Category: Rules of Beer Pong

The complete Rules of Beer Pong: all 25 house rules, from the island and death cup to re-racks, redemption and overtime, written the way they’re played at real parties, with the common variations and how to settle the argument. Start with the full rules guide.

Beer Pong History: A Timeline From Ping Pong to Vegas

Beer pong started as actual ping pong with beer on the table at Dartmouth in the 1950s, lost the paddles at Bucknell and Lehigh around 1980, and went pro with the first World Series of Beer Pong in 2006. Here’s the whole story, from Victorian parlors to Vegas.

Beer pong history timeline

  • 1880s: Ping pong is born. Table tennis starts as an after-dinner parlor game in Victorian England. Nobody puts beer on the table. Yet.
  • 1950s: Dartmouth adds beer. Fraternities at Dartmouth College start playing ping pong with cups of beer on the table, using paddles and a net. Dartmouth still plays it that way and still calls it “pong.”
  • Late 1970s–1980: The paddles come off. Bucknell University’s Delta Upsilon fraternity claims it was throwing the ball by hand in “throw pong” by around 1980.
  • 1983–1985: “Beirut” gets its name. Lehigh University’s Theta Delta Chi picks up the throwing game and names it “Beirut,” during the Lebanese Civil War. The name sticks across the Northeast. The whole story.
  • 1990s–2000s: Beer pong goes national. The throwing game spreads to campuses everywhere, and outside the Northeast, “beer pong” becomes the name everybody uses. Every house starts writing its own rules.
  • January 2006: The first World Series of Beer Pong. BPONG runs the first WSOBP at the Oasis in Mesquite, Nevada: 85 teams playing for $10,000.
  • 2008–2009: Las Vegas, baby. The WSOBP moves into Las Vegas (South Point in 2008, then the Flamingo on the Strip), with a $50,000 grand prize.
  • 2010: Record crowd. The World Series breaks its size record with 483 teams, including players from Ireland and Japan.
  • 2014: Beer Pong All-Stars starts. We start writing down the house rules to settle the arguments at our own table. It turns into the 25 Rules of Beer Pong.
  • 2015: Pity the Fool wins WSOBP X. New Jersey’s Mike Vit and Kris Fraser take the title at the tenth World Series. The final.
  • 2016: Summer in Vegas. WSOBP XI moves to July at the Westgate Las Vegas.
  • 2018: Official rules, version 2018. BPONG’s official rule set (v2018-03-001) becomes the standard for tournaments. Here’s how it compares to house rules: house vs. tournament rules.
  • Today: Every house still has its own rules. From frat basements to bar leagues, the game’s the same and the house rules never are. Make yours with the house rules builder.

Who invented beer pong?

It depends which game you mean. The paddle version, still called “pong” at Dartmouth, traces back to Dartmouth fraternities in the 1950s. The throwing game most people play today started at Bucknell or Lehigh around 1980. Both schools claim it, and the argument isn’t settled. For the full naming fight, see beer pong vs. Beirut.

Why every house has different rules

Beer pong spread campus to campus and party to party, long before there was an official rulebook. Every house added its own twists: island, ring of fire, heating up, the bitch cup. That’s why rule #1 is still house rules, and why a tournament plays so differently from your basement.

FAQ

When was beer pong invented?

The paddle version dates to the 1950s at Dartmouth. The throwing version started around 1980 at Bucknell or Lehigh.

When was the first World Series of Beer Pong?

January 2006, in Mesquite, Nevada, with 85 teams and a $10,000 prize.

Why is it called beer pong?

It started as ping pong with cups of beer on the table. The paddles disappeared, but the name stayed.

Sources: The Dartmouth (2019), The Daily Princetonian (2004), World Series of Beer Pong (Wikipedia).

6 Cup Beer Pong Rules: The Quick Game

6 cup beer pong uses a 3-2-1 triangle of six cups per side instead of ten, with one re-rack per team. Everything else is the same as the full game. Games take about half as long, which makes it perfect for tournaments, a long line for the table, or a quick warm-up.

