Drinking game classic

Fuck the Dealer: Rules and How to Play

Fuck the Dealer is a fast guessing game with cards. One dealer holds the deck, and the group tries to guess which card comes next.

The dealer reveals the top card after a higher-or-lower guess

Players: 3 to 8
Duration: 15 to 30 minutes
What you need: Deck of cards, drinks
Vibe: Fast, gleeful, simple

Rules

Fuck the Dealer in 4 steps

If the group is wrong, the group drinks. If they're right, the dealer drinks. That exact tension is where the game gets its name.

The dealer shuffles the deck
One player becomes the dealer and holds the shuffled deck face down in their hand.
First guess
The player on the left guesses which card is on top. The dealer says whether the real card is higher or lower.
Second guess
With that hint the player guesses again. If they get it, the dealer has to take sips (typically based on how far off it was).
Guessed wrong
If the player still doesn't get the card on the second try, they drink themselves. Then it's the next player's turn.

Variations

Dealer change: if someone guesses the card on the very first try, the deck moves on and that person becomes the new dealer. In other variations the dealer changes after a set number of wrong guesses.
Some count the sips by how far the guess was from the real card. That way a near miss is punished more gently.
Without alcohol, hand out points. Whoever has the fewest points at the end wins.

Tips for your round

As the dealer it pays to keep a poker face, or your reactions give too much away.
Agree in advance how the dealer change works, that's the most common source of arguments.

FAQ

Fuck the Dealer FAQ

When does the dealer change?

Often the dealer changes as soon as a player guesses the card on the very first try. That person then becomes the new dealer. There are also variations with a fixed change after several wrong guesses.

How many sips do you have to drink?

Usually one sip per wrong guess, or a number based on the gap between the guess and the real card. Agree on this together before the game.

How many cards do you need for Fuck the Dealer?

A standard deck of 52 cards is enough. The dealer holds the whole stack until they've been through it once or the dealer changes.

Does Fuck the Dealer work without alcohol?

Yes. Instead of drinking you can collect points. The flow of the game stays identical.

How long does a game of Fuck the Dealer take?

A typical game of Fuck the Dealer takes 15 to 30 minutes. Group size and optional variations can make the round shorter or longer.

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