Pyramid Game Rules: Bluff Your Way Through the Cards!

What's the Pyramid Game? 🤔

Looking for a card game that keeps everyone on their toes? Pyramid is a great pick if you enjoy a bit of memory, a dash of bluffing, and the suspense of whether someone's telling the truth or just trying to make you drink. It's engaging and can lead to some pretty funny moments as people try to outsmart each other.

What You'll Need 🛠️

Not much to gather for this one:

• A Standard Deck of 52 Cards
• Drinks & Cups for each player
• Players: Around 4-8 people is a good number for Pyramid.

Getting Set Up ⚙️

Here’s how to lay the groundwork for your pyramid adventure:

1. Build the Pyramid: Deal cards face down on the table in a pyramid shape. Start with a bottom row of five cards, then a row of four above it, then three, then two, and finally one card at the very top. (That's 15 cards in total in the pyramid).
2. Deal to Players: Give each player four cards, dealt face down. Players should look at their cards, try to memorize them, and then place them face down in front of themselves. No peeking later!

How to Play: Climbing the Pyramid 🎲

The game unfolds row by row, with a bit of bluffing thrown in:

1. Flip a Card: Start by flipping over one card from the bottom row of the pyramid.
2. Got a Match? (Or Do You? 😉):
   • If any player has a card in their hand (their secret four cards) that matches the value of the flipped pyramid card (e.g., a 7 is flipped, and you have a 7), they can call it out.
   • If they call it, they can then assign sips to another player. The number of sips depends on the pyramid row (more on that below).
3. The Art of the Bluff: Here's where it gets interesting. A player can claim to have the matching card even if they don't! This is your chance to offload some sips without actually having the goods.
4. To Call or Not to Call:
   • If someone claims they have a matching card and assigns you sips, you have a choice: trust them and take the sips, OR call their bluff.
   • If you call their bluff: The player who claimed the card must reveal one of their face-down cards they say matches.
     • If they were bluffing (no match): They get caught! They must drink double the number of sips they were trying to give out. Tough luck!
     • If they were telling the truth (they show the match): You, the accuser who called the bluff, must now drink double the sips as a penalty for your disbelief. (Some play where the original target still just takes the sips, but doubling for a wrong call adds more spice!)
   • Card Replacement: After a card is revealed (whether due to a called bluff or just showing a true match if challenged), that player draws a new card from the remaining deck to bring their hand back up to four, placing it face down without looking (or looking and re-memorizing, depending on house rules – be consistent!). The revealed card is usually discarded.

Sip Progression: Higher and Higher 📈

The stakes get higher as you move up the pyramid:

• Bottom Row (5 cards): Each card is worth 1 sip to give out.
• Second Row (4 cards): Each card is worth 2 sips.
• Third Row (3 cards): Each card is worth 3 sips.
• Fourth Row (2 cards): Each card is worth 4 sips.
• Top Card (1 card): The peak of the pyramid is worth 5 sips!

You work your way through all cards in one row before moving to the next row up.

The Grand Finale: Memory Test! 🧠

Once all 15 cards in the pyramid have been flipped and their actions resolved, the game isn't quite over:

1. Recall Your Hand: Starting with the player who went last in the pyramid phase, each player must try to remember the four cards they have face down in front of them. They say the suit and value of each card, one by one.
2. Penalty Sips: For every card a player gets wrong (either value or suit), they have to take 2 sips. This can be a tricky finish if you haven't been paying attention to your own hand!

Spice It Up: Extra Rules & Variations 🔥

Want to add a little more kick to your Pyramid game?

• Double Sip Cards: Before starting, decide that every other card dealt into the pyramid (or cards placed horizontally) is worth double the sips for its row. So, a double-sip card on the bottom row would be 2 sips, on the second row 4 sips, and so on, up to a potential 10-sip card at the top!
• Shared Pain/Gain: If multiple players claim to have the same card, you could have them all give out the sips, or perhaps they all have to prove it, and if one is bluffing, only they take the penalty.
• Bluffing on the Final Recall: Some daring groups allow players to try and bluff their final hand recall, though this usually just ends in more penalty sips if they're obviously wrong!

If you enjoy the bluffing element in Pyramid, you might also get a kick out of a game like Drunk Poker, where a good poker face is key!

The Dojo's Take 🍻

Pyramid is a solid choice for a card-based drinking game because it’s interactive and involves more than just flipping cards and drinking. The bluffing and memory aspects keep everyone engaged, and there’s always a bit of suspense. It’s a good step up if you're looking for something a bit more involved than super-simple games but still easy enough to play after a drink or two.

Drink Responsibly 🙏

Just a friendly reminder: the aim here is to have a good time with friends. Drink responsibly, know your limits, and make sure everyone at the table is comfortable.

Your Questions Answered: FAQ ❓

• What if multiple people claim to have the matching pyramid card? Good question! House rule time. You could have all of them assign sips (dividing them or each assigning the full amount), or you could have anyone challenge any (or all) of them. A common way is first come, first served for assigning sips, but others can still be challenged.

• What happens if I call someone's bluff, but they were telling the truth? As outlined above, a common rule is that you (the accuser) then drink double the sips they were trying to assign. It makes calling bluffs a bit riskier!

• Can I assign sips to myself if I have the card (or if I'm bluffing)? Usually, the point is to give sips out. Giving them to yourself is... an interesting strategy! Most groups would probably say no, or at least find it very suspicious.

• How many cards are in the pyramid in total? There are 15 cards: 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1.

• Do players look at their new card when they replace one after a bluff? This can be a house rule. Some play that you draw it face down and don't look, adding to the memory challenge. Others allow a quick peek to re-memorize. Decide as a group before you start for consistency.

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