Setup

  • Cups: 6 per side in a 3-2-1 triangle (the “high school” rack), with the back row centered on the table edge.
  • Players: 2v2 or 1v1.
  • Fill: same as always: a couple of ounces, or water.

What changes in 6 cup

  • Re-racks: one per team instead of two. The last cup can still be centered for free.
  • Ring of fire: doesn’t work with 6 cups. Skip it, or make up your own 6-cup version (front cup plus both back corners) if your house wants an instant win.
  • Island and Bermuda triangle come up a lot faster, so watch for them.
  • Redemption and overtime work the same: overtime is still 3 cups.

When to play 6 cup

  • Tournaments: a 16-team bracket on one table is very doable. Make one with the bracket generator.
  • A crowded party: more teams get on the table.
  • Warming up: a quick game before the real ones.

FAQ

How do you set up 6 cup beer pong?

Three cups in the back row, two in the middle and one in front, pointing at the other team.

How many re-racks in 6 cup beer pong?

One per team at most houses, plus the free last-cup re-center.

How long is a 6 cup game?

Usually 5 to 10 minutes, about half a 10-cup game.

Other ways to play: 1v1 · 3 players · 3v3 · Civil War. The full game is in our rules of beer pong.

Pick your house rules for any format with the house rules builder.

3v3 Beer Pong Rules: How to Play With Six Players

In 3v3 beer pong, all three players on a team shoot once per turn, and the team gets balls back only if all three make it. It uses the same 10 cups and two re-racks. Want something faster and messier? Play Civil War, the no-turns 3v3 version.

Standard 3v3 rules

  • Cups: 10 per side in a 4-3-2-1 triangle.
  • Balls: three, one per player.
  • Shots: each player shoots once per turn. Pick an order and stick to it.
  • Balls back: only if all three players make their shot. (Two out of three is just a good turn.)
  • Re-racks: two per team, called before your turn.
  • Bounce shots still count for two, and they’re harder to sneak through three defenders.
  • House tip for defense: we keep it to two defenders at the table at once. The third steps back so the shooters can actually see the cups.

3v3 vs. Civil War

Standard 3v3 Civil War
Turns Yes, 3 shots per turn No turns. Shoot whenever you have a ball
Cups 10 per team 6 per player
Speed Like a normal game Over in minutes
Best for A big group that wants real beer pong Chaos

Full rules for the fast version: Civil War beer pong.

FAQ

Can you play beer pong 3v3?

Yes. Each player shoots once per turn, and all three have to make it for balls back.

How many cups in 3v3 beer pong?

The standard 10 per side. Civil War uses 6 per player instead.

Other ways to play: 1v1 · 3 players · 6 cup · Civil War. The full game is in our rules of beer pong.

Pick your house rules for any format with the house rules builder.

How to Play Beer Pong With 3 People (3 Ways)

Three players and one table? You’ve got three good options: play 1v1 and rotate with winner stays on, play 2-on-1 with a handicap for the solo player, or play cutthroat, where everyone has their own rack and it’s every player for themselves. Here’s how each one works and when to pick it.

1. Winner stays on

The simplest option. Two players go 1v1, the winner stays at the table, and the third player takes them on.

  • Best for: a long night, or when one player’s on fire and everyone wants to take them down.
  • House rule: three wins in a row and you have to sit one out. Nobody likes a table hog.

2. Two-on-one

A team of two plays against one player, under regular rules with a few handicaps so the solo player has a chance:

  • The solo player shoots both balls every turn, like 1v1.
  • The solo player gets 2 re-racks; the team gets 1.
  • Balls back for the solo player when they make both shots.
  • Best for: when one player is way better than the other two. Still winning? Give the team a free bounce shot.

3. Cutthroat

Everyone for themselves. Each player sets up 6 cups in a 3-2-1 triangle: two racks at the ends of the table, one in the middle of a side, or around a round table.

