Kings Cup

Draw a card. Follow the rule. The fourth King ends it.

Classic

Ring of Fire drinking game

Kings Cup Online

Kings Cup, also called Ring of Fire, is the classic card drinking game. CardYard shuffles the deck, shows the rule for every card, keeps track of the four Kings, and works on one phone passed around the table.

How Kings Cup works

Put an empty cup in the middle and sit in a circle. On your turn, draw a card and do what it says. Every King adds a little to the King's Cup. Whoever draws the fourth King drinks it, and the game ends.

Add first names to see whose turn it is, who holds the Question Master role, who your mate is and which house rules are in play. Names stay on your device.

How to play

  1. Confirm everyone playing is of legal drinking age.
  2. Add names if you want turn tracking, or just pass the phone.
  3. Draw a card, read the rule out loud and play it.
  4. Pass the phone to the left for the next card.
  5. The fourth King drinks the King's Cup and ends the game.

Decks

Play the classic rules for free, or make a deck for your night.

  • Classic: The Ring of Fire rules most groups know, from Waterfall to the King's Cup. Free.
  • Tonight's deck: Describe the occasion and add names, and CardYard writes 13 new rules and three royal decrees for your group. Premium.
  • Spicy 18+: Flirty rules for adult groups who want more heat. Premium.

Royal decrees

When a King is drawn, the King can issue a royal decree that lasts until the next King: an accent everyone must use, a banned word, or a title everyone has to use.

The first decree of every game is free. Premium unlocks the rest.

Sample cards by category

Kings Cup card rules

  • A: Waterfall. Everyone starts drinking. You can stop only when the person before you stops. You go first.
  • 2: You. Pick someone to take a drink.
  • 3: Me. You take a drink.
  • 4: Floor. Last person to touch the floor drinks.
  • 5: Guys. All the guys drink.
  • 6: Girls. All the girls drink.
  • 7: Heaven. Last person to point at the sky drinks.
  • 8: Mate. Pick a mate. They drink whenever you drink, for the rest of the game.
  • 9: Rhyme. Say a word. Go around rhyming with it. First to repeat or freeze drinks.
  • 10: Categories. Pick a category. Go around naming things in it. First to repeat or freeze drinks.
  • J: Make a Rule. Make a rule everyone follows for the rest of the game. Anyone who breaks it drinks.
  • Q: Question Master. Until the next Queen, anyone who answers your questions drinks.
  • K: King's Cup. Pour a little of your drink into the King's Cup.

Play it well

Sips, not shots

A drink means a sip. Any drink counts, so water and soft drinks are fine.

Anyone can skip

Nobody has to drink. Skipping is always allowed.

Plan the ride home

Decide how everyone gets home before the first card.

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Related guides

Truth or Drink

Answer the question or take a sip, with clean and spicy decks.

Never Have I Ever

Classic confession rounds for groups.

Built for real game nights

CardYard is independently built and maintained for groups who want a clear, playable round without a long setup. We review game flows and generated prompts for fit, readability, and obvious safety problems, then use player feedback to improve them.

Read how CardYard is builtReport a prompt or bug

Kings Cup FAQ

Is Kings Cup the same as Ring of Fire?

Yes. Kings Cup, King's Cup and Ring of Fire are names for the same card drinking game.

Is Kings Cup online free?

Yes. The classic deck is free with no download. Custom decks for your occasion, extra royal decrees and the Spicy 18+ deck are part of Premium.

What happens when the fourth King is drawn?

The player who draws the fourth King drinks the King's Cup and the game is over.

How many people can play?

Kings Cup works with three or more players. You can add up to 12 names for turn tracking.

Who can play?

Kings Cup is for adults of legal drinking age. A drink means a sip, any drink counts, and anyone can skip.