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Beer Die is a gentleman's drinking game. Standard rules call for four players, a die, table, four cups, and beer.
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Origin
The origins of this gentleman's game are widely disputed, however it is generally believed to have been invented at Colby College in Waterville, ME.
Rules
Always verify rules with your fellow players before playing, as rules can differ from group to group of beer die competitors.
The Table
The table is a sheet of plywood measuring 8 feet (2.4 m) long and 4 feet (1.2 m) wide, supported by legs at the corners at a comfortable height for the players when sitting. Both size and surface type affect game play; a harder surface will cause the die to bounce more. The ideal beer die table is the classic 8' banquet table, made of wood.
 Example Beer Die table |
 Artist Bradley Paul Ash |
The Die
The die used is a normal six-sided die.
The Cups
Cups must be able to hold one twelve ounce beer and be hard enough so that a die hitting the cup will not likely break it. 16 oz hard plastic "keg" cups work quite well. "Solo" or "Dixie" brand cups are preferred. West coast rules call for 16oz pint glasses. Mason jars work as well.
Basic rules
Four players form two teams of two players each. The teams sits across from each other at opposite ends of the table. The four cups are filled with beer and set at "regulation" positions: each player sets his or her cup on the table by placing his or her elbow on the corner of the table, laying his/her arm flat, palm down. The cup is placed in the crook in the hand between the thumb and pointer finger. The oldest player goes first, and the person on the opposite team sitting diagonal to the oldest player goes second.
Teams alternate throwing the die across the table. If players forget the order of play, one can claim "possession" by tapping the table twice with the die. Another popular method of playing is whoever catches the die throws the die next for his team. It is common to 'fake' the other team out by pretending to throw the die while his teammate has it. Players must throw from a sitting position. Players are not allowed to cross the vertical plane defined by the end of the table when throwing.
At no point during play is any player allowed to stand. As noted above, all throws must be made from a sitting position. Players on the defensive are allowed to leave their seats only in a "diving" attempt to catch the die. Players are allowed to stand during any drinking or any other "dead die" situation.
The player throwing the die must throw towards the cup of the player opposite them. Sometimes the person in possession of the die chooses which cup to aim for. The player cannot throw until the player catching the die signals he is ready.
If at any point a cup is not in the regulation position, play cannot continue. Using this rule, timeout can be called by removing your cup from position or "stepping out of the box."
Games are played to buzz (seven) points and must be won by two. In the case of a shutout (buzz to 0) the losers must finish two full beers.
In some variations, the words "five" or "seven" may not be uttered during game play by participants. Any infraction or error results in a penalty. Only "bizz" and "buzz" may be said. This rule also applies to all areas of numbers during a game. For example, one may not say the time is "two twenty-five." Instead, he must say "two twenty-bizz." Fifty is pronounced Bizzty. Seventy is pronounced buzzety. And so forth.
In the state of Wisconsin, another common number rule is to say the number four (4) as Favre, paying homage to the legendary NFL quarterback, Brett Favre. The numbers fourteen and forty are referred to as "Favre-teen" and "Favre-ty." However, since Favre's departure from Green Bay, some Wisconsinites no longer follow this rule.
Scoring
A team scores a point when one of its players makes a throw in which all of these requirements are met:
- Is underhand (or overhand depending on the version of Beer Die you play)
- Reaches a certain height (approximately 6 feet (1.8 m) above the table height -or- As high as the table is long. West coast rules dictate the height of the die need only reach above eye level.
- Reaches at least half way in the air and bounces on the table
- Goes off the end of the table (not off the side) or settles on the table
- Lands finally on the ground or stops moving before the opposing team makes the catch
The other team is allowed to play defense. As soon as the die has bounced or rolled off the table, they are allowed to try to catch it with one hand. The die may be juggled between hands, and other body parts can be used in an attempt to catch it, but the die must come to a rest in one hand. Body traps are not allowed, and result in a point for the opposing team. The die is still in play and can still be caught until it either hits the ground, or stops moving. Sometimes there is a house rule in which only female participants are allowed to trap. This exemption to the rule was to get females to catch the die between breasts but this extension is rarely enforced. also once a female is deemed skilled enough this rule doesn't include her.
Remember: Scores only count if each cup is in the circle, the die is taped twice, and then thrown above the tallest players head.
A team may call sloppy die on a player if the player drops the die while tapping it or drops it while transferring it to another player, or any kind of sloppy move. If someone is called out for sloppy die the team must sip their beer.
"Plunking" or "Sinking"
If a player manages to land the die in an opposing player's cup, the other team(keeping the die in the beer) must chug the entire beer. This is known as a "plunk". A point is given for a "plunk" and the beers must be finished. The player that manages a "sink" would then get to add their name to the sink chart. In some places the person who drinks the cup with the die in it gets a blow back. They drink the beer and catch the die in their mouth. They then spit it out across the table, if the die lands on a "whah (5) then that team has a side beer in which they have to finish in "whah" (5) mintues or the total of beers continues to add.