  1. Players take turns, one shot each, going around.
  2. Shoot at either opponent’s cups. Make one and that player drinks.
  3. Run out of cups and you’re out. You get one redemption chance at both opponents’ cups, one shot each.
  4. The last player with cups wins.
  • Strategy: gang up on the leader. Alliances last exactly one turn.
  • Best for: chaos.

FAQ

Can you play beer pong with 3 people?

Yes. Play winner stays on, 2-on-1 with a handicap, or cutthroat with three racks.

What’s cutthroat beer pong?

Each player has their own rack of cups and can shoot at any opponent. The last player with cups left wins.

Other ways to play: 1v1 · 3v3 · 6 cup · Civil War. The full game is in our rules of beer pong.

Pick your house rules for any format with the house rules builder.

1v1 Beer Pong Rules: How to Play One-on-One

In 1v1 beer pong, each player takes both shots every turn, gets one re-rack per game instead of two, and earns balls back by making both of their own shots. Everything else is the regular game. No partner to blame, no partner to carry you. It’s the purest form of beer pong, and the fastest way to find out who’s actually good.

Setup

  • Cups: 10 per side in a 4-3-2-1 triangle, or 6 for a quick game (see 6 cup rules).
  • Balls: two. You shoot both.
  • Who goes first: eye to eye, same as always.

How 1v1 changes the rules

Rule 2v2 1v1
Shots per turn One each Both shots are yours
Re-racks Two per team One per player
Balls back Both teammates make it You make both of your shots
Same cup Both balls in one cup Both your balls in one cup: pull 3, balls back, and you’re heating up
Island One call per player One call per player
Redemption Each player shoots until they miss You shoot until you miss

Tips for 1v1

  • Rhythm matters more. You take both shots back to back, so find your arc on shot one and repeat it.
  • Save your re-rack. You only get one. Spend it on the last three or four cups.
  • Nobody covers for you on defense. Watch every bounce.
  • Get your reps in with our practice drills.

FAQ

How many shots do you get in 1v1 beer pong?

Two per turn. You shoot both balls.

How many re-racks in 1v1?

One per player per game, at most houses, plus the last cup can always be centered.

Do you get balls back in 1v1?

Yes. Make both of your shots in the same turn and you shoot again.

Other ways to play: 3 players · 3v3 · 6 cup · Civil War. The full game is in our rules of beer pong.

Pick your house rules for any format with the house rules builder.

Just the two of you? See our drinking games for 2 for card, coin and no-equipment games that work one-on-one.

Beer Pong vs. Beirut: Same Game, Different Name (and Why)

Beer pong and Beirut are the same game: throw a ping pong ball into the other team’s cups. “Beirut” is mostly a Northeast and New England name. “Beer pong” is what the rest of the country calls it. The one real exception is Dartmouth, where “pong” means the original game played with paddles, and the throwing game is the one they call Beirut.

We’ve watched this argument derail more parties than the elbow rule. Here’s the short version, so you can win it.

The quick answer

Name What it means Where you’ll hear it
Beer pong The throwing game: 10 cups, two teams, no paddles Most of the US, and anywhere online
Beirut (or “ruit”) The same throwing game The Northeast, especially Pennsylvania and New England colleges
Pong (Dartmouth) The original game, hit with paddles over a net Dartmouth and a few Ivy and New England schools

Where “pong” came from: paddles

The game started as actual ping pong. Most histories trace it to Dartmouth fraternities in the 1950s, where players used paddles and a net and hit the ball toward cups of beer on the other side. Dartmouth still plays it that way, with handle-free paddles and its own cup setups, and Dartmouth students will tell you that’s the real “pong.”

Where “Beirut” came from: throwing

Sometime around the early 1980s, students in Pennsylvania ditched the paddles and started throwing the ball. Bucknell and Lehigh both claim it. Bucknell says its Delta Upsilon brothers were playing “throw pong” first. Lehigh’s Theta Delta Chi says it named the game.

