Up and Down the River Drinking Game

• 🎴  How to Play Up the River Down the River
• 🎯  Up the River Down the River Variations
• 🃏  Up the River Down the River Rules (a.k.a. Survival Tips)
• ❓  FAQs About Up the River Down the River

You know those “friendly” games that somehow end with spilled drinks, rules debates, and suspiciously good bluffing? That’s Up the River Down the River — a mix of strategy, luck, and just enough chaos to turn a chill night into a legendary one.

It’s quick, unpredictable, and merciless if you mess up your bid. By the end, you’ll either be the smug champion or the tipsy storyteller repeating your best joke for the third time.

👉 Up and Down the River is just the start, explore more Card Drinking Games here.

How to Play Up the River Down the River

The game is all about predicting how many tricks you can win each round — and then actually pulling it off. Sounds easy, right? Until your friends start messing with you on purpose.

1. Get your deck ready

You’ll need a standard 52-card deck (no jokers) and a group of willing players. Drinks in hand are optional but strongly encouraged.

2. Deal the first hand

Start with one card each. Every new round, deal one more card until you hit the agreed maximum (usually 7–10 cards).

3. Make your bid

Before play starts, each player announces how many tricks they think they’ll win that round. No take-backs.

4. Play your tricks

The player to the dealer’s left starts. You must follow suit if you can; if you can’t, you can throw any card. Highest card of the lead suit wins the trick unless there’s a trump suit (decided before the game).

5. Score it up

Hit your bid exactly? Congrats, you score points (or make someone else drink, depending on your rules). Miss your bid? You pay the price — usually in sips.

6. Go “down the river”

Once you’ve reached the maximum hand size, you reverse the process: deal one less card each round until you’re back to a single card.

7. Crown the champion

The player with the most points (or the least drinks consumed) at the end wins bragging rights.

Up the River Down the River Variations

Adding twists to the classic Up the River Down the River card game (also called the Up and Down the River card game) keeps the gameplay fresh and the drinks flowing.

These variations can make the game shorter, more competitive, or downright chaotic — perfect for tailoring it to your group’s mood.

👉 If you like team-based chaos, give Kemps Card Game a shot.

1. Waterfall River

Instead of a flat penalty, your drink penalty matches how badly you missed your bid. If you bid 3 and only won 1 trick, that’s 2 big sips for you. Overbid by 4? That’s 4 sips. This keeps everyone extra cautious about overpromising, and it can lead to brutal rounds if luck turns against you.

2. Last Trick Loser

It doesn’t matter how well you played the rest of the round — if you win the very last trick, you drink. This adds a funny twist because sometimes you’ll try to lose the last trick, only to end up winning it anyway. It creates plenty of accidental penalty drinks and sneaky plays from opponents trying to stick you with it.

3. Double Trouble

Nail your bid exactly? Congratulations — now everyone else drinks twice. This variation rewards precise play and makes hitting your bid feel like a mini-victory celebration. It also motivates other players to sabotage your tricks so they can avoid the group punishment.

4. Silent River

No talking during bidding or gameplay. At all. If you slip up and say anything — whether it’s “I’ll take that one” or a smug “Ha!” — you drink. This makes the game hilarious because players resort to exaggerated facial expressions and ridiculous hand gestures to try and communicate (and fail).

5. Dealer’s Doom

The dealer’s role comes with extra risk. If they miss their bid, they take double the penalty drinks. This not only adds tension when it’s your turn to deal but also makes the dealer a prime target for sneaky plays and trick denial.

6. Reverse River

Instead of going “up” in card count first, start with the maximum number of cards and work your way down before going back up. This flips the usual rhythm of the game, forcing players to think differently about bidding strategies from the very first round.

7. Sudden Death Sips

At the start of each round, flip the top card of the deck. That card’s rank becomes the “Death Card” — if you win a trick with it, you immediately drink. The unpredictability makes every trick a little more dangerous, especially if the Death Card is something low that might sneak a win unexpectedly.

Up the River Down the River Rules (a.k.a. Survival Tips)

You could just wing it, but if you want to actually survive the night, keep these in mind.

1. Don’t overbid early

One bad call in the early rounds can set you up for disaster later.

2. Watch your opponents

Some people bluff their bids. Others sandbag. Keep an eye on what they’re playing.

3. Save your trump cards

They’re your emergency win buttons. Use them wisely.

4. Force bad plays

If you know someone can’t follow suit, make them burn their good cards early.

5. Play the long game

It’s not just about winning a trick — it’s about making others miss theirs.

FAQs About Up the River Down the River

1. How many players do you need?

3–6 is best, but you can make it work with 2 if you’re desperate.

2. Do I have to use drinks?

Nope! You can play it completely sober… but where’s the fun in that?

3. How long does a game take?

Usually 30–45 minutes, but it can stretch longer with more players or slower drinking.

4. Can we change the maximum cards dealt?

Absolutely — 7–10 is common, but adjust to fit your group’s attention span (and liver capacity).

5. Is there a strategy or is it all luck?

A bit of both — good players can read the table, but luck always plays a role.