Beer die: rules, table setup and a scoreboard

Beer die table and setup

Beer die is traditionally played on a sheet of plywood 8 by 4 feet (2.4 by 1.2 m), at least half an inch thick, set up about knee to hip height (20–30 in). A regular dining table works for a casual game. Each player puts a cup in front of them, about 8 inches (20 cm) from their end and 5 inches (13 cm) from the side; paint or tape a line across the middle of the table.

A homemade beer die table is a classic project: many groups paint theirs with team colours and mark the cup spots so every game is set up the same way.

How to play beer die

1. Throw high

   On your turn, tap the die on the table, then throw it so it goes higher than about 8 ft (above head height, or touching the ceiling indoors if that’s your rule) and comes down on the other team’s half.

2. Defend

   The defending team can catch the die with one hand after it hits the table and bounces off their end. Juggling is allowed; trapping it against your body isn’t.

3. Score a point

   If the die hits the table and falls off the defenders’ end without being caught, the throwing team scores 1 point.

4. Plunk

   If the die lands in a defender’s cup, it’s a plunk (also “sink” or “sploosh”): 1 point, and that player drinks.

5. Plink and dead dice

   If the die hits a cup but doesn’t go in (a plink), the die is dead: no point. A throw that isn’t high enough, lands on your own half or misses the table is also dead.

6. Win

   First team to 7 points, winning by 2, takes the game.

The fives rule and other traditions

Beer die comes with its own vocabulary. The best-known rule: you can’t say “five” or “seven” at the table. Say “bizz” for five and “buzz” for seven. Say the real word and you take a sip. Many groups also play that when the die shows a 5 after bouncing off the table, everyone must tap their cup and sip, and the last to do it takes an extra one.

How much do you drink in beer die?

In the drinking version, the defending team sips on every point against them and the plunked player finishes their cup. With big cups that gets heavy fast, so keep a small pour in each cup, count a plunk as 3 sips instead of a full cup, and let anyone swap to water. The scoreboard above shows sips, “any drink” or penalty points depending on the setting you choose.

Beer die vs snappa

Snappa is the name for a very similar game played in parts of New England. The rules are close: the main differences are the throwing height, whether you need to catch with one hand, and how many points a plunk is worth. Both are played on the same kind of table. More table games that need nothing but a die are on our dice drinking games page.

Beer Die variations

Singles

1 vs 1 with two cups each; throw alternately.

Self-sink

If you throw the die into your own cup (or your partner’s), you drink it and the other team scores a point.

Ceiling rule

Indoors, every throw must touch the ceiling. Outdoors, agree on a height, like above the tallest player’s hand.

No-alcohol die

Points only: the scoreboard’s No alcohol mode shows penalty points instead of sips.

Tips for a good game

• Use a big, soft-edged die; it’s easier to catch and kinder to the table.
• Sit far enough back that you can catch with a straight arm.
• Keep the cups topped up with water between games.

Beer Die: FAQ