Matchbox

  • Matchbox is a drinking game of skill played around a table.
  • It can be played by any number of people.
  • The aim is to throw a matchbox such that it lands on its edge or end.
  • A "finger" is the amount of beer covered by one finger on the outside of the glass.
  • Play proceeds around a circle. The player whose turn it is takes the matchbox and throws it. What happens next depends on how the box lands:
  • End: If the matchbox lands on its end (smallest face) then four fingers are "added" to a penalty pot. Play then continues round the circle.
  • Edge: If the box lands on an edge (middle-sized face; usually the one with striking paper) then it accumulates two fingers in the penalty pot. Play continues.
  • Side: If the matchbox lands on its side (the largest face) then the thrower must drink the total number of fingers accumulated in penalty pot so far. Once this has taken place the pot reverts to zero fingers and play continues. If the pot contains no fingers then play simply continues without penalty.
  • The matchbox may be labelled as a reminder of the numbers.
  • Some optional extra rules:
  • Accidentally flicking a matchbox into a drink incurs an immediate penalty of four fingers for the thrower.
  • The matchbox not landing on the table incurs a penalty of two fingers for the thrower.
  • Spilling matches from the box is punishable by a fine (e.g. a finger or a sip per match).

Read more at Wikipedia

 

Image taken from Matchbloc collection, which brings together beautiful Eastern Bloc matchbox labels from 1950s to 1980s.