The name lines up with the news of the time: the Lebanese Civil War, and the 1983 bombing that killed US Marines in Beirut. A former Lehigh Theta Delta Chi president told the Dartmouth Independent in 2004 that the name was meant to reflect respect for the US losses there. Other accounts say students compared the ball going back and forth to talk at the time about US strikes on the city. Either way, the name stuck in the Northeast.

Why most people say “beer pong”

  • It spread past the Northeast. Once the throwing game went national, nobody in Ohio or California had a reason to call it Beirut.
  • It’s what tournaments call it. The World Series of Beer Pong put “beer pong” on the biggest stage in the sport.
  • It’s what the name says. Beer, and a ping pong ball. No history lesson needed.
  • Some people just don’t like the other name. Given where it came from, a few campuses have pushed to retire “Beirut,” including a 2015 column in Lehigh’s own student paper.

So which one is right?

Call it what your house calls it. That’s rule #1. The house makes the rules, and that includes the name. Around here we call it beer pong, because that’s what everybody knows and it’s what the rules say on the sign.

The rules don’t change with the name: 10 cups, re-racks, bounce shots, redemption. It’s all in our rules of beer pong, and you can build and print your own in the house rules builder.

FAQ

Is Beirut the same as beer pong?

Yes. Both names mean the throwing game with 10 cups per side. The only exception is at Dartmouth, where “pong” means the paddle game.

Why is it called Beirut?

The name started at Pennsylvania colleges (Lehigh or Bucknell) in the early 1980s, during the Lebanese Civil War. Accounts differ on exactly why, but the name came from the news at the time.

Where do people call beer pong Beirut?

Mostly in the Northeast: Pennsylvania, New England and New York colleges. Most of the rest of the country says beer pong.

Who invented beer pong?

The paddle version is traced to Dartmouth in the 1950s. The throwing version most people play started at Bucknell or Lehigh around the early 1980s.

More beer pong terms, from island to Bermuda triangle: see our beer pong glossary.

Sources: The Dartmouth (2019), The Daily Princetonian (2004), The Brown and White (2015).

Reglas del beer pong: la guía completa (con 25 reglas de la casa)

El beer pong se juega con dos equipos de dos, 10 vasos por lado, y gana el primer equipo que mete la pelota en todos los vasos del otro. Todo lo demás (los rebotes, los reacomodos, la isla, la redención) depende de las reglas de la casa. Aquí van las reglas básicas y las 25 reglas de la casa que vas a encontrar en cualquier fiesta.

¿Prefieres inglés? Lee la guía en inglés.

Cómo se arma

  • Mesa: la mesa oficial de torneo mide 2,44 m de largo (8 pies), 61 cm de ancho (2 pies) y 70 cm de alto (27,5 pulgadas). Para una fiesta, cualquier mesa larga sirve.
  • Vasos: 10 por lado (vasos de plástico de 16 oz, unos 475 ml), en un triángulo 4-3-2-1 con la punta hacia el otro equipo.
  • Llenado: un poco de cerveza en cada vaso. Muchos juegan con agua en los vasos y toman de su propio vaso.
  • Pelotas: dos pelotas de ping pong de 40 mm, y un vaso con agua para enjuagarlas.

Cómo se juega

  1. En cada turno, los dos jugadores del equipo tiran una vez, desde detrás del borde de la mesa y con el codo detrás del borde.
  2. Si la pelota entra en un vaso, el equipo contrario se lo toma y lo saca de la mesa.
  3. Pelotas de vuelta: si los dos jugadores la meten, el equipo vuelve a tirar.
  4. Rebote: una pelota que rebota en la mesa y entra vale dos vasos, pero el otro equipo puede desviarla después del rebote.
  5. Nunca puedes bloquear una pelota en el aire. Si lo haces, cuenta como vaso metido.

Quién tira primero

En el primer juego, un jugador de cada equipo tira mientras mira al rival a los ojos (“ojo a ojo”). El primero que la mete mientras el otro falla, empieza. Después, empieza el equipo que se quedó en la mesa.

