamonds,” “Spades,” or “Clubs.”
2. **The Guess:** The player states their guess.
3. **Reveal the Card:** The player reveals their *fourth* card.
4. **Outcome:**
* **Correct Guess:** If the player guessed correctly, they nominate another player to drink. The drink penalty is significantly increased in this round (e.g., the chooser nominates someone to take four sips, finish their drink, or take a shot, depending on the agreed-upon rules).
* **Incorrect Guess:** If the player guessed incorrectly, they must drink themselves. The drink penalty is also significantly increased.
5. **Move On:** The fourth card is revealed. The dealer proceeds to the next player until everyone has guessed the suit of their fourth card.
## The Irish Poker King/Queen
After all four rounds are complete, players tally up how many times they had to drink. The player who had to drink the *least* amount of times is declared the “Irish Poker King” or “Irish Poker Queen” (or whatever title your group decides on). Often, this person gets to make a new rule for the next game or simply bask in the glory of their strategic card-guessing prowess.
## Variations and House Rules
Irish Poker is a flexible game, and many variations can be added to spice things up:
* **Increasing Drink Penalties:** Instead of static penalties, increase the number of sips/gulps by one for each subsequent incorrect guess within a single round.
* **Card Swapping:** Allow players to swap one of their face-down cards with a card from the deck *before* their turn, at the cost of a drink.
* **Wild Card:** Designate a specific card (e.g., a Joker or a specific number card) as a wild card. If a player reveals this card, they can nominate someone to drink a significant amount.
* **Cumulative Drinks:** Instead of just drinking for an incorrect guess, keep a running total of drinks owed. Players can cash in “IOUs” by making other players drink later in the game.
* **Truth or Dare:** Instead of drinking for incorrect guesses, players must complete a truth or dare.
* **Reverse Irish Poker:** After dealing all four cards, players get to look at their *own* cards. They then bet on how many correct guesses they can make in a row. The player who bets the highest number goes first, and if they fail to make their bet, they drink the difference between their bet and the number of correct guesses they made. If they succeed, everyone else drinks.
* **Silent Irish Poker:** Players cannot speak during the game (except to say “Higher,” “Lower,” “Inside,” “Outside,” or the suit). Breaking the silence results in a drink.
* **Dealing with Pairs (and Trips, and Quads):** Before the game begins, establish how to handle pairs, three-of-a-kind, and four-of-a-kind. One option is that if a player reveals a pair in the first two cards, they can force another player to drink a specified amount. Similar rules can apply for three-of-a-kind and four-of-a-kind.
* **The “Never Have I Ever” Twist:** Before dealing, each player shares a “Never Have I Ever” statement. If another player *has* done the thing, they take a drink before the card guessing begins. This adds a personal element to the game.
* **Pre-Game Rule Setting:** The “King/Queen” of the previous game (or a designated person) gets to set a rule that applies throughout the entire game. This could be anything from forbidding specific words to requiring players to perform a silly action before each guess.
## Strategies and Tips for Winning (or at Least Not Losing Too Badly)
While Irish Poker is primarily a game of chance, there are a few strategies that can slightly improve your odds:
* **Pay Attention:** Watch what cards have already been revealed. This can help you make more informed guesses in later rounds, especially for the “Inside/Outside” round.
* **Consider the Odds:** Remember basic probability. For example, there’s a 50/50 chance of a card being red or black. In the “Higher/Lower” round, consider the value of your first card. If it’s a low card, guessing “Higher” is statistically more likely to be correct.
* **Bluffing (Sometimes):** If you’re feeling bold, you can try bluffing, especially when choosing who to drink after a correct guess. Make it seem like you’re punishing someone who has already had a few drinks, even if they haven’t, to potentially divert attention from yourself.
* **Manage Your Drinks:** Pace yourself! It’s a drinking game, not a race to get drunk. Know your limits and drink responsibly.
* **Observe Your Opponents:** Pay attention to who seems to be having good luck and who seems to be consistently guessing wrong. Use this information to your advantage when deciding who to make drink.
* **Don’t Overthink It:** Ultimately, Irish Poker is a game of chance. Don’t get too caught up in trying to calculate the odds. Relax, have fun, and enjoy the chaos.
* **Know When to Fold (Not Literally):** If the stakes get too high (e.g., shots are involved and you’re not feeling up to it), it’s perfectly acceptable to bow out gracefully.
## Responsible Drinking
It’s crucial to emphasize responsible drinking when playing any drinking game. Here are some important reminders:
* **Know Your Limits:** Be aware of how much alcohol you can handle before feeling impaired.
* **Pace Yourself:** Don’t feel pressured to drink quickly or excessively.
* **Eat Food:** Eating before and during the game can help slow down alcohol absorption.
* **Stay Hydrated:** Drink plenty of water between alcoholic beverages.
* **Never Drink and Drive:** If you’re planning to drink, arrange for a safe ride home or stay overnight.
* **Respect Others’ Choices:** Don’t pressure anyone to drink if they don’t want to.
* **Be Aware of Signs of Alcohol Poisoning:** Know the symptoms and seek medical attention immediately if someone is exhibiting them.
## Conclusion
Irish Poker is a fantastic drinking game that’s easy to learn, fun to play, and guaranteed to bring some laughter (and perhaps a few regrets) to your next gathering. Remember to drink responsibly, have fun, and may the odds be ever in your favor!