Thirty-One - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Build to 31 in one suit or drink

Equipment Needed

• Standard deck of cards
• Drinks

Setup

3 cards each plus 3 face up in center.

How to Play Thirty-One

1. Deal 3 cards to each player
2. 3 cards face up in center (the widow)
3. Take turns swapping with widow cards
4. Build highest total in ONE suit
5. Knock when satisfied
6. After knock, one more turn each
7. Lowest hand drinks the difference
8. 31 exactly = everyone else drinks

Tips & Strategies

Keep track of what's in the widow. Other players' discards reveal their hands.

Variations

Widow Swap: Can take all 3 widow cards at once. Quick 31: First to 31 wins instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take multiple widow cards?

Usually one per turn, unless using widow swap variant.

What if I have cards in multiple suits?

Only count your highest single suit.

Players: 3-9 | Duration: 15-25 min | Difficulty: easy