Finding drinking games that work well with just three people can sometimes feel like a challenge. Many popular games are designed for larger groups, leaving trios feeling left out. But fear not! There’s a whole world of engaging and entertaining drinking games perfectly suited for smaller groups. This article dives into a variety of these games, providing detailed instructions and tips to ensure a night of laughter and friendly competition.
Why Choose Drinking Games for 3 People?
Playing with a smaller group has several advantages:
- More Personal Interaction: With fewer people, you have more opportunities to interact and engage with each player. This creates a more intimate and connected experience.
- Faster Gameplay: Games tend to move more quickly with fewer participants, keeping everyone entertained and preventing boredom.
- Easier Coordination: Scheduling and coordinating a game night is much simpler with a smaller group of friends.
- Intensified Fun: The reduced number can actually amplify the competition and laughter, as each player’s actions have a greater impact.
Classic Card Games Reimagined for Three
Many traditional card games can be easily adapted for three players with a slight change in rules. Here are a few examples:
1. Kings Cup (with a Twist)
Kings Cup, also known as Circle of Death, is a classic party game that can easily be modified for three people. The standard rules involve a deck of cards spread around a large cup (the “Kings Cup”). Each card is assigned a specific action, and players take turns drawing cards and performing the corresponding action. When the fourth King is drawn, the person who drew it must drink the Kings Cup.
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Setup: Place a large cup in the center of the table and spread a deck of cards face down around it.
- Turns: Players take turns drawing a card from the deck.
- Card Meanings (Examples):
- Ace: Waterfall. Everyone starts drinking, and no one can stop until the person to their right stops.
- Two: You. The person who drew the card chooses someone to drink.
- Three: Me. The person who drew the card drinks.
- Four: Floor. Everyone must touch the floor. The last person to do so drinks.
- Five: Guys. All the guys drink.
- Six: Chicks. All the girls drink.
- Seven: Heaven. Everyone must point to the sky. The last person to do so drinks.
- Eight: Mate. Choose someone to be your mate. Whenever you drink, they drink. This lasts until another 8 is drawn.
- Nine: Rhyme. The player who drew the card says a word, and the next player must say a word that rhymes. This continues until someone can’t think of a rhyme, and they drink.
- Ten: Categories. The player who drew the card picks a category (e.g., car brands, types of dogs). Players take turns naming something in that category. The first person to hesitate or repeat an answer drinks.
- Jack: Make a Rule. The person who drew the card makes a new rule for the game. For example, you can’t say “drink” or “yes.” Anyone who breaks the rule must drink.
- Queen: Question Master. The person who drew the card becomes the Question Master. If they ask anyone a question, that person must answer with another question. This continues until someone fails to answer with a question, and they drink.
- King: Pour into the Kings Cup. The person who drew the card pours some of their drink into the Kings Cup. The person who draws the fourth King must drink the entire Kings Cup.
- Winning/Losing: There’s no real winner in Kings Cup. The “loser” is the person who has to drink the Kings Cup.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Adjust the rules as needed to keep the game flowing smoothly with fewer players. For instance, reduce the number of rounds for certain card actions.
- Be creative with the rules! The more personalized and funny the rules are, the more enjoyable the game will be.
2. Asshole (President and Asshole)
Asshole (or President and Asshole) is a shedding-type card game where the goal is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. The social aspect and the fluctuating hierarchy make it incredibly entertaining.
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Dealing: One player shuffles the deck and deals all the cards out evenly. Some players might have one more card than others; this is fine.
- The Hierarchy: At the beginning of the first round, there is no hierarchy. In subsequent rounds, the first person to get rid of all their cards in the previous round is the “President,” the last person is the “Asshole,” and the middle person is the “Vice President” (or just “Middle”).
- Card Play: The President (or the dealer in the first round) starts by playing one or more cards of the same rank (e.g., two 7s, three Queens).
- Following Suit: The next player must play a higher card or set of cards of the same rank and quantity. For example, if the first player plays two 7s, the next player must play two 8s or higher.
- Passing: If a player cannot or does not want to play, they can pass.
- Clearing the Pile: When all players have passed in succession, the pile is cleared, and the last person to play leads the next round.
- Special Cards (Optional):
- 2s: In many variations, 2s are the highest card and can be played on anything. They also clear the pile.
- Reverse: Some variations use a card (often a 4) to reverse the order of play.
- Skip: Another variation uses a card (often a 7) to skip the next player.
- Power Exchange (Starting Round 2): Before each round (except the first), the Asshole must give their best card to the President. In return, the President gives the Asshole their worst card. The Vice President and Middle Player do not exchange cards.
- Winning/Losing: The first person to get rid of all their cards is the President. The last person is the Asshole.
Drinking Rules (Examples):
- The Asshole must refill everyone’s drinks.
- The Asshole must drink whenever the President tells them to.
- The President can force another player to drink at any time during the round.
- Players who pass must take a sip.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Focus on strategy to quickly get rid of your cards and gain the advantage in the next round.
