What happens in the counting phase of Up and Down the River?

The dealer counts out loud from 1 to 13, flipping one card for each number. Ace is 1, Jack is 11, Queen is 12 and King is 13. If the flipped card matches the number being called, the whole table drinks that many sips.

Up and Down the River
Drinking Game

Q: Do suits matter in Up and Down the River?

No. It is a rank-matching game only, so a 7 of hearts matches a 7 of clubs. There are no trumps and no suits to chase; if the number is the same, you drink.

Q: How many players can play Up and Down the River?

It works from two players up to about eight. With a small table the river hits harder because fewer players share the matches, while a big table may want two decks shuffled together so more ranks match.

Q: Do you need a deck of cards to play Up and Down the River?

No. This page runs the whole game in your browser: it deals the rows, flips up and down the river, works out who matches and tracks the sips. No cards to bring, no app to install and no signup required.

A pure-luck card game with a cruel twist: first the river makes you drink, then it lets you hand drinks out. Four cards in front of you, eight cards flipped up and down the river, and a final count to thirteen that hits the whole table. No skill, no strategy — just the deck deciding who drinks and who deals out the punishment.

Who's Playing?

Two to eight players. Everyone gets four cards face up — the river does the rest.

How to Play
Up and Down the River

The 30-Second Version

Every player is dealt four cards face up and keeps them in a row. The dealer then flips cards from the deck one at a time. Going up the river, anyone holding a card that matches the flipped rank drinks. Coming back down the river, matching players give drinks away instead. After the river, the dealer counts from one to thirteen — and every card that matches the count makes the whole table drink.

Step-by-Step

Step 1 — Deal the rows: Each player gets four cards, face up, kept in front of them. Suits never matter in this game — only the rank does.

Step 2 — Go up the river (drink): The dealer flips cards one by one. If you hold a card matching the flipped rank, you drink. The stakes climb with every flip: 1 sip on the first, 2 on the second, 3 on the third, 4 on the fourth. Hold two matching cards and you drink double.

Step 3 — Come down the river (give): The fourth card is flipped again in the other direction and it reverses — now matching players hand out drinks instead of taking them: 4, then 3, then 2, then 1. Split them however you like between any players.

Step 4 — The count to thirteen: The dealer counts out loud from 1 to 13, where Ace counts as 1 and King as 13, flipping one card per number. If the card matches the number called, everyone drinks that many sips.

Step 5 — Reshuffle and go again: Collect the cards, shuffle, and deal the next round. Play until the table has had enough — the drink totals on this page keep the running score so nobody argues about who owes what.

Why played online? With a real deck somebody has to deal four cards to every player, remember how many sips each flip is worth, then keep a straight face while counting to thirteen after a few drinks. This version deals, compares, counts the sips, and tracks who drank what — so the only thing left to argue about is whether you can still count.

House Rules & Variations

Up and Down the River is a luck game at heart, but the river bends. Agree on one of these before the first card is flipped — changing the rules halfway through is how arguments start.

Variation 01

Aces Low

Flip the counting phase: run it from King down to Ace, so Ace counts as 13 and King as 1. Same odds, completely different nerves.

Variation 02

Two Decks

Shuffle two decks together for a bigger table. Twice as many matching ranks means twice as much drinking — great for a crowd, dangerous after midnight.

Variation 03

Water Rule

Any player who has to drink can swap one sip for a glass of water. Keeps the night going longer and nobody has to be the one who taps out.

Variation 04

Lucky Seven

Anyone holding a 7 is untouchable for that round — they drink nothing and can ignore the count. The most wanted card in the deck.

Variation 05

Blind River

Players keep their four cards face down and flip them only when a match happens. Slower, tenser, and a lot funnier when the reveal lands badly.

Variation 06

Dealer's Revenge

If nobody matches during the whole up-river stretch, the dealer drinks a full flip of their choosing. Bad luck for the table, worse luck for whoever is holding the deck.

Up and Down the River FAQ

How do you play Up and Down the River?

Deal each player four cards face up. The dealer flips cards up the river — matching ranks drink 1, 2, 3 then 4 sips. Coming back down the river, matching ranks give those drinks away instead: 4, 3, 2 then 1. Finally the dealer counts from one to thirteen, and every card that matches the count makes everyone drink that number.

Do suits matter in Up and Down the River?

No. This is a rank-matching game only, so a 7 of hearts matches a 7 of clubs. There are no trumps and no suits to chase — if the number is the same, you drink.

What happens in the counting phase?

The dealer counts out loud from 1 to 13, flipping one card for each number. Ace is 1, Jack is 11, Queen is 12 and King is 13. If the card flipped matches the number being called, the whole table drinks that many sips — that is the moment everyone dreads.

How many players can join?

It works from two up to about eight. With a small table the river hits harder because fewer players share the matches; with a big table you may want two decks shuffled together so the row-to-flip ratio stays lively.

Do I need a deck of cards to play?

No. This page runs the whole game in your browser — it deals the rows, flips up and down the river, works out who matches, and tracks the sips. No cards to bring, no app to install, no signup. Open it on your phone and start flipping.

More Drinking Games

Flooded by the river? Try another free online game.

Higher or Lower → Horse Race → Ring of Fire → Ride the Bus →

Browse All Games

Please drink responsibly. Up and Down the River moves fast — pace yourself, drink water between rounds and swap out for a soft drink whenever you want. See our guide.