The verbal game is started with the players getting into a circle. Then, the first player says a simple statement starting with “Never have I ever”. Anyone who at some point in their lives has done the action that the first player says, must drink. Play then continues around the circle, and the next person makes a statement. An additional rule – uncommon, but beneficial to the game – is that if there is no one taking a drink, then the one who said the particular “Never have I ever…” must take a drink. This rule often forces the players to strategize more and makes for less disposable/pointless suggestions. A further variation holds that whenever only one person is drinking, that person must give a detailed account of why they are drinking. Another variation of this game involves putting up five or ten fingers, putting one down whenever something mentioned has been done. Those who end up putting down all of their fingers must take several successive drinks. Games such as this one “reveal interesting things about the participants and help build friendships”, according to one American college student. Players often admit to things that they previously had not.