Civil War Beer Pong Rules: 3-on-3 With No Turns

Civil War is beer pong with the turns taken out. Three players per side, each with their own little rack, and as many balls as you can find. Anyone holding a ball can shoot, any time. Lose all your cups and you’re out, but you can keep fetching balls for your teammates. It’s the most chaotic way to play pong, and our favorite with six people and one table.

What you need

  • A long table: an 8-foot beer pong table works, and two tables pushed side by side give more room
  • 6 cups per player (36 for a 3-on-3 game), plus a water cup per side to rinse balls
  • 3 or 4 ping pong balls
  • Two teams of three (four-a-side works on a wider table)

How to set up

  1. Each player sets a 6-cup pyramid (3-2-1) in front of their own spot along the back edge, so each side has three small racks side by side. Some groups use a 4-cup diamond per player for a quicker game.
  2. Fill the cups a little lighter than in normal pong; you’ll be drinking fast.
  3. Put all the balls in the middle of the table.

How to play Civil War

  1. Go. On “three”, everyone grabs for a ball. There are no turns from here on.
  2. Shoot any time. If you have a ball, shoot it at any opponent’s cups. Grab rebounds and loose balls and keep shooting.
  3. Make a cup and the player who owns it pulls it and drinks it. They can’t shoot until they’ve finished it.
  4. Bounce shots are allowed and usually count for two cups, but defenders can swat a ball once it bounces.
  5. Out. When all of a player’s cups are gone, they’re out of the game. Some groups let eliminated players keep fetching balls for their team.
  6. Win. The last team with any cups left wins.

Civil War house rules

  • One re-rack per player, called out loud, while you’re not holding a ball.
  • Rescue: if a teammate is out, sinking an opponent’s last cup can bring them back with one cup.
  • No defense on air balls, same as beer pong defense: swat bounces only.
  • Elbows behind the table still applies, even in the chaos.

Tips

  • Take out their weakest shooter first. Knock a player out and their shots leave the game with them.
  • Don’t stop to celebrate. Made a cup? Cool. Grab the next ball.
  • Water cups at both ends. With three or four balls flying, they hit the floor constantly. Nobody wants a floor ball in their cup.

FAQ

How many players is Civil War?

Usually 3 on 3. Four-a-side works with two tables pushed together.

How many balls do you use?

Three or four. More balls means a faster, messier game.

How is it different from beer pong?

No turns, more players, a small rack per player instead of one 10-cup rack per team, and players are knocked out one at a time.

Want turns? Here are the standard 3v3 beer pong rules.

More beer pong variations: Baseball Pong, Chandeliers, Giant Beer Pong, Shot Pong, Strip Pong, Oche Pong, Rope Swing Pong. See them all on our beer pong variations page. Playing the classic game? See the full rules of beer pong and our rack formations.