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You know that feeling when you're sitting in a cramped dorm room or around a sticky kitchen table and someone pulls out a deck of cards? Usually, it's Poker or maybe Rummy. But if the group is feeling particularly chaotic and a little bit mean, someone suggests you play President card game. It’s the ultimate social equalizer—or, more accurately, the ultimate social divider. It has been called Scum, Arsehole, or Root Beer depending on how polite your family was, but the core remains the same: it is a game about power, hierarchy, and the sheer joy of watching your friends suffer under the weight of "taxation."
Let’s get one thing straight. This isn't a game of high-stakes strategy like Bridge. It’s a ladder game. It’s fast. It’s loud. Honestly, it’s mostly about the satisfaction of climbing from the gutter to the throne.
The Absolute Basics of the President Card Game
To get started, you need at least three people, but it’s better with four or five. If you try to play with seven, it gets weirdly crowded and you might need two decks. Grab a standard 52-card pack. Toss the Jokers unless you want extra chaos—some house rules love them as wild cards, but we'll stick to the standard version first.
The goal? Get rid of your cards. Fast.
The first person to empty their hand becomes the President. The last person left holding cards? They’re the Scum (or the Asshole, or the Janitor). In between, you have the Vice President and the Citizens. The hierarchy isn't just for show; it dictates how the next round starts, which is where the "taxation" comes in. The Scum has to give their best cards to the President. It’s unfair. It’s brutal. That’s the point.
The Ranking of Cards
Forget everything you know about Poker. In the President card game, 2s are the holy grail. They are the highest cards.
The ranking goes like this, from low to high: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, 2. Some people play that 3s are the lowest, and some play that the 3 of Clubs starts the very first round. If you’re playing with Jokers, they usually beat everything, even the 2s.
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How a Round Actually Works
The dealer (usually the Scum from the previous round) deals out the entire deck. Don't worry if some people have one more card than others; life isn't fair, and neither is this game.
The person with the 3 of Clubs usually leads the first trick. They can play a single card, a pair, three of a kind, or four of a kind. Here is the golden rule: whatever the lead player puts down, everyone else has to follow that format but with a higher value.
If I play a single 5, you have to play a single 6 or higher. If I play two 7s, you have to play two 8s or higher. You can't play a single Ace on my pair of 4s. It doesn't work that way. If you can’t beat the current card, or if you just don’t want to, you pass.
The Power of Clearing the Pile
When everyone passes, the pile is "cleared." The last person to play a card gets to lead the next trick. This is the most powerful position to be in. Why? Because you can lead with your trash. If you have a lone 4 that’s been rotting in your hand, leading the trick is the only way to get rid of it without being blocked by someone else's King.
A 2 is a "clear" card. If you drop a 2 on a single card, the trick ends immediately. You clear the pile and lead the next one. It’s a momentum shifter.
The Hierarchy and the Tax Man
This is where the President card game gets its name and its reputation. Once the first round ends, everyone takes their titles based on the order they finished:
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- President: The winner. They get to sit comfortably and usually demand the Scum deals the cards.
- Vice President: Second place. Not bad, but not the boss.
- Citizens: Everyone in the middle.
- Vice Scum: Second to last (only in larger groups).
- Scum: The loser. They have to deal, and they’re about to get robbed.
Before the next round begins, the Scum must give their two best cards to the President. In exchange, the President gives the Scum their two worst cards. The Vice President and Vice Scum do the same, but with only one card.
It sounds impossible for the Scum to ever win, right? It almost is. But that’s what makes a "Scum-to-President" run so legendary.
Strategy: Don't Just Play Your High Cards
Most beginners see an Ace and want to scream. They play it way too early.
Listen, if you play your 2s and Aces in the first thirty seconds, you’re going to be left with a handful of 4s and 5s at the end. You’ll be stuck passing while everyone else finishes. The secret is "leading low." When you win a trick, lead with your lowest singles or your lowest pairs. Get the junk out of your hand while you still have the high cards to regain control later.
Also, pay attention to what's been played. If you know all four 2s are gone, suddenly an Ace is the most powerful card on the board.
Common House Rule Variations
Because this is a folk game, everyone plays it differently. It’s worth sitting down for two minutes before the first deal to clarify the "house rules."
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- The Social Reset: If the President loses their title, some groups play that everyone moves seats to reflect the new hierarchy. The President gets the "best" chair, and the Scum sits on a milk crate or the floor.
- Burning the Pile: Some play that if you match the card on the table (play an 8 on an 8), the next person is skipped. Or, if four cards of the same value are played in a row (across multiple turns), the pile clears automatically.
- The Revolution: A rare but spicy rule. If someone plays four of a kind, a "Revolution" occurs. The card rankings flip. 3s become the best, 2s become the worst. It’s absolute madness and usually results in the Scum immediately becoming the President.
Why the President Card Game Ranks So High for Game Nights
Honestly? It's the psychological aspect. Unlike Poker, where the math is king, or Uno, which is mostly luck, President is about the social dynamics. You'll see the President mocking the Scum. You'll see Citizens forming temporary alliances to stop the President from winning again.
It’s a game of momentum.
When you play President card game, you're participating in a tradition that spans across countries. In Japan, it’s called Daifugō. In France, Trouduc. It works because the rules are simple enough to learn in one round, but the "taxation" mechanic creates a "just one more game" loop that keeps people at the table until 3:00 AM.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Game
If you want to actually win and not just sit in the "Vice Scum" seat all night, keep these three things in mind:
- Save your pairs. A pair of 5s is often more valuable than a single King. Why? Because people are more likely to have a single high card than a high pair. Pairs are the easiest way to force people to pass.
- Force the 2s. If you suspect someone is holding a 2, play a card high enough to force them to use it. Once the 2s are out of the way, your Aces and Kings become the bosses.
- The Scum's Gambit. If you're the Scum, don't give up. Your only hope is to get a "Revolution" (if playing with that rule) or to save your one or two decent cards for the very end to "sneak out" while the President and VP are battling with high cards.
Next time you have a deck of cards and a group of friends, skip the complicated stuff. The hierarchy is waiting. Just make sure everyone agrees on whether the 2s clear the pile before you start, or you’re going to have a very long night of arguing.
Once you've mastered the basic flow, try introducing "Speed President," where there's a three-second time limit on turns. It turns a strategic ladder game into a high-octane stress test that usually ends with cards flying across the room and everyone laughing. Just remember: today’s Scum is tomorrow’s President. Probably.