What happens if the deck runs out?

Once the deck is complete, shuffle it and start a new round. Everyone's memory resets, and the game continues.

Can I assign drinks with aces?

Yes, when an ace is flipped, you can either take 3 drinks yourself or assign all 3 to other players in any combination.

What if I forget whose turn it is?

The game rotates clockwise, so follow the seating order to track whose turn it should be. If someone skips their turn, they take a penalty drink.

Do jokers stay in the deck?

No, jokers are not used in Blackout. Remove them before shuffling the deck for play.

Blackout - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Blackout is a drinking game in the Card Games category for 2-6 players that takes about 15-25 min with a hard difficulty level.

Remember cards or face the blackout

Equipment Needed

Standard deck of cards
Drinks

Setup

Shuffle a standard deck of cards thoroughly and place it face down in the center of the table within easy reach of all players. Make sure everyone has their drink of choice close at hand. Designate someone to start flipping cards and take turns clockwise from there.

How to Play Blackout

Flip cards one at a time
Predict if next card has been seen
Wrong = drink 1
Correct = safe
Face card = drink 2
Ace = drink 3 or assign 3
Deck complete = new round
Best memory wins

Tips & Strategies

If you're struggling to remember cards, focus on the face cards and aces first since they carry the heftiest penalties. Try to silently count how many of the same suit you've seen to narrow your guesses. Watch other players' reactions,they might give away if a certain card has already been played. Keep the deck tidy as you go, so cards don't get accidentally flipped or revealed, which can mess up the memory aspect.

Variations

Rapid Recall: Players only have 3 seconds to answer whether the next card has been seen or not.. Double Trouble: Each wrong guess means the player drinks double the original penalty for that card.. Team Blackout: Pair up in teams of two, and teammates can confer before answering but must both drink if the guess is wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if the deck runs out?: Once the deck is complete, shuffle it and start a new round. Everyone's memory resets, and the game continues.
Can I assign drinks with aces?: Yes, when an ace is flipped, you can either take 3 drinks yourself or assign all 3 to other players in any combination.
What if I forget whose turn it is?: The game rotates clockwise, so follow the seating order to track whose turn it should be. If someone skips their turn, they take a penalty drink.
Do jokers stay in the deck?: No, jokers are not used in Blackout. Remove them before shuffling the deck for play.

Players: 2-6 | Duration: 15-25 min | Difficulty: hard

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