What happens if multiple players match a river card?

Each player who matches the card has to drink during the 'up' phase or gets to assign drinks during the 'down' phase. This can lead to group chaos, especially with high-value cards.

How do you decide who starts as dealer?

Choose the dealer randomly for the first round. After that, the player who consumed or assigned the most total drinks in the previous round becomes the next dealer.

What happens if the deck runs out of cards?

Shuffle the discard pile to create a new river deck, then continue play as normal. Rarely happens in a single round.

Can players trade cards during the game?

No, players can't trade their cards. All matches must come from the original dealt cards to maintain fairness and strategy.

Up and Down the River - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Up and Down the River is a drinking game in the Card Games category for 4-12 players that takes about 20-30 min with a easy difficulty level.

Match cards as dealer goes up and down

Equipment Needed

Standard deck of cards
Drinks

Setup

Shuffle a standard deck of cards thoroughly, then deal four cards face up to each player. Leave enough space in the center of the table to flip the river cards, which will be revealed one at a time by the dealer. Prepare your drinks within easy reach,this game moves quickly and you'll need to keep up.

How to Play Up and Down the River

Deal 4 cards to each player
Dealer flips river cards
Going up: 1-4 drinks for matching
Match = you drink
Going down: 1-4 drinks to assign
Match = you give drinks
Complete the river
Most drinks = start next round

Tips & Strategies

As dealer, announce the number of drinks tied to each river card clearly, so players can react quickly. Players with duplicate cards (like two identical 7s) can match the river twice, multiplying their drinking or assigning power. Keep track of who's drinking the most as you go; they'll automatically start the next round, so pointing fingers won't slow the game down later. Use face cards wisely,matching them tends to turn the table on someone if they're in the assigning phase.

Variations

Double River. Hidden Hand. Wildcard River

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if multiple players match a river card?: Each player who matches the card has to drink during the 'up' phase or gets to assign drinks during the 'down' phase. This can lead to group chaos, especially with high-value cards.
How do you decide who starts as dealer?: Choose the dealer randomly for the first round. After that, the player who consumed or assigned the most total drinks in the previous round becomes the next dealer.
What happens if the deck runs out of cards?: Shuffle the discard pile to create a new river deck, then continue play as normal. Rarely happens in a single round.
Can players trade cards during the game?: No, players can't trade their cards. All matches must come from the original dealt cards to maintain fairness and strategy.

Players: 4-12 | Duration: 20-30 min | Difficulty: easy

Related Drinking Games

Egyptian Ratscrew — Card slapping game with complex slap rules
Give and Take — Match cards to either give or take drinks
Ride the Bus — Guess the cards right or drink your way through
BS Drinking — Bluffing card game where getting caught means drinking
Card on Forehead — Hold cards on forehead and bet high
Piquet Shots — Historical card game with drink stakes
Spoons — Four of a kind grab spoons - loser drinks
Phase 10 Drinking — Complete phases or drink the penalty

From Our Blog

Weekend Party Ideas to Amp Up Your Get-Together — If you're looking to host an unforgettable weekend party, it's all about the games. Sure, you could just throw on some music and let everyone mingle, but where's the flair in that? Adding some engagin...
Weekend Party Ideas That Bring the Fun — So, you're planning a weekend bash and want to make sure it's one for the books. Whether it's a casual barbecue with friends, a rooftop gathering, or just a chill night in with your closest crew, havi...
Weekend Party Ideas to Amp Up Your Gathering — Hey there, weekend warrior! If you're looking to elevate your party game this weekend, you're in the right place. As someone who's been hosting shindigs for years, I've got the scoop on the best drink...

Browse more Card Games drinking games or see all drinking games.