Beer Pong Variations: 8 Ways to Play
Classic beer pong never gets old, but sometimes you want to mix it up. Every variation here changes one thing: the teams, the cups, the scoring or where you play. There are 8 of them, from 3-on-3 Civil War to Baseball Pong and Giant Beer Pong at the beach, all with full rules.
All beer pong variations
| Variation | Players | What’s different |
|---|---|---|
| Civil War | 6 (3 v 3) | Three per side, each with their own rack, and no turns. |
| Baseball Pong | 4–10 | Four cups per side are the bases: hit them to score runs over nine innings. |
| Chandeliers | 4–10 | A round-table bounce game around one full cup in the middle. |
| Giant Beer Pong | 4 | Buckets and softball-size balls, 6 to 8 yards apart. Made for the park or the beach. |
| Shot Pong | 2–4 | Regular pong, but every made cup means a small shot. Pour light. |
| Strip Pong | 4 | Make an emptied cup a second time and the other team loses a piece of clothing. |
| Oche Pong | 2–4 | Beer pong on the wall instead of a table, inspired by darts. |
| Rope Swing Pong | 4+ | For the lake: swing off a rope and launch yourself through an inner tube. |
Pick one by situation
- Six players and one table: Civil War.
- A bigger group that wants to keep score: Baseball Pong.
- A round table: Chandeliers.
- Outdoors, park or beach: Giant Beer Pong; at the lake, Rope Swing Pong.
- No room for a table: Oche Pong goes on the wall.
Start with the classic
Every variation builds on the standard game. Get the basics from the complete rules of beer pong (setup, re-racks, redemption, and 25 house rules) and the rack formations guide. Want to win more? Read our beer pong strategy guide.
More games for the same table: see all our party games, like flip cup and Rage Cage.
FAQ
What are the most popular beer pong variations?
Civil War and Baseball Pong are the most common at parties. Giant Beer Pong is the go-to outdoors.
Can you play beer pong with 3 people?
Yes. Play one-on-one and rotate: the winner stays on and the third player takes on the winner.
Can you play beer pong variations without alcohol?
Yes. Fill the cups with water. Most tournaments play that way anyway.