The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PYRAMIDS

USE A STANDARD DECK OF CARDS AND EVERYONE HAS A DRINK.
MAKE A FLAT PYRAMID OUT OF CARDS, USUALLY FIVE ROWS, WITH
THE FIRST ROW HAVING ONE CARD THE SECOND HAVING TWO AND SO
ON TO FIVE CARDS IN THE FIFTH ROW. THE CARDS ARE LAID OUT FACE
DOWN. THEN FIVE TO SEVEN CARDS ARE DEALT TO EACH PLAYER
(DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PLAYERS THERE ARE). THE SINGLE CARD IN
THE TOP ROW IS OVERTURNED. WHOEVER HAS THAT CARD (IN A
DIFFERENT SUIT) CAN TELL SOMEONE ELSE TO DRINK. IF HE
HAS TWO OR MORE OF THE SAME CARD HE CAN HAVE AS MANY
PEOPLE DRINK AS THERE ARE OF THAT CARD (EX- TWO KINGS,
THE PLAYER CAN HAVE TWO PEOPLE TAKE A DRINK) OR YOU CAN
GIVE ALL THE DRINKS TO ONE PERSON. FOR THE FIRST ROW THERE'S
ONE DRINK FOR EACH CARD, THE SECOND HAS TWO DRINKS PER
CARD, ETC. UP TO FIVE DRINKS PER CARD. PLAYERS CAN ALSO TRY TO
BLUFF AND TRY TO CONVINCE ANOTHER PLAYER THAT THEY HAVE A
CARD AND THE PERSON THEY CHOOSE SHOULD DRINK. IF THE BLUFFER
IS CONFRONTED (SOMEONE SAYS "BULLSHIT")THEN THE BLUFFER HAS
TO TAKE DOUBLE THE DRINKS HE WAS TRYING TO GIVE AWAY. IF THE
PERSON WASN'T BLUFFING AND IS CONFRONTED THE CONFRONTER MUST
TAKE DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF DRINKS.
VARIATIONS:
FOR GETTING A LOT MORE DRUNK IN A SHORTER AMOUNT OF TIME
YOU CAN REVERSE THE NUMBER OF DRINKS PER ROW SO THAT IT'S
ONE DRINK FOR ALL THE CARDS IN ROW FIVE AND FIVE DRINKS
FOR THE ONE CARD IN ROW ONE.

Submitter comment: THIS IS JULIE'S FAVORITE DRINKING GAME; SHE PLAYS IT VERY
OFTEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

Date learned: 01-00-1989