Reacomodos (re-racks)

Cada equipo tiene dos reacomodos por juego. Se piden antes de tu turno, para juntar los vasos que quedan en una forma más compacta. El último vaso siempre se puede centrar. Mira todas las formaciones en nuestra guía de formaciones (en inglés, con diagramas).

Cómo termina

  • Redención: cuando cae el último vaso, el equipo que pierde tira hasta que cada jugador falle. Si mete todos los vasos que le quedan, hay tiempo extra.
  • Tiempo extra: 3 vasos por lado en triángulo, muerte súbita, sin reacomodos.

Las 25 reglas de la casa

La casa pone las reglas. Pónganse de acuerdo antes de empezar.

  1. Reglas de la casa: el equipo local decide las disputas.
  2. Vaso del centro (bitch cup): si un hombre mete el vaso del centro primero, no cuenta. Si lo mete una mujer, sí cuenta.
  3. Anillo de fuego: mete el vaso de adelante, el del centro y las dos esquinas de atrás antes que cualquier otro y ganas al instante.
  4. Troll: pierdes sin meter ningún vaso y pasas el siguiente juego debajo de la mesa.
  5. Vuelta desnudo: si tu equipo no mete ni un vaso, dan una vuelta a la casa.
  6. En racha / en llamas: mete dos seguidos y avisa; mete el tercero y sigues tirando hasta fallar.
  7. Isla: grita “isla” antes de tirar a un vaso solo. Si lo metes, el otro equipo saca un vaso extra.
  8. Francotirador: atrapa un rebote de tus vasos y pégale al tirador para ganar un vaso extra.
  9. Triángulo de las Bermudas: tres vasos sin tocarse: no hay reacomodo ni isla.
  10. Pelotazo (Randy Johnson): tira fuerte contra el último vaso; si lo tiras de la mesa, ganas.
  11. Viaje: una pelota que toca un vaso y cae en otro gana un vaso extra. (En nuestra casa no se juega.)
  12. Vaso de la muerte: mete la pelota en un vaso que nadie sacó y se acaba el juego.
  13. Ojo a ojo: decide quién tira primero.
  14. Regla del codo: el codo detrás del borde de la mesa, o el tiro no cuenta.
  15. Reacomodos: dos por juego, pedidos antes de tu turno.
  16. Pelotas de vuelta: los dos la meten y vuelven a tirar.
  17. Dedo / soplido: saca una pelota que gira dentro del vaso antes de que toque la bebida.
  18. Tiro de truco: si la pelota vuelve a tu lado sin tocar el piso, ganas un tiro extra, pero tiene que ser de truco.
  19. Redención: la última oportunidad del equipo que pierde.
  20. Tiempo extra: tres vasos, muerte súbita.
  21. Vaso derramado: si tiras tu propio vaso, cuenta como metido.
  22. Tiro de celebridad: una vez por juego, elige a cualquiera para que tire por ti.
  23. Rebote: vale dos vasos.
  24. Mismo vaso: las dos pelotas en el mismo vaso: pelotas de vuelta y dos vasos extra.
  25. Defensa: puedes desviar un rebote, nunca una pelota en el aire.

Cada regla enlaza a su página completa en inglés.

Preguntas frecuentes

¿Cuántos vasos se usan en el beer pong?

Diez por lado, en un triángulo 4-3-2-1. Para un juego rápido, seis vasos en triángulo 3-2-1.

¿El rebote vale dos vasos?

En la mayoría de las casas, sí, pero el otro equipo puede desviarlo después de que toque la mesa.

¿Hay que jugar con cerveza?

No. Muchos jugadores y la mayoría de los torneos usan agua en los vasos.

¿Es lo mismo beer pong y Beirut?

Sí, es el mismo juego con otro nombre. La historia completa (en inglés).

Más en español: Kings Cup · Flip cup.

Defense / Shot Blocking – Rules of Beer Pong #25

25. Defense / Shot Blocking

In a nutshell: you can swat a shot away once it bounces on the table. Block a shot before it bounces and it counts as a made cup.

