How to Play President Card Game
President (also known as Scum, Asshole, or Capitalism) is a popular card-shedding game for 3-6 players. The goal is to get rid of all your cards before everyone else. The first player out becomes the President, and the last becomes the Scum.
What You Need
- A standard 52-card deck
- 3 to 6 players (our online version plays with 4)
Card Rankings
Cards are ranked differently than most games:
3 (lowest) → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 9 → 10 → J → Q → K → A → 2 (highest)
Suits do not matter in President.
Setup
Deal all cards evenly among players. Some players may have one extra card — that is fine.
Rules
- The player with the 3 of clubs starts (or in our version, player 1).
- Play proceeds clockwise.
- You must play a card (or set of cards) that beats the current pile — meaning a higher rank.
- If someone plays a pair, you must play a pair of higher rank. Same for triples.
- If you cannot or choose not to beat the pile, you pass.
- When all players pass, the pile is cleared and the last player who played starts a new round with any card.
- The first player to empty their hand is President. Second is Vice President. Last is Scum.
- Passing does not lock you out — you can play again later in the same round if someone else plays.
- Between hands the Scum hands their highest card to the President, who returns a card of their choice. The President then leads the next hand.
Strategy Tips
- Lead with low cards — Get rid of your weak cards (3s, 4s, 5s) early when you have the lead.
- Save 2s and Aces — These can beat almost anything. Use them to regain control.
- Pairs beat singles — If you have pairs of high cards, they are very powerful since opponents need pairs of higher rank.
- Pass strategically — Sometimes passing even when you can play is wise if you want to save high cards.
- Count cards — Track which high cards have been played. If all 2s are gone, your Ace is unbeatable.
Titles and Rankings
| Finish Position | Title |
|---|
| 1st | President |
| 2nd | Vice President |
| 3rd | Citizen |
| Last | Scum |
Play President Online
Our free version features 3 AI opponents with strategic play. No download needed.
Play President Now →
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