Boat Race, also known as “Line Chug” is without a doubt the ‘purest’ drinking game. Unlike the other most popular drinking games, this one involves simply chugging as fast as you can and trying to help your team finish before your opponents. The most important thing about chugging is your mindset. Many people believe that they are simply incapable of chugging but this is not true.

The trick here is very simple: ACCEPT that chugging will be uncomfortable and simply push through it anyway. Even the fastest chuggers agree that it doesn’t really feel great going down but the difference between boat race glory and boat race shame depends entirely on sacrificing your body for the team. So next time, open your throat and go to town. If all else fails, practice and get used to the feeling of taking in a lot of liquid at once.

The other important thing to to AVOID SPILLING. Time is of the essence but make sure you don’t lose any liquid or you will be severely punished.

Flip Cup is another commonly played game at college campuses and is oftentimes favored over beer pong for its easy setup and quick playing time. Since this is just Boat Race with a small twist, I’m assuming you’ve got your chugging skills handled and only need tips on how to flip. This is where most people let their teams down by being unco-ordinated but it’s actually incredibly simple to master this technique.

Do NOT flip the cup high and hard into the air like most people do. Instead, when the edge of the cup is over the lip of the table, simply pull it up and away from the table smoothly with your fingers at about a 45 degree angle. Usually this will cause the cup to roll forward onto its lip and then settle on the table having completed its required rotation. Since the cup has such a wide top you have a lot of room for error.

Edward Fortyhands is a punishing game where some unlucky soul (perhaps you?) has two 40oz bottles of malt liquor ruthlessly taped to both hands. The point of the game, in essence, is that you have to drink at least one bottle before you can do anything (ie. urinate, slap whoever put you up to this square in the face). The only tip I can give you for this one is to finish one of the 40s as fast as you can, then you can take your time with the other one.

The Rules

1. If you drink beer while playing beerpong, drink in moderation and stay in control. This keeps it fun for everyone.

2. Lobs only (strictly enforced, not like regular ping pong. Each ball should have a solid 2-3 foot arc). Winning shots which aren’t lobs don’t count. Re-do the point.

3. Cups go in the corners of the table (paddle in from the side and back of the table)

4. Hoops in the cup = The person who got hooped has to drink a designated amount of beer (determined before the game starts).

5. Hits on the cup, but not in the cup = one sip.

6. The point is never over until the ball is hit off the table, or it bounces twice. A hit on the cup does not count as a bounce (i.e. hit the cup then hit the table, you can still hit it back before it bounces on the table a second time)

7. All drinks (an accumulation of hits) occur after the point is over.

8. The team hooped has the opportunity to throw the ball back into their opponents cup (either one) from their side of the table (don’t lean in too much). If the throwback is successful, the person throwing back gets to decide if both teams drink, or if the drinks are cancelled. Also, if the throwback is successful, the other team gets the opportunity to throw back, thus nullifying the original throwback, and so on.

9. Doubles - partners rotate shots (just like regular ping pong).

10. Singles - cups go into center of table (paddle in from edge).

11. Must win by 2 points.

12. Play to 21 or 11 if others are waiting to get on the table

Other rules to point out:

1. Stoners: If the ball skips off the edge of the table before the other team can get a paddle on it, its declared a “Stoner”. Although the team who made the stoner still gets the point, they have to drink once since they got such a cheap ass point.

2. Space: If you forget the scores, or forget to drink or any other space, you and your partner have to drink.

3. Remember, one for all and all for one. If one teammate drinks, both have to. No saying, “You got hooped, or hit, you drink”. Both teammates drink together.