Buffalo (game)

Buffalo or Buffalo Club is a drinking game where participants agree to only drink from their glass with their non-dominant hand. If they are caught using the other hand, they must 'chug' (rapidly finish) their drink. The game of Buffalo is commonly understood to continue for the players' entire lives, once they have agreed to play.

Buffalo is a game of remembering to drink with the correct hand

People who play the game refer to themselves as "Buffalos", and groups of players may refer to themselves as a "Buffalo club", and the game itself is also sometimes called "Buffalo Club".

History

The history and origin of the Buffalo Club are obscure and many versions are in existence. A folk origin of the game states that Buffalo Club stems from the gunslinging days of the Wild West where the use of one's right hand (the shooting hand) was at times a matter of life or death.[1] Thus, recreational activities such as playing cards or drinking were done with the left hand only to avoid severe consequences.[2] The game is now popular around the world.

Basic game

The rules are fairly simple, though widely varying,[3] and involve which hand a player may use to drink.

The basic rule of the game is that a player can only drink with their non-dominant hand.[4] If any other Buffalo players spot them drinking with their dominant hand, they call Buffalo on the player and that player must finish their drink as quickly as possible.[5][6] If the player hesitates to finish their drink, the other players will usually proceed to make a ruckus chanting "Buffalo!" and banging on the table until the player finishes.[4][7][8]

Once a player begins playing Buffalo, they are playing it for the rest of their life.[4][5]

Variants

• In one version of the game, all players must drink with their left hand, irrespective of their dominant hand. This removes the need for players to ask each others' dominant hand.[3]
• Completing a buffalo with the proper hand can be called a double buffalo, forcing the player to chug two drinks.
• If the player calls Buffalo on somebody when they are actually drinking with the proper hand, they may return with a call of "False Buffalo" and the player is obligated to finish their own drink. If the buffalo-er does not currently possess a drink, the False caller must drink the nearest alcoholic drink available.
• One notable exception to the Buffalo rules exists when a right-handed player is drinking a Left Hand milk stout. This beer is deemed an “immunity beer”, and a player is allowed to drink their drink with either hand.[9]
• If a player is ambidextrous and uses this as an excuse, they have to finish your drink and then a hand will be decided for them.
• Some players rule that the dominant hand must be used when drinking non-alcoholic beverages, to discourage a player from adjusting their drinking hand for all drinks.

See also

• The Game (mind game), another game in which the players are perpetually playing.

References

1. Balkissoon, Denise (July 25–31, 2013). "Road Trip A: Buffalo". The Grid. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
2. "The American Buffalo Club Association". American Buffalo Club Association.
3. "ABCA Rules". American Buffalo Club Association.
4. Kevin Pease (Nov 26, 2007). "Let The Games Begin!". New University. Retrieved Jan 18, 2010.
5. "Beer Game: Buffalo Club". Real Beer. 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
6. Melissa Ludwig (March 26, 2009). "UTSA frat kicked out for hazing". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
7. "The 5 Lamest Drinking Games". Coed Magazine. March 19, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
8. "Buffalo". Student Drinking Games. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
9. "The Buffalo Exception". Medium. 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.