Drinking game classic

Ride the Bus Drinking Game: Rules, Flow and Variations

Ride the Bus is a card-based drinking game played in several phases. First there's guessing, then a pyramid is revealed, and at the end the loser has to ride the infamous bus.

Players reveal a card in the Ride the Bus pyramid
Players
3 to 8
Duration
20 to 40 minutes
What you need
Deck of cards, drinks
Vibe
Tension with a big finale

Rules

Ride the Bus in 4 phases

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All you need is a deck of cards and some drinks. It runs on luck, a bit of memory and the drama of that final phase.

  1. Phase 1: The guessing round

    Each player is asked questions in turn: red or black, higher or lower than the first card, inside or outside, which suit. Every wrong answer means sips.

  2. Phase 2: The pyramid

    The remaining cards are built into a face-down pyramid, for example five rows. When a card is flipped and you hold the same value, you hand out sips based on the row's height.

  3. Phase 3: Find the loser

    Whoever has the most cards left at the end becomes the bus driver and has to face the final round.

  4. Phase 4: Riding the bus

    The bus driver reveals a row of cards alone. On every face card they drink and the row starts over, until they get through a full row with no face cards.

Variations

  • The length of the bus route is negotiable: anywhere from a few cards to a long gauntlet.
  • In the pyramid you can play with bluffing, handing out sips even when you don't actually hold the card. If the bluff gets called, you drink double.
  • Instead of alcohol, hand out points or small tasks. The long bus ride especially lends itself to mini-challenges.

Tips for your round

  • Remember the cards from phase 1 well, in the pyramid that pays off directly.
  • Don't build the pyramid too tall, or the round drags on.

FAQ

Ride the Bus FAQ

How does riding the bus work at the end?
The loser reveals cards alone. On every face card (Jack, Queen, King, Ace) they drink and the row starts over. The goal is a complete row with no face cards.
How many players is ideal?
Three to eight works well. In very large groups the guessing round drags, so it's worth keeping the pyramid smaller.
How tall do you build the pyramid in Ride the Bus?
Five rows is common, one card fewer per row from bottom to top. The taller the pyramid, the more sips get handed out and the longer the round takes.
Does Ride the Bus work without alcohol?
Yes. Swap sips for points or small challenges. The tense bus ride at the end works just the same.
How long does a game of Ride the Bus take?
A typical game of Ride the Bus takes 20 to 40 minutes. Group size and optional variations can make the round shorter or longer.

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