How to Play the Flip Cup Drinking Game (Standard Rules + Variations)

Flip Cup—also known as “Tippy Cup,” “Flippy Cup,” “Canoe,” or “Taps”—is a team-based relay-race drinking game. To play, you'll need beer (or your beverage of choice), disposable plastic (Solo) cups, and two teams of at least three people facing each other across a long, sturdy table. In this article, we’ll walk you through the simple steps for playing Flip Cup, and introduce you to some equally fun variations and special rules (plus some safety tips, if your game is going to be super boozy). Let’s get started!

Flip Cup Rules

Line up a row of plastic disposable cups along each side of a rectangular table.
Fill each cup with a set amount (roughly ¼ to ½-full) of beer.
Have each team toast its opponents and count down from three.
Have the first pair of opposing players drink their entire cup, then try to flip them.
When a player flips their cup, the next player on that team can then drink and flip.
The first team to have every player drink and flip their cup wins the game!

Section 1 of 5:

Setting Up a Game of Flip Cup

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Arrange disposable cups on each end of a table. Line up a row of plastic disposable cups along each side of a rectangular table, so that each side has the same number of cups (one for each player). Flip Cup requires two teams, one on each side of the table. Players must take turns drinking the beer in their cup, then flip the empty cup on the edge of the table until it lands upside-down on the tabletop!^{[1]
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- Play Flip Cup with 3 or more people on each team—6+ total. The more players, the longer the game will last.
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Fill each cup with a set amount of beer (or some other beverage). Pour each player's drink of choice into his or her cup. Each cup should have the same amount of beer; if nobody objects, fill them a quarter to halfway with beer. You can adjust the volume of beer to match the amount that players want to drink—but keep in mind that the game is most fair if everyone drinks the same amount.^{[2]
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- If you're going to play multiple rounds of flip cup, consider playing with beer or another relatively low-alcohol beverage. Flip cup is a fast-paced game, and it can be dangerous to play with liquor.
- If you don't drink alcohol, fill your cups with another beverage. For an easier game, fill the cups with something that you like drinking. For a harder game, fill the cups with something tough to drink, like hot sauce.
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Create two equal teams of players. Have everyone line up on either side of the table—everyone “matched up” to a partner. Basically, when each person’s cup is equally filled, they should be able to look across the table and have someone to “match with.” Teams should be equal, and each player should be standing directly across from someone on the other team.
- Make sure everyone knows which players are going to start the game and the direction the turns will go in.

Section 2 of 5:

Flip Cup Gameplay

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Make a toast before the game starts. It’s considered good etiquette to make a “toast” of sorts at the start of the game, with everyone at the table raising their cups to the opposing player across from them. Ensure everyone at the table has a partner they can toast to and is ready to start the round. Hold the cups in the air until everyone is matched up, then place the cups on the table after the toast.^{[3]
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- According to some versions of the game, you can also count down from three, then yell “Go!” to begin the game. You can pick and choose which pre-game rituals to observe!
- When you’re done toasting (and counting), all cups should be on the table. And once the cups are down, you can’t touch them again until it’s your turn.
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Have the first member of each team drink their beverage. Generally, the “first” players are a pair at the same end of the table—but ultimately, the order in which players take their turns is up to you. Regardless, the first player from each time must drink the beer from their cup as fast as they can. Then, when the beer is finished, they must set the empty cup on the table, open side up, so that it hangs slightly off the edge.
- While this is happening, the other members of each team can’t do anything—each team member must fully finish their turn before the next can go.
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Attempt to flip the newly empty cup. As the player: use your finger to tap the bottom of the cup, flipping it in the air. Try to tap lightly enough that the cup only makes a 180° rotation, landing squirrely on the table (open side down). That means the cup is successfully flipped! If the cup doesn’t land right, reset it on the edge of the table and keep trying to flip it until you get it right.^{[4]
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- Once the cup is successfully slipped, the next player in line takes their turn.
- Flipping a cup is an act of finesse. You might need to practice a few times to get it right!
- Don’t use your other hand to steady the cup—you can only have one hand touching it at a time.
- This game is a relay race, which means the other team won’t be waiting around for you. The goal is to drink and flip your cup as quickly as possible!
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Continue down the line of players until one team is done flipping the cups. The first team to have every player finish flipping their cups wins the game! All cups should be sitting squarely upside-down on the tabletop for it to be considered a “win.” If you want to play another round afterward, just set the table up exactly as you did the first time, refill the cups, and restart the game.^{[5]
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- The second-place team doesn’t need to finish all of their beers, unless both teams agree that this is the rule.
- If you’re playing multiple rounds of Flip Cup, consider saving some of the beer for future rounds (rather than drinking it all in one go).

