Five-Card Yak is a drinking game that is best played by three to five players, although as many as ten can play. All that's needed is a regular pack of 52 cards and a little creativity.

Skillful play allows one to avoid taking drinks, and exceptional play is rewarded by granting the privilege of adding a new rule to the game.

This game was created at the University of Virginia, and has a "drunk level" somewhere between "drunk" and "shit faced," depending on the aggressiveness of the players.

• Five cards are dealt to each player
• Each player passes one card to the left and one card to the right
• Each player plays one card, dealer leads
• Players must play a card of the same suit as the first card played, if able
• The highest untied card "wins," regardless of suit; tied cards cannot win
• The player who played the winning card drinks once
• Each player plays his second card, with the winner playing first, and as before, everyone else must follow suit
• The player who plays the winning card drinks twice
• Play is repeated for the third, fourth, and fifth cards, and the winner drinks three, four, and five times, respectively
• Exception: A winning player who also drank for the last play of cards drinks only once
• The winner of the last card in the hand deals the next hand
• Shooting the Moon: A player who wins four or five times in a hand is rewarded

• After winning four out of five cards in a hand, the player does not drink; instead, all other players take the number of drinks normally taken (the number of the card in the hand, either four or five) plus one additional drink; the winning player gets to make a new rule for the game
• If this player manages to win again, winning all five cards in a hand, all other players drink twice, and the winner gets to make a second rule

• Modifications for an unusual number of players:

• Six or more players: A player needs to win only three times to make a rule; this player can make a second rule by winning all five cards in a hand
• Two players: A player must win all five cards in a hand to make a rule