Caps (drinking game)
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Caps is a drinking game (invented by Chad Lindsey, Chris Coit, and Derek Campbell)that involves throwing bottle caps or pennies into plastic cups (North America and North Europe), or at other bottle caps balanced on open beer bottles (France).
Four players split into two teams, and each sit anywhere from 8 to 16 feet apart or as space allows, with a pint glass filled with beer or water directly in between each couple. Both teams take turns throwing caps into their opponents' cup. Each time a team makes a shot, the other team gets a chance to "rebut" or "cancel" by making a shot. If no rebuttal is made, the team that made the original shot gets a point while the other team drinks their beer. However, if a rebuttal is made, the team who originally made the shot tries to make a rebuttal as well. This can go on for as long as it takes, depending on the skill of the players. When a rebuttal shot is finally missed, that team drinks their beer and a point may be awarded to the team that made the last successful shot. The game then continues with both teams taking turns shooting. The first team to a baker's dozen with at least a two point lead wins.
Variations exist on the distance between cups (distances between 20 feet and 8 feet 10 inches have been reported), the amount of beer a team has to drink for failing to match a cap, the number of points needed to win the game (although having to win by two points is usually a requirement), the type of cups used (a large group of caps players in Bowling Green, OH used short 16 oz. tumblers almost exclusively), the location a player must sit and even the projectile thrown into the cups (a large area in the Midwest sometimes chooses to use quarters but still call the game caps).
Other variations of "caps"
Caps appears in many variations throughout the United States. In Wisconsin, a large group of players abide by a different set of rules and standards from the traditional form of caps. This style of caps is known as the "Gentleman's Game of Caps."
Supplies needed for the gentleman's style of play are:
-large quantities of caps(preferrably twist off)
-two large beer mugs
-two towels to dry caps
-a pad or notebook to take stats
-two chairs and any dining table
How to play:
Players must pour a desired amount of beer into their mugs, usually a third of a beer. Players then take turns shooting for shot. Whoever sinks the first cap gets to take the first shot of the game(sinking a cap in shooting for shot does not result in a score). Each player takes turns shooting caps until one player sinks a cap. The other player then gets a chance at a rebuttal (rebuttals will go back and forth until one player misses). The player that successfully wins the shot scores. After a score, the scored upon player must drink his beer and dry off the cap for reuse. The first player to seven wins(in order to win one must have a lead of two points). Gentleman's caps is meant to be fun and laid back, distractions and taunting of one another is frowned upon, it is meant to be a gentleman's game. One of the players is in charge of taking stats, the other is in charge of picking up stray caps in between turns. Stats are an important part of Gentleman's Caps because many players keep records of every game he or she has ever played.
What are the statistics that are recorded?:
-Shots: each time a cap is thrown
-Sinks: each time a player sinks a cap into his opponent's mug
-Score: each time a player scores a point
-Rebuttal attempts: each time a player attempts a rebuttal
-Rebuttal: each time a player successfully rebuttals
-Catch: a catch is when a player cleanly catchs a cap deflected off of the mug in front of him, said player is then allowed a free shot that he can use at any point during the game, such as getting an extra rebuttal shot
-Error: if at any point a player makes a mistake, such as shooting out of turn or shooting without beer in his mug, a free shot is given to his opponent
-Free Shot Conversion Attempt: when a player attempts to capitalize off of a free shot such as a catch or an error
-Free Shot Conversion: when a player successfully scores off of a free shot
-Note: to record statistics one must create collumns to record each of the stats listed above for both players. Tally marks in divided collumns works the best.
The most important rule of beer caps is to have fun.