No way! Defense is what separates a real game from a shooting gallery. Hands up, eyes on the ball, and wait for that bounce. Swat one out of the air early and you just gave them a free cup.

Beer Pong Defense Backfire

No way!

How defense works

  1. Wait for the bounce. The ball has to hit the table first.
  2. Slap it away. Use a hand or arm.
  3. Never block a shot in the air. Touch a ball before it bounces and it counts as a cup; you drink.

Defense tips

FAQ

Can you block a bounce shot?
Yes. That’s exactly what defense is for. See bounce shot.

What if I block a shot that hasn’t bounced?
It counts as a made cup.

Keep the arguments off the table. Post your defense rules so every block is clean: house rules signs from the Beer Pong All-Stars shop.

See all the rules in the complete beer pong rules guide.

← #24 Same Cup  ·  All 25 rules  ·  Quick rulings  ·  Next: #1 House Rules →

Same Cup – Rules of Beer Pong #24

24. Same Cup

In a nutshell: if both teammates make the same cup, they get balls back and pick two more cups: three cups off the table.

Two balls, one cup, and your opponents are suddenly drinking three. Same cup is the biggest swing in beer pong, and the most fun way to bury a team.

Same Cup Beer Pong Rule

How same cup works

  1. Both shooters hit one cup. Same cup, same turn.
  2. Three cups come off. The made cup plus two cups of the shooting team’s choice.
  3. Balls back. The team also gets balls back.
  4. No call needed. You don’t have to call same cup before shooting.

Same cup in one-on-one

In a 1v1 game, a player who makes the same cup twice in a row pulls 3 cups, gets balls back, and is heating up.

Same cup combos

If both players call island and make the same island cup, the defending team pulls 2 bonus cups and the shooters get balls back.

FAQ

What happens if both balls go in the same cup?
Three cups come off: the cup you both hit plus two more of your choice, and you get the balls back. More mid-game answers on our quick rulings page.

Do you need to call same cup?
No.

Is same cup the same as traveling?
No. Traveling is one ball touching two cups.

Keep the arguments off the table. Add same cup to your posted rules: house rules signs from the Beer Pong All-Stars shop.

See all the rules in the complete beer pong rules guide.

← #23 Bounce Shot  ·  All 25 rules  ·  Quick rulings  ·  Next: #25 Defense / Shot Blocking →

Bounce Shot – Rules of Beer Pong #23

23. Bounce Shot

In a nutshell: bounce your shot off the table into a cup and the other team pulls two cups instead of one, but they can swat it.

Not in my house! The bounce shot is how comebacks happen: two cups for one shot. The catch is that the other team gets a swing at it, so a lazy bounce is just a gift.

Beer Pong Bounce

Not in my house

How bounce shots work

  1. Bounce it off the table. The ball hits the table before dropping into a cup.
  2. Two cups. The made cup plus one bonus cup come off.
  3. Both shooters can bounce in the same turn.
  4. The defense can swat it. Once the ball hits the table, defenders can block it under the defense rule.

Bounce shot tips

  • Bounce when the defense is distracted. Better yet, create the distraction.
  • A bounce is easier to make but easy to block, so pick your moment.

Bounce shot combos

Call island and bounce it in, and the defending team pulls the island cup plus 2 bonus cups.

FAQ

Can you bounce the ball in beer pong?
Yes. A bounce shot that goes in counts for two cups, but the defense can swat it once it hits the table.

Do you have to bounce the ball in beer pong?
No. Bouncing is optional; most shots are thrown on the fly.

Do bounce shots count for two cups?
Yes, at our house and most others.

Can you block a bounce shot?
Yes, once it hits the table. Never before.

Keep the arguments off the table. Post your bounce rules so nobody argues mid-game: house rules signs from the Beer Pong All-Stars shop.

See all the rules in the complete beer pong rules guide.

← #22 Celeb Shot  ·  All 25 rules  ·  Quick rulings  ·  Next: #24 Same Cup →

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