How to Play Ride the Bus: A Complete Guide

If you’re looking for a fun drinking game to play with friends, look no further than “Ride the Bus.” This card game is simple to learn, but can be challenging to master. In this article, we’ll explain how to play Ride the Bus and answer some frequently asked questions.

What you Need

To play “Ride the Bus,” you’ll need a standard deck of 52 cards, some friends, and plenty of drinks. The game is traditionally played with beer, but you can use any beverage of your choice.

The Rules

Ride the Bus is a multi-round game that requires players to guess the cards in their hand. The player with the fewest points at the end of the game is the winner. Here’s how to play:

The Setup

To begin, shuffle the deck of cards and deal four cards to each player. Place the remaining cards in a pile in the center of the table. The top card of the pile is turned over to start the game.

Round 1: Guess the Color

The first round of “Ride the Bus” is all about guessing the color of the cards in your hand. On their turn, each player must guess whether the color of the next card in the deck will be red or black.

If the player guesses correctly, they move on to the next round. If they guess incorrectly, they must take a drink and receive a new card from the deck.

Round 2: Guess the Suit

In the second round, players must guess the suit of the card that will be drawn from the deck. They have a one in four chance of guessing correctly. If they guess correctly, they move on to the next round. If they guess incorrectly, they must take a drink and receive a new card from the deck.

Round 3: Higher or Lower

In this round, players must guess whether the next card drawn from the deck will be higher or lower than the card currently on the table. Aces are low in this round, and the order of the cards is as follows: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K.

If players guess correctly, they move on to the next round. If they guess incorrectly, they must take a drink and receive a new card from the deck.

Round 4: Guess the Card

In the final round, players must guess the exact card that will be drawn from the deck. This is the most challenging round and requires careful observation of the cards that have already been played.

If players guess correctly, they win the game. If they guess incorrectly, they must take a drink and receive a new card from the deck.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players can play Ride the Bus?

Ride the Bus can be played with two or more players.

Can the game be played without alcohol?

Yes, Ride the Bus can be played with any type of drink or without alcohol altogether.

What happens if a player runs out of cards?

If a player runs out of cards during the game, they are still in the game and must continue to guess along with the other players.

Can a player look at their cards during the game?

No, a player cannot look at their cards during the game except for when they are dealt their initial four cards.

Can a player change their guess after they’ve made it?

No, players cannot change their guess after they have made it. They must stick with their original guess, even if they realize they made a mistake.

How can you make the game more challenging?

Try playing with fewer cards, only two or three cards per player, or increase the number of rounds in the game.

Conclusion

Ride the Bus is a fun drinking game that is perfect for a night in with friends. While the rules are simple, it can be challenging to win the game. Remember, the key to success in Ride the Bus is to pay close attention to the cards that have already been played and to make informed guesses. So grab some drinks, gather your friends, and give Ride the Bus a try.