President Card Game Rules

President, also known by various other names such as Scum, Asshole, Rich Man Poor Man, and Bum, among others, is a popular card game originating from China and spreading throughout the Western world, especially among young people, towards the end of the 20th century. The game is played with a standard 52-card deck and is suitable for 4 to 7 players.

Objective

The objective of the game is to get rid of all your cards as quickly as possible. The last player remaining with cards is typically referred to as the Scum, Asshole, or other terms of derision depending on the region.

Setup

The game is played clockwise. All the cards are dealt out, and players may have slightly different numbers of cards. The player to the left of the dealer starts the game. The suits are irrelevant, and the cards rank, from high to low, 2, A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3.

How to Play

1. The player to the dealer's left starts by leading any single card or any set of equal rank (e.g., three fives).
2. Each player in turn must either pass (i.e., not play any cards) or play face up a card or set of cards which beats the previous play.
3. A single card is beaten by any higher single card. A set of cards can only be beaten by a higher set containing the same number of cards. For example, if the previous player played two sixes, you can beat this with two kings or two sevens, but not with a single king or three sevens.
4. It is not necessary to beat the previous play just because you can—passing is always allowed. Also, passing does not prevent you from playing the next time your turn comes around.
5. The play continues as many times around the table as necessary until someone makes a play which everyone else passes. All the cards played are then turned face down and put to one side, and the player who played last (and highest) to the previous "trick" starts again by leading any card or set of equal cards.
6. When a player whose turn it is to play has no more cards left, the turn passes to the next player in rotation.

Social Status and Card Exchange

The first player out of cards takes the highest rank — President for Americans — followed by the Vice-President, then the Citizens. The last player left holding cards is the Scum, Asshole or Beggar; European tables use King, Minister, ... , Peasant or Boss, Foreman, Worker, Bum.

For the next hand players change seats: the President takes the most comfortable chair, the Vice-President sits on their left, and so on around to the Scum on the President's right. The Scum shuffles, deals and clears the cards away, so the first card goes to the President, the second to the Vice-President, and so on. Once the deal is complete, the Scum must hand their highest card to the President, who gives back any card they do not want. The President then leads.

Scoring and End of Game

Scoring is optional. If you keep score, players get points according to their finishing position — for example 2 for the President, 1 for the Vice-President and nothing for the others. Set a target at the start and the game ends when someone reaches it, say 11 points. A hand ends when only one player is still holding cards.

Common Variants

1. Opening Lead: On the first deal, some play that the player holding a specific card of the lowest rank leads. Generally, this will be a three, but in variations where threes are wild, it will be a four. On subsequent deals, some play that the Scum from the previous hand leads, rather than the President.
2. Single-round play: Some people play that after someone leads, each player gets just one opportunity to pass or beat the previous play. Whoever played highest then leads again.
3. Compulsory beating: Some people play that if you can beat the previous play, you must. Passing is only allowed if you are unable to play.
4. No playing after passing: In Australia, some people do not allow a player who has passed to play at subsequent turns during the same trick.
5. Larger sets of cards beat smaller sets of lower rank: Some people do not require players to play an equal number of cards to the card or set they are beating. It is also possible to play more cards than the previous player, as long as they are also higher in rank than the previous play.
6. Larger sets beat smaller sets irrespective of rank: Another variation found occasionally is that a set of more cards beats a set of fewer cards irrespective of rank.
7. Equal plays allowed: Some people allow a card or set to be beaten by another card or set of equal rank.
8. Equal play skips next player: Some people play that if you beat a play with an equal play, the turn skips the next player who has cards.
9. Four of a kind inverts ranks: In some circles, playing four cards of the same rank inverts the ranking order for the rest of the play.

A Fun Fact or Record

President is a versatile game with numerous variations, and it has become a popular choice for social gatherings among young people in many parts of the world. The game has even been adapted into various online platforms for digital play.

Where to Get the Game

54-card deck on Amazon

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting to match the number of cards when beating a set.
2. Playing a card or set that can't beat the previous play.
3. Failing to remember that passing does not prevent you from playing on subsequent turns.
4. In multi-round play, not understanding that the player who played highest on the previous round starts the next round.

FAQ

1. How many players and which deck?

   • The basic game is for about 4 to 7 people with a standard 52-card pack, all of it dealt out.

2. Can a play be beaten by a play of equal rank?

   • Not in the basic game, where you must play strictly higher. Some circles allow equal plays, and some of those also skip the next player who still has cards.

3. Can I play a single card on a set of equal cards?

   • No. In the basic game a set can only be beaten by a higher set with the same number of cards, so a single king does not beat two sixes.

4. Can I play more cards than the previous player in order to beat their set?

   • In some variations, yes, you can play more cards than the previous player, as long as they are also higher in rank than the previous play.

5. Do suits matter?

   • Not in the basic game — the suits are irrelevant and only the rank counts, from 2 down to 3. A few variations do bring suits and colours into the ranking.

Similar games

• 52-card deck
• truco card game
• spanish deck chinchón
• 52-card deck
• 52-card deck