To avoid ruining carpet or hardwood with spilled beer, pick a spot that has durable flooring, like concrete or tile, or somewhere outdoors. If you don’t have an 8 by 4 ft (2. 4 by 1. 2 m) rectangular table, you can use a different size table, as long as it’s at least 6 feet (72 in) long. You can use a folding table or make your own table by laying a sheet of plywood on 2 sawhorses or structures of similar height.
The best type of chair for beer die is one without arms, like a folding chair. Try to line up the chairs so that the 2 chairs on 1 side of the table are directly across from the 2 chairs on the other side.
You can use pint glasses or, if you’re worried about breaking glass, opt for plastic red Solo cups.
You can also fill the cups with water or another non-alcoholic beverage if you don’t want to drink alcohol.
You can choose your own teams or, if you want it to be random, draw names out of a hat. If you have more than 4 people who want to play, you can rotate in players throughout the game. You can also create more than 2 teams and have the other teams play the winner of the current game.
It helps to have a marker or object to measure each throw against during the game. For example, you might use a nearby light fixture or a door frame as the height so you have a visual.
For example, if you say something like, “Don’t forget the Taylor Swift concert is tomorrow at 7!” while you’re playing, your opponent can make you and your teammate have 1 drink.
Some people play with the rule that you have to either tap the dice on the table before you throw or announce that you’re throwing. This prevents the other team from being caught off guard. If you or your teammate is the oldest player, begin the game with your team throwing the dice instead.
You cannot reach over the table to catch the dice, use 2 hands, or do what is known as “trapping,” which is when you catch the dice against your body. If you make an unfair catch, return the dice to your opponent. They can then do a “shot-back,” which is just a re-throw.
After you chug your beers, refill them with another 12 ounces (340 g) of beer before continuing the game. If you “plunk” your own cup, meaning you knock it over, the game is over and your opponent automatically wins.
At any point during the game, you can request what’s known as a “cup check” in between turns. This is when you and your opponents make sure the cups are still in their proper positioning, as they can shift during play.
An exception is if your opponent tosses the dice to you to pass it back for your turn and you drop it. You do not have to drink. Know that the other team does not earn points when you have to drink. Drinking and scoring are separate in beer die.
In some variations, you can also score 1 to 2 points if you get the dice in your opponent’s cup. However in classic beer die, this is not worth any points.
Some variations include playing to “buzz,” which is 7 points. Others require you to win by 2 points, and you play overtime until someone does. If you have multiple teams waiting to play, have the winning team stay at the table. Rotate a new team in for the losing team.
