How to Play Quarters

Quarters is a popular drinking game which involves players bouncing a quarter off of a table in an attempt to have the quarter land, without another bounce, into a drinking glass (or cup) on the table. The game is popular at parties, especially in colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. In South Africa, the game is also referred to as Coinage. There are a number of variations of quarters games, all of which are easy to learn, and fun to play.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Playing Standard Quarters

1
Set up the game. You will need one standard cup (milk glass will do), some alcohol, cups to put the alcohol in, a table, and a quarter. Players (as many as you would like) sit around the table, either standing or in chairs. The milk glass is placed in the center of the table, at least 10 inches away from each player. Each person gets their own cup, filled with the alcohol of their choosing. Beer is usually used rather than hard liquor.^{[1]
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2
Take turns shooting. Players take turns shooting, generally proceeding counterclockwise around the table. The objective is to bounce the quarter off of the table, into the milk glass at the center of the table. If the quarter lands in the glass, then the shooter chooses any player in the game to take a drink from his or her own beverage. The shooter's turn doesn't end until he or she misses.^{[3]
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3
Play "chance" during the game. After a miss, the shooter passes the quarter to the next player. Sometimes, after a miss, the shooter can opt to play "chance", which gives them another attempt. All that is required of this is for the shooter to say the word "chance" after a miss. A successful "chance" shot means the shooter can continue shooting normally, but a miss results in a penalty drink.^{[5]
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4
Make up rules as you go along. The great thing about quarters is that there is a great deal of replay value. If the shooter hits three in a row, he or she is allowed to make up a rule. Rules should be creative and fun, and can involve performing a ritual when drinking, or prohibiting the use of certain common words. A player who breaks any of the rules must take a penalty drink.^{[7]
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- As the game progresses and the players become inebriated, the many rules often prove difficult to remember. The objective of the game is not to be a stickler however, but to enjoy the game and have fun.
- Some examples of made-up rules include, but are not limited to: banning the word "drink," have a drink before each attempted shot, no use of proper names, etc.
5
Challenge the shooter. If the shooter were to hit the top rim of the glass and miss the shot, the other players may call for a challenge (challenging the shooter to get it in). If the shooter misses again, he or she must take a drink for each challenging player, but if the shooter gets it in the glass all challengers must drink. However, the shooter does not have to accept the initial challenge, and can instead choose to pass the coin on to the next shooter.^{[9]
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End the game. Players are disqualified from the game when they cannot, or do not want to, consume any more of their alcoholic beverage. The last remaining player is the winner. You can then replay the game over and over again, seeing whether or not that shooter can remain unbeaten.^{[11]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Learning How to Play Speed Quarters

1
Set up the game. A drinking glass is placed in the center of the table, filled with the alcohol of choice. There should be at least four players around the table. Two players on opposite sides of the table are chosen to start at the same time, and each is given a quarter and a cup. Make sure that each of the players is separated by an equal amount of space between one another.^{[13]
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2
Begin to play speed quarters. Each player must attempt to successfully bounce his or her quarter into a cup as quickly as possible. If a player misses, the player must quickly try again. As soon as a player gets their quarter into the cup, they pass the quarter and the cup to the player on their right. If a player shoots the quarter into the cup on the first try, then he may pass it to any player at the table.^{[14]
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3
Determine the loser of each round. The goal of the game is to try and get one of your opponents to have both cups and quarters at the same time. If a player ever has both quarters at the same time, then that player is the loser. The player who passes the second cup to the opponent with the other cup is said to have "screwed" the loser.^{[15]
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- However, it is not good enough to simply pass the cup to the opponent with the other cup. You must stack the cup inside your opponent's cup.
- This action serves to prevent the loser from attempting another shot, since oftentimes the loser is unaware that their opponent has "screwed" them.
4
Give the loser a second chance. At this point, the loser is allowed one final shot into the stacked cups. If the loser misses, he or she must drink the penalty beverage, which is often a shot or a large portion (perhaps all) of an alcoholic drink. If the loser makes the final shot, then the tables have been turned on the other players.^{[16]
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- Some rules insist that all other players take penalty drinks, others require only the player who "screwed" the loser to drink. Sometimes the player who "screwed" the loser is given a single shot just like the loser had, and the two take turns shooting until someone misses.
- Another option for the penalty beverage is that the player who "screwed" the loser is allowed to spin a quarter, and the loser has to drink a beer or a mixed drink for as long as the quarter remains standing. In the case where the loser makes the final shot, she must then spin a quarter and everyone else drinks for as long as the loser allows it to spin.
5
End the game. The game ends when everyone decides to mutually quit playing, or everyone is too intoxicated to continue playing. However, you can make up your own rules as to how to end the game. Some versions of the game make it so that a player is eliminated after losing five times. You continue until the last person is standing.^{[17]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Playing Super Quarters

1
Set up the game. Fill a cup up with alcohol of your choosing, and place it in the middle of the table. This cup is known as the "big chug." Place a cup around the big chug for every player that is playing the game. Fill each of these cups up with alcohol as well. Assign each of the cups around the big chug to each of the players. Each player is to memorize where their cup is placed around the big chug.^{[18]
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2
Begin the game. A player attempts to bounce a quarter towards the cups at the center of the table. If the player misses entirely, he or she must drink the contents of their cup. The quarter then passes to the next player on his or her right. If however the player makes it into one of the opponent's cups, that opponent must drink the contents of their cup.^{[19]
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Drink the bug chug. If a player bounces the quarter, and it lands in the big chug, new rules kick into place. Every player must pick up their cup of alcohol and drink. The last person to finish their drink must then drink the entire contents of the big chug.^{[20]
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Ending the game. This game is typically ended when people are either tired of playing, or too inebriated to continue playing. However, you can establish a point system if you wish to determine a winner. If you bounce the quarter into an opponent's cup, you get 1 point. If you miss all of the cups, you get no points. If you get it in the big chug, you lose 1 point. Finally, the person to lose the big chug drinking challenge loses 2 points.^{[21]
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Warnings

Make sure you take the quarter out of the drink before you down the alcoholic beverage.

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Always drink responsibly. If at any point you feel as if you are going to throw-up, immediately stop drinking. Never drink and drive.

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