Higher or Lower
Guess right – or drink!
How to play:
- The first player looks at the card shown.
- Guess whether the next card is HIGHER or LOWER.
- Press the button to see the answer.
- Guessed correctly → hand out 3 sips to whoever you like!
- Guessed wrong → drink 3 sips yourself.
- The next player takes their turn.
How to play Higher or Lower
- The dealer flips a card.
- The active player guesses: will the next card be higher or lower?
- Correct guess: continue – the next card is flipped and you guess again.
- Wrong guess: drink sips equal to the difference between the cards (e.g. guessed higher, next is 3, previous was 8 = 5 sips).
- The next player takes over after a wrong guess, or after a set number of correct guesses.
Card hierarchy: 2 is lowest, Ace is highest (A = 14). Cards of the same value usually mean you drink automatically (tie = drink!).
Higher or Lower variants
- Pyramid version: Play through a pyramid of cards
- Round the circle: Everyone plays in turn, the last one with the most correct guesses is "King"
- Double penalty: Tied cards give double the penalty
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules for the Higher or Lower drinking game?
A card is flipped. You guess whether the next card is higher or lower. Guess correctly: continue. Guess wrong: drink sips equal to the difference between the cards. Ace is highest (14), 2 is lowest.
What happens with a tied card value in Higher or Lower?
Most house rules say tied card value = automatic drink (usually 3–5 sips). It's a situation you can't guess correctly on, so the penalty is fixed.
Can you play Higher or Lower with just two people?
Yes! Higher or Lower is one of the few drinking games that works for 2 players. Perfect for a couple's night. It also works great with up to 8 players in a queue format.
Is there a Higher or Lower app?
There are several Higher or Lower apps where you can play digitally. Drikkelek.no has a built-in version you can play for free without downloading anything.
What is the digital version of Higher or Lower?
On drikkelek.no you can play Higher or Lower digitally – cards are handled automatically and sips are calculated. Perfect for those who don't have a deck of cards to hand.