Quarters
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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, in a drinking glass (or cup) on that table. The game is popular at parties, especially in colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
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 contents of an alcoholic beverage.
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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, she is allowed to make up a rule, similar to the rules in President (aka Asshole). 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
The other 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. They must attempt to successfully bounce their quarter into their cup as quickly as possible. If they miss, they quickly try again. As soon as a player gets his quarter into the cup, he passes the quarter and the cup to the player on his right. If a player shoots the quarter into his cup on the first try, then he 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 his right, in which case he can pass it to the right in the normal manner).
If a player ever has both quarters at the same time, then he is the loser. This happens when that player is attempting to get his quarter into his cup, but unsuccessfully, when the player to his 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" (also known as "fucked" in some areas) the loser, and signifies this by immediately stacking his 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 his left has "screwed" him.
At this point, the loser is allowed one final shot into the stacked cups. If the loser misses, he 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 their finger in order to hold it up, in these cases the loser still must drink until the person allows the quarter to fall. In the case where the loser makes the final shot, he then spins a quarter and everyone else drinks for as long as he allows the quarter to spin.
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.
External links
- Webtender Quarters rules (http://www.webtender.com/handbook/games/quarters.game)
- BrewThis.com Quarters rules (http://www.brewthis.com/Games/37497.html)
- DrinkingStuff Speed Quarters rules (http://www.drinkingstuff.com/displaypage/content/drinking_games/view_game.php?id=78)
- BrewThis.com Speed Quarters rules (http://www.brewthis.com/Games/37504.html)