Across the Bridge
Ten cards laid in a row. Flip them one at a time — hit a face card and you drink, and the bridge gets longer.
Play this now2–8 players
What you need
- 2–8 players
- One phone each
- 10–15 minutes
How to play
- A bridge of ten cards is dealt face downEveryone crosses the same bridge, one player at a time.
- Flip the next cardNumber cards 2 through 10 are safe. Keep going.
- Face cards send you backHit a Jack, Queen, King or Ace and you drink, extra cards are added to the bridge, and you start crossing again.
- Reach the end and you are outCross the whole bridge and your run is over. The next player takes on the longer bridge you left behind.
Who drinks, and how much
- Jack: drink 1, and 1 card is added to the bridge.
- Queen: drink 2, and 2 cards are added.
- King: drink 3, and 3 cards are added.
- Ace: drink 4, and 4 cards are added — the worst card in the deck.
Variants and house rules
The bridge is shared
Every penalty makes the bridge longer for everyone who follows. Going first is the safest seat at the table, and the last player often faces a bridge twice its original length.
Shorter bridge, faster game
The bridge starts at ten cards. A table that wants a quick round can agree to stop at the first player who crosses cleanly.
Good to know
- The game ends early if the deck runs out of penalty cards.