- Be mindful of the cards being played to anticipate your opponents’ moves.
- Adjust the drinking rules to suit your preferences and tolerance levels.
3. Pyramid
Pyramid is a suspenseful card game where players receive hidden cards and try to avoid being forced to drink by guessing the rank of the exposed cards in a pyramid formation.
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Setup: The dealer creates a pyramid formation of cards face down, starting with one card at the top, then two cards in the second row, and so on, up to five or six rows.
- Dealing: Each player is dealt four cards face down. These are their hidden cards. Players can look at their own cards but should keep them concealed from the other players.
- Pyramid Progression: Starting from the top of the pyramid, the dealer flips over each card one at a time.
- Matching Ranks: As each card in the pyramid is revealed, players with a card of the same rank can force another player to drink.
- Assigning Drinks: If a player has a card that matches the revealed card, they can assign drinks to another player. The number of drinks assigned increases with each row of the pyramid. For example:
- Top Row: 1 Drink
- Second Row: 2 Drinks
- Third Row: 3 Drinks
- Fourth Row: 4 Drinks
- Fifth Row: 5 Drinks
- Sixth Row: 6 Drinks
- Multiple Matches: If a player has multiple cards that match the revealed card, they can assign that many times the amount of drinks associated with that row. For example, if a player has two cards matching a card in the third row, they can assign 6 drinks (3 drinks x 2 cards).
- No Matches: If no one has a card that matches the revealed card, play continues to the next card in the pyramid.
- End of the Game: The game ends when all cards in the pyramid have been revealed.
Drinking Rules (Examples):
- The player assigned the most drinks throughout the game must take an extra shot.
- If a player runs out of cards before the end of the game, they must take a shot.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Pay close attention to the cards being revealed in the pyramid and try to remember which cards have already been played. This can help you strategize and anticipate when you might be able to assign drinks.
- Bluffing can be a fun part of the game. Even if you don’t have a matching card, you can try to convince another player that you do, to throw them off.
Dice Games for a Trio
Dice games offer simple rules and quick rounds, making them ideal for drinking games with three players.
4. Beer Die (Simplified)
Beer Die is usually played with four players, but can be easily adapted for three. It involves throwing a die at a table, trying to get it to land in your opponent’s cup or off the table edge after bouncing.
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Setup: Each player has a cup of beer or other beverage. The players arrange themselves around a table.
- Turns: Players take turns throwing a die at the table, aiming to land it in another player’s cup or to knock their cup over.
- Scoring:
- Cup Hit: If a player lands the die directly into another player’s cup, that player must drink their entire cup.
- Cup Knock Over: If a player knocks over another player’s cup with the die, that player must drink the spilled amount.
- Table Edge Bounce: If the die bounces off the table edge, the thrower gets another throw.
- No Score: If the die does not hit a cup or bounce off the table edge, the next player throws.
- Winning/Losing: There are multiple variations, usually involving a running score of hits made, or number of beers drank by each player.
Drinking Rules (Examples):
- The player whose cup is hit or knocked over must drink.
- If a player throws the die off the table entirely, they must take a sip.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Be careful when throwing the die to avoid hitting anyone or breaking anything.
- Adjust the drinking rules as needed to keep the game balanced and fair with three players.
5. Liar’s Dice (Simplified)
Liar’s Dice is a game of bluffing and deduction, where players try to outwit each other by guessing the quantity of dice showing a certain number under all the cups. This version is adapted for a smaller number of players.
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Setup: Each player has a cup and five dice.
- Rolling: All players roll their dice under their cups, keeping their rolls secret.
- Bidding: The first player starts by bidding a quantity and a number. For example, they might bid “three 4s,” meaning they believe there are at least three dice showing the number 4 among all the players.
- Raising or Calling a Lie: The next player has two options:
- Raise the Bid: They can raise the bid by either increasing the quantity (e.g., bidding “three 5s” or “four 4s”) or the number (e.g., bidding “three 5s”). The quantity must always increase if the number stays the same.
- Call a Lie: They can call the previous player a liar, meaning they believe the bid is false.
- Revealing the Dice: If a player calls a lie, all players reveal their dice.
- Determining the Truth: If the bid was true (i.e., there are at least the bid quantity of the bid number among all the dice), the player who called the lie must drink. If the bid was false, the player who made the bid must drink.
- Losing Dice: The loser of the round loses one die.
- Elimination: When a player loses all their dice, they are eliminated from the game.
- Winning: The last player with dice remaining is the winner.
Drinking Rules (Examples):
- The loser of each round must take a drink for each die they lose.
- A player who is eliminated must finish their drink.
- If a player incorrectly calls a lie, they must take a shot.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Pay attention to the bids being made and try to deduce what your opponents might have rolled.
- Don’t be afraid to bluff! Sometimes a bold bid can throw off your opponents.
- Adjust the number of dice each player starts with to change the length of the game.
Simple and Silly Games for Easy Fun
These games require minimal setup and are perfect for casual fun.
6. Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever is a classic game of revelations and embarrassing stories. Players take turns making statements about things they have never done, and anyone who *has* done it takes a drink.
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Turns: Players take turns making “Never Have I Ever…” statements. For example, “Never have I ever been arrested.”
- Drinking: If a player *has* done the thing mentioned in the statement, they must take a drink.
Drinking Rules (Examples):
- The person who makes the statement can choose to drink as well, even if they haven’t done it.
- Players can ask for details about the stories behind the statements.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Try to come up with interesting and unique “Never Have I Ever…” statements to make the game more engaging.
- Be respectful of each other’s boundaries and avoid asking overly personal or offensive questions.
7. Most Likely To
Most Likely To is a lighthearted game where players nominate each other for hypothetical scenarios. The person with the most votes for a particular scenario has to drink.
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Nominations: Players take turns asking “Who is most likely to…?” questions. For example, “Who is most likely to win the lottery and lose the ticket?”
- Voting: After each question, players vote for who they think is the most likely to do the thing mentioned in the question. Players can vote for themselves.
- Drinking: The person with the most votes for that question has to take a drink.
Drinking Rules (Examples):
- If there’s a tie, all the players who are tied must drink.
- The person who asks the question can choose to drink if they don’t like the answers.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Come up with funny and creative “Most Likely To…” questions to keep the game entertaining.
- Don’t take the game too seriously and try to have fun with it.
8. Truth or Dare (Drinking Version)
Truth or Dare gets a boozy twist with this version. Players choose between answering a revealing question or performing a silly dare, with drinking involved for those who chicken out or fail their dare.
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Turns: Players take turns asking each other “Truth or Dare?”
- Truth: If a player chooses “Truth,” they must answer a question honestly. If they refuse to answer, they must drink.
- Dare: If a player chooses “Dare,” they must perform a dare. If they fail to complete the dare, they must drink.
Drinking Rules (Examples):
- The person who asks the question or gives the dare gets to decide how much the other person has to drink if they refuse or fail.
- Dares can involve drinking-related activities, such as taking a shot or chugging a beer.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Be creative with your questions and dares, but also be respectful of each other’s boundaries.
- Make sure the dares are safe and not too difficult to complete.
Movie/TV Show Drinking Games
Combine your favorite movies or TV shows with a drinking game for a fun and thematic experience.
9. Movie/TV Show Bingo
Create bingo cards with common occurrences, catchphrases, or character actions from a specific movie or TV show. Take a drink whenever one of the items on your card happens.
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Choose a Movie/Show: Select a movie or TV show that everyone is familiar with.
- Create Bingo Cards: Create bingo cards with events or quotes that are common in the selected media.
- Watch and Drink: As you watch, mark off the squares on your bingo card when the corresponding event or quote occurs. Take a drink each time you mark a square.
- Bingo!: The first person to get bingo (a line, row, or diagonal) wins (or gets to assign drinks).
Drinking Rules (Examples):
- Take a sip for common events.
- Take a larger drink for rare occurrences.
- The first person to get bingo gets to assign a certain number of drinks to the other players.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Customize the bingo cards to fit the specific movie or TV show you’re watching.
- Adjust the drinking rules to suit your preferences and tolerance levels.
10. Character-Based Drinking
Assign a character to each player. Take a drink every time your character does something specific (e.g., says a catchphrase, gets into trouble, has a romantic moment).
How to Play (3-Person Version):
- Assign Characters: Each player chooses or is assigned a character from the movie or TV show.
- Define Actions: For each character, define specific actions or phrases that will trigger a drink.
- Watch and Drink: As you watch, take a drink whenever your character performs one of their defined actions.
Drinking Rules (Examples):
- Take a sip for minor actions.
- Take a larger drink for major events.
- If your character dies, finish your drink.
Tips for 3 Players:
- Choose characters with distinct and frequent actions to make the game more engaging.
- Adjust the drinking rules to suit your preferences and tolerance levels.
Important Considerations for Responsible Gaming
Remember to drink responsibly and prioritize safety. Here are some important considerations:
- Know Your Limits: Be aware of your alcohol tolerance and don’t feel pressured to drink more than you’re comfortable with.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the night to stay hydrated and prevent hangovers.
- Eat Food: Eat before and during the game to slow down the absorption of alcohol.
- Don’t Drink and Drive: Arrange for a designated driver or use a ride-sharing service if you plan on drinking.
- Be Respectful: Be mindful of your friends’ limits and avoid pressuring them to drink.
- Take Breaks: Take breaks from drinking to give your body time to process the alcohol.
- Stop When Necessary: If you start to feel unwell, stop drinking and take care of yourself.
Conclusion
Drinking games don’t have to be limited to large groups. With a little creativity and adaptation, you can have just as much fun with three people. From classic card games to simple dice games and themed movie nights, there’s a drinking game for every trio. Just remember to drink responsibly, prioritize safety, and most importantly, have fun!
So gather your two closest friends, choose a game from this list, and get ready for a night of laughter, friendly competition, and unforgettable memories.