Quarters
Encyclopedia : Q : QU : QUA : Quarters
- See also Quarter.
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The player bouncing the quarter is referred to as the "shooter". In some variations the glass is empty and each player has a separate glass to drink from, while in other variations the glass that the shooter is aiming for contains an alcoholic beverage.
The quarter is customarily bounced on the face whether heads or tails. Some games may allow a player to bounce the quarter on the edge, particularly by rolling it down their nose.
Common variations
Standard Quarters
Players take turns shooting, generally proceeding counterclockwise around the table. If the quarter lands in the glass, then the shooter chooses any player in the game to take a drink, either from their own beverage, or perhaps from the glass containing the quarter. The shooter's turn doesn't end until he or she misses.
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 her another attempt. A successful "chance" shot means the shooter can continue shooting normally, but a miss results in a penalty drink.
If the shooter hits three in a row, they are allowed to make up a rule, similar to the rules in President. Rules should be creative and fun, and can involve performing a ritual when drinking, or prohibiting certain common words. A player who breaks any of the rules must take penalty drink. As the game progresses and the players become inebriated, the many rules often prove difficult to remember.
Players are disqualified from the game when they cannot, or do not want to, consume any more beverage. The last remaining player is the winner.
Speed Quarters
Another popular variation on Quarters is played as a frantic, competitive game, with two quarters and two empty cups (glasses can be used, but are at risk of breaking). 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. Each player must attempt to successfully bounce their 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 they may pass it to any player at the table except the player who is currently shooting the other quarter (unless that player is directly to the right, in which case the player can pass it to the right in the normal manner).
If a player ever has both quarters at the same time, then the player is the loser. This happens when that player is attempting to get their quarter into the cup, but unsuccessfully, when the player to their left makes a shot and passes the second quarter and second cup to the loser. The player to the left is said to have "screwed" the loser, and signifies this by immediately stacking their own cup inside the loser's cup. This action serves to prevent the loser from attempting another shot, since oftentimes the loser is unaware that the player to the left has "screwed" them.
At this point, the loser is allowed one final shot into the stacked cups. If the loser misses, they must drink the penalty beverage, which is often a shot or a large portion (perhaps all) of a regular drink. If the loser makes the final shot, then the tables have been turned on the other players. 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. People playing may try to keep the quarter spinning, or even stop it with a finger in order to hold it up,(in this case most play that if the quarter is indeed stopped, the person drinking must finish the rest of their drink) in these cases the loser must still drink until the person allows the quarter to fall. In the case where the loser makes the final shot, they must then spin a quarter and everyone else drinks for as long as the loser allows it to spin.
Agressive Quarters
This variation often employed while playing another quarters game such as speed or standard quarters. Each player has a cup of their own. While the other game is in progress, those not involved in the main game attempt to bounce extra quarters into the cup of another player. If they make it, that player must drink they rest of the beer in their cup and remove the quarter. Players may or may not be allowed to cover their cups with their hands. Bowls sometimes are used to replace the cups, and when done the game is known as "Super Agressive".
Baseball
In the baseball variation of quarters, four glasses are lined up in a row, each one slightly taller than the previous one, each marking single, double, triple, and home run. Beyond that, the game is played much like real baseball, each quarter flip representing a hit or a strike and the game runs for nine "innings". A pencil and paper are required to keep score and track the game's progress throughout each inning and which "runners" are on base.
Chandeliers
In the chandeliers (aka Carousel Quarters or Super Quarters) variation of quarters, one central glass is surrounded by one individual glass per player. The central glass is preferably taller and narrower than the surrounding glasses. When the quarter lands in an individual's glass, they drink their beverage. When the quarter lands in the central glass, players race to drink their individual glasses and the last to finish must then also consume the central beverage.
Chandeliers can be played with somewhat of a handicap for each player. Players that are less able to rapidly consume large beverages may have smaller amounts places in their individual glasses. Players that are less able to handle a large overall amount of beverage may use a taller or narrower individual glass.
There are several notable opportunities for foul play. A foul and potentially dangerous tactic is to slip a piece of ice into a target player's beverage, causing his rapid consumption of beverage to come to a stop upon discovery of the ice. Another foul tactic is to slip a spare quarter into an individual's glass. When a quarter then lands in the central glass and everyone begins racing to down their beverage, the target individual pauses to mistakenly tell everyone that they've made a mistake and the quarter did not land in the central glass. The other players then point out the quarter in the central glass but only after finishing their individual beverages.
Other
- Suicide quarters, chandeliers variation
- Xtreme quarters, chandeliers variation
- Icetray quarters
Beverages
The most common beverage used is beer, since it makes the continued drinking more filling, while diminishing the shooter's accuracy, thus increasing the difficulty further.
The players must determine before-hand how much is to be consumed each time a player is required to drink. This depends on the variation being played and the appetites of the players.
Numerous variations and special rules are available on the Internet. Nearly every compilation of drinking games includes an entry on Quarters.
See also
References
- Griscom, Andy. (1994). Beer Games 2, Revised: The Exploitative Sequel. Revised edition. Mustang Publishing. ISBN 0914457675
- Griscom, Andy. (1999). The Complete Book of Beer Drinking Games. Revised Edition. Mustang Publishing. ISBN 0914457977
- [Kheper Games]. (2001). Got Liquor? Drinking Game Set. Basic speed quarters rules. [link]
External links
- [Webtender Quarters rules]
- [BrewThis.com Quarters rules]
- [DrinkingStuff Speed Quarters rules]
- [BrewThis.com Speed Quarters rules]
- [10+ Quarters Drinking Games]
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