Beer Pong Rules and How to Play

Everyone plays beer pong slightly differently, which is why half the game is arguing about the rules. Here is the standard rule set most people agree on, plus the common house rules worth settling before the first throw.

The basics

Rule	Standard
Cups per side	10 in a triangle
Balls per round	2 (one per player)
Bounce shot	Counts double, can be swatted
Re-racks	1 to 2 per team
Win condition	Clear all cups, then survive redemption

Setup

Rack 10 cups in a triangle at each end of the table.
Fill each cup with a small pour of beer, and set a rinse cup of water at each end.
Decide throwing order with an eye-to-eye first shot: both teams shoot, first to sink goes first.

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Throwing rules

Each player throws one ball per round. Elbows behind the edge of the table.
Sink a ball and the other team drinks that cup and removes it.
Balls back: sink both balls in a round and your team throws again.
Same cup: both balls in one cup counts as two cups removed (some houses call it an instant win).
Bounce shots count as two cups but can be slapped away after the bounce.

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Re-racks and redemption

Teams can call a re-rack to tighten the remaining cups into a new shape, usually once or twice per game. When a team clears the final cup, the other team gets a redemption turn. If they sink all their remaining cups, it goes to a sudden-death overtime with three cups each.

Common house rules

Fingering or blowing: some houses let you flick out or blow out a ball that is spinning on the rim. Agree first.
Death cup: if you drink a made cup and someone lands a ball in it before you set it down, you lose instantly.
Island: call a lone cup as your target. Make it and you get a bonus; miss the call and it does not count.
On fire: two makes in a row and you are heating up, three and you are on fire until you miss.

Frequently asked questions

Do elbows have to stay behind the table?

Yes in most rule sets. Leaning over is fine as long as your elbow does not cross the near edge when you release.

What happens if you knock over a cup?

If you spill your own cups, they usually count as hit and are removed. Be careful reaching across the table.

Dan smullen, beer EXPERT

Hi, I'm Dan, founder of BeerIsMyLife. I've been an avid homebrewer for over ten years, and beer is my true passion. I've traveled all over the world, visiting breweries, tasting beer, as well as making my own batches. I set up this blog to share that experience with you.