Who Drinks the King's Cup

When the fourth King is drawn, who drinks the King's Cup? Can that player get out of it?

The Commission's archive holds 611 rulings on the King's Cup. All 611 found that its contents were worse than expected. None found that this was a reason not to drink it.

The Commission reviewed the arguments most often raised by the player holding the fourth King. These included that the card was drawn by accident, that the card was stuck to another card, that the player had been about to leave anyway, and that the cup contained something the player is "fundamentally opposed to." The Commission found all of them moving, and none of them persuasive.

After review, the ruling on the field is as follows. The player who draws the fourth King drinks the King's Cup, all of it. The game ends.

A card is drawn when it leaves the ring. A King that comes up stuck to another card was still drawn, by the player who drew it. A player who wants out of the King's Cup may concede the game under Provision 1.8. The Commission records the concession without comment, and so, it is hoped, does the table.

Tables that prefer a partner to split the cup may declare it at the Pre-Game Rules Meeting.

The ruling stands.

The Official forms a crown above their head with both hands, then points at the cup.