Plunking brings a unique reward. The player who threw the plunk gets to write his/her name on the table and start a hash mark count of their plunks. In some places when you plunk for the first time, the player is given a "die-name" by all the veterans of the game. The player is required to use this name at this table and every other one until the player plunks 100 times. At this point they may elect for a new "die-name." Any player guilty of a self-plunk must strip completely naked and remain that way for the rest of the game
A Plunk's A Plunk
Regardless of the source, intention, or target of a plunk, it always counts (even if the throw would not have been high enough to score a point).
Plinking
If a player throws a die that touches or bounces off either of the other team's cup, this is known as a "plink" and requires the team's whose cup is hit to take a sip (or drink a third of the glass, as per West Coast regulation). If a plink occurs the defending team does not need to catch the die.
One of the most fundamental rules of traditional Beer Die is that drinking and scoring points are separate. Thus, once the die plinks the cup, the play is determined dead and no point is scored, regardless of how the die continues to travel.
As with "a plunk's a plunk", the same goes for a plink. Any object/projectile that strikes the beer is a valid plink, resulting in the opposing team sipping his or her beer.
There is, however, one exception to the requirement to drink after a plink. Should a thrown die strike a cup (typically right on its rim), bounce immediately into the air without touching the table, and subsequently be caught, there is no requirement to drink. This is known as "hand-cup-hand". A "hand-cup-hand" can at times require incredibly quick reflexes and therefore commands much respect.
In some circles the player who catches the die off the rim can take a standing "free shot" at the opponents cup for a plunk.
When the die hits one glass then ricochets and hits the other, the amount of drinking is doubled (a second ricochet triples it and so forth). So according to West Coast rules where each sip is a third of the glass, if the die were to hit one glass, then hit the other, then hit the first glass a second time, the result would be for the recipient team to drink an entire beer.
Drinking
Beer Die is a game of team camaraderie. Whenever one person drinks, his or her teammate must drink as well. Both teammates are expected to finish their cups at the same points during the game. Each sip should be 1/bizith of a cup so a 12 ounce beer will take biz sips to finish. As soon as a teams' cups are empty, they get filled again by the other team because it is in fact a gentlemen's game.
In West Coast rules, each sip must actually be 1/3rd of the glass.
Besides the "plink" and "plunk" drinking requirements, players may be forced to drink for several illegal moves, such as:
- Throwing a die that does not hit the table
- Throwing a die that does not reach the minimum height requirement
- Throwing out of turn
- Dropping the die on the ground when it is in your possession between throws ("Sloppy Die")
- When the opposing team scores.
Out of Bounds
The boundaries extend off the table at a 45 degree angle off of the edges. Anything falling off the sides is not considered a point.
Low
If the throw is too low (meaning the die does not go as high as the table is long) the other team immediately calls Low, and the throwing team cannot score a point (regardless of whether the other team catches the die). However, the throwing player will get credit for a plunk (and the other team must drink) should the die land in one of the cups.
When playing indoors (under a typical height ceiling) some schools demand that the die must come within about eight inches from the ceiling.
Self Plunk
The most egregious blunder is the self plunk: when the die lands in your or your partner's cup. On a self plunk both you and your partner must finish your beers and play the rest of the game naked, or choose to do a naked beer run around the building the game is played in.
Cheating
Cheating, such as lying about the score, making a false "low" call, or any line drive throw, is generally considered poor sportsmanship and ungentlemanly. However, many circles encourage cheating whenever possible and consider persuasion an integral part of the game. In tournament play, however, the teams will often appoint a "God" who has absolute power over disagreements that occur throughout the course of play in order to discourage arguments, especially in high pressure situations.
Biz/Buzz Rules
In this version any time the die lands dead on the table with the numbers "3" or "5" face up the team that shot must both finish their beers, or sometimes (depending on house rules) only drink some of their beer. Also in this version no one is allowed to say the numbers "3" or "5", which is referred to as "biz" and "buzz" respectively. In many places, particularly the northeast and southwest, the sacred numbers are "5" and "7," biz and buzz respectively. Anyone who says "three" or "five" or any variation of, during the course of play must drink some amount (depending on house rules) of beer.
Winning
The game goes to biz, but you have to win by two. If a team reaches 6 and still no one is winning by 2 then the game goes to buzz. Which ever team reaches buzz first, regardless of if they are winning by 2 or not are the winners.
The Trap
According to West Coast rules, when a player traps the die against his body rather than catching it with one hand like a true gentleman, he must drink half of a beer.
Poaching
Poaching involves a partner intentionally and sometimes vigorously catching a die directed at his/her partner. This is most often done to prevent inexperienced or poor partners from costing the team points throughout the match. "Poaching" can lead to partner confusion and collision in an effort to retrieve the die, however the Poach is a valid move.
External links
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