Section 3 of 5:

Flip Cup Variations

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Batavia DownsIn the “Batavia Downs” version of Flip Cup, you’ll need to use a circular table and have a minimum of 4 players. Have players stand opposite one another; the game begins with a pair of players drinking simultaneously and flipping their cups; then, as players successfully flip their cups, the person to their right gets to take their turn.
- Upon flipping their cup, players must refill their cups—ensuring that they’re ready to take another turn whenever the rotation around the table reaches them again.
- The game continues this way until a player can’t flip their cup before the person to their left flips their cup.
This version of Flip Cup works basically the same as the original, with one main difference: when a team loses a round, they must vote off one of their players. That team still has to drink the same amount as the other one, and flip the same number of cups—but they have one less player (or more, depending on how the game goes).
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Beer PongThis version of Flip Cup combines the game with the rules of Beer Pong! It requires teams of 4, with the game set up to look like Beer Pong—but with 3 extra cups facing each other along the edge of the table. One player must shoot ping pong balls, while the other players on the team wait in front of the cups. If the “thrower” makes their shot, both teams can begin drinking and flipping their cups.
- Once both teams have made their shot, all players must rotate, with the “thrower” moving to the end of their team’s Flip Cup line.
- Each team must have 6 Beer Pong cups and 3 Flip Cups.
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Special (optional) rulesFinally, we have some special standalone rules that you can choose to implement in a home game of Flip Cup. They’re totally optional—you can use one of them, all of them, or none of them! These rules are as follows:
- Have the first two players on the winning team flip their cup twice.
- If one player misses 5 flips in a row, the entire team must start over.
- If a flipped cup does a complete 360-degree rotation, the next player doesn’t have to flip their cup.
- If a player manages to flip their cup on the first try for three rounds in a row, they can give three shots to the rival team.

Section 4 of 5:

Flip Cup Techniques

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Tap the cup lightly when flipping. The fewer rotations the cup makes in the air, the easier it’ll be to get the cup to land squarely on the table. Try to make the motion so gentle that the cup almost just "tips" over into a 180-degree flip. The more rotations the cup takes, the wilder and harder to control its landing will be.
- Be prepared to adjust on the fly! If you notice that you're tapping too hard, tap a little lighter. If you notice that you're tapping too lightly, go a bit harder.
Before the game begins, try flipping an empty cup on the edge of the table to get comfortable with your tapping motion. If there's a big flip cup competition coming up, practice flipping cups on your own when you have a free moment. Beyond the drinking game itself, this can be a good way to train your hand-eye coordination.
If there’s water or spilled beer on the table, it might hinder the cups as they flip and land. Use a towel to wipe up any spilled drinks before each round.
It’s easy to get flustered if you don't flip the cup on the first try. Take a deep breath, slow down, and find your center—even if you’re feeling frustrated or you’re in a hurry. You’ll flip better if you're careful and intentional about it!

Section 5 of 5:

Safety Advice for Playing Flip Cup

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Set limits on how much you plan to drink—and pace yourself. Flip Cup is, traditionally, a drinking game, which is why it’s important to take care of yourself if you plan on playing. Decide how much you plan on drinking before you even start playing, and stick to that limit! Then, as you play, don’t drink too much too quickly; avoid “pounding” a ton of beer or liquor in a short amount of time.^{[6]
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- Yes, Flip Cup involves quickly drinking a cup of beer, which is why it’s smart to fill your cup only partway full.
- After a round, consider taking a break to avoid putting too much alcohol in your system. Or, if you want to keep playing, just alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You might drink beer for one round, then water for the next!
- Make a plan for after the game, too. Are you going to need a ride home? You should never drink and drive, so find a designated driver or alternative way home, if necessary!
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Eat a good meal and drink plenty of water. Eating high-protein foods before (or while) drinking can slow the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol; be sure to eat some food, and make sure you aren’t drinking on an empty stomach. Furthermore, it’s important to drink lots of water and stay hydrated, because alcohol will dehydrate you. Water is your friend—so have plenty of it as you play!^{[7]
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- To be safe, have snacks on hand before and while drinking.

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Do I flip it first, or do I drink it?

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First, you drink the cup, then place it half on the table, half off, then flip from below.

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Tips

You don't need to play with beer. It can be juice, milk, other alcohol, and so forth.

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Various flip cup tournaments around the country have other steps and game rules, such as Flip Cup Guys or Major League Flip Cup.

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