The Game
The goal of this game is to hold four of the same card in your hand and to signal your partner to call you out on it. This is a drinking game variation of the Chems card game. Winning requires a combination of strategy, quick reflexes, and observational ability.
Equipment
Playing Cards
How to Play
1.
Have some volunteer to be the dealer. Split players up into teams of two. Each team then needs to convene in separate, private locations, in order to determine a signal they will give each other when a player has collected four of the same cards.
2.
The dealer deals each player four cards. Players may look at and re-arrange their cards.
3.
The dealer then deals 4 cards face up in the middle of the table. Once the 4th card is down, players may begin exchanging their cards with the cards on the table. Players must first discard a card from their hand before picking up a card. This sequence goes on as long as it needs to until players stop exchanging cards.
4.
During this time, or at any point during the game, a player can call 'Chems' if he/she thinks their partner has completed a set of 4 of the same cards (collected the same card in every suit). The partner then shows their cards. If the cards are indeed four-of-a-kind, then all opponents must take 10 drinks (sips) or some other predetermined amount. If they are wrong, then they must drink 10 drinks, the winning team gets 1 point, and the game starts over. Alternatively, players may call 'Double Chems' if they think both they and their partner have four-of-a-kinds. In this case, the scoring/penalties are doubled. Players may also call 'Gotcha' if they think one of their opponents has a four-of-a-kind. If a player calls 'Gotcha', they must choose an opposing player whom then reveals their cards. If the opposing player has a four-of-a-kind, then the opposing team takes 10 drinks and the calling player's team gets 1 point. If the opposing player does not have a four-of-a-kind, then the calling team takes 10 drinks and the game starts over.
5.
Once all players stop exchanging cards, each player takes 1 drink. The dealer may then discard the 4 cards in the middle of the table to the discard pile, face down, and deal 4 new cards. This cycle continues until one of the game victory conditions is met.
6.
The game ends when a team reaches 5 points.
Player Actions
| Chems | Teammate shows cards, if four-of-a-kind, all opposing players take 10 drinks. If not four-of-a-kind, calling team takes 10 drinks. | |
| Double Chems | Teammate shows cards, if four-of-a-kind, all opposing players take 20 drinks. If not four-of-a-kind, calling team takes 20 drinks. | |
| Gotcha | Pick an opposing player. Opposing player shows cards. If four-of-a-kind, opposing players take 10 drinks. If not four-of-a-kind, calling team takes 10 drinks. | |