Up and Down the River

Also Known as...

Up The River - Down The River

Similar to...

Equipment
Booze, 1 (2-6 Players) or 2 (7-10 Players) Decks of Cards
Intoxication Level

High to Very High

Setup

Up and Down the River often refers to the a comination of the game described on this page and 3 or more other games. The game descrived here is often played in conjunction with other games.

Players sit in a circle, one player must also be the dealer. The dealer deals one card at a time to each player face up until Each player has a row of four cards inn front of them.
in front of each player.

Gameplay

The dealer then starts 'up the river' by turning over the first card, each player with the same card in front of them (a match in suit or color is not counted) must take one drink. If the person has more than one of the same card, they must drink one for each card.

The dealer then continues 'up the river' by turning over the second card, each player with the same card in front of them (a match in suit or color is not counted) must take two drinks. If the person has more than one of the same card, they must drink two for each card.

This continues for two more cards worth three drinks and four drinks respectively.

After the fourth card, the dealer returns 'down the river' by dealing the next card on top of the last (fourth) card dealt. Players with matching cards may now GIVE four drinks away in any combination ( all four to one player, one drink to four different players, ect.). If a player has more than one of the same card, they may GIVE four drinks for each card in any combination.

The dealer then continues'down the river' by dealing the sixth card on top of the third card dealt. This time players GIVE three cards for each matching card. This continues for the next two cards worth two ond one drink.

All cards (including the cards in front of the players) are gathered, reshuffled, and dealt again.

All Matches (Variation A)

A fun variation is if no player matches a card flipped, a new one is flipped on top of it and it is as though the first card was never flipped. This assures more drinking and applies to both up and down the river

Three is Enough (Variation B)

Many play with three cards instead of four

Count Off Finale (Variation C)

Many end the game with the dealer turning over cards and counting from 1 (ace) to 13 (king), if a count and a card turned over are equal in value then all players drink that many drinks.

Half Beer Card (Variation D)

Some Play with a card dealt off to the side of the 'river' in which any player who matches the card must drink half a beer.

Full Beer Card (Variation E)

Some Play that a card dealt off to the side of the 'river' in which any player who matches the card may MAKE any player finish their beer.

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