Asshole Rules

Asshole is a fun [party card game](/) perfect for groups and gatherings. Players who enjoy social card games often try [Uno](/uno) and [Spoons](/spoons) for similar entertainment. For comprehensive card game rules, [Geeky Hobbies Complete Rulebook](https://www.geekyhobbies.com/the-complete-list-of-card-and-board-game-rules/) provides extensive coverage.

  • Category: Family & College Games
  • Players: 4, 5, 6, 7

Objective

Your mission is simple on papier, but the game can turn deliciously chaotic in practice. You want to get rid of all your cards before anyone else does. The last player still holding cards drops to the bottom of the social ladder and becomes the Asshole. That ranking shapes everything: where you sit, what you give away and how much power you hold in the next round. It’s a small social ecosystem with cards.

Material

Standard 52-card deck (add jokers for 5+ players):

2♠ 3♠ 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ A♠

Card Ranking

3 (low) → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 9 → 10 → J → Q → K → A → 2 (high)

Special: 2s sit at the very top and can clear the pile in an instant.

Setup

Players: 4 to 8 players, though 4 to 6 feels perfect. First Game: Deal all cards as evenly as possible. A player may have one extra card, and that’s fine. Subsequent Games: Players sit in rank order, with exchanges before each round. This adds a spicy layer of politics to the game.

Social Ranks

From best to worst:

  1. President
  2. Vice President
  3. Citizens
  4. Vice Asshole
  5. Asshole

How to Play

Starting the Round

First round: Player with 3♣ begins. Later rounds: The President always leads.

Playing Cards

On your turn, play cards equal or higher in rank than the pile allows.

  • Singles
  • Doubles
  • Triples
  • Quads

If the pile shows doubles, you must answer with higher doubles. Same logic for triples and quads.

If you can’t or don’t want to? Just pass.

Clearing the Pile

The pile clears when:

  1. Everyone passes
  2. Someone plays a 2
  3. Someone plays four of a kind

When that happens, the player who cleared it leads next. It can completely shift the momentum.

Special Rules

The 2 Card

The 2 is the most powerful card in the entire game.

  • It beats everything
  • It clears the pile instantly
  • You can drop it whenever you want

Example: If the pile shows K♠ K♥, playing 2♦ wipes it immediately.

Four of a Kind

Drop all four cards of the same rank, and the pile disappears on the spot. A dramatic move. Very satisfying.

Doubles/Triples

If someone leads with doubles, you must play doubles. If they lead with triples, you must follow with triples.

Example:

  • Lead: 5♠ 5♥
  • Valid: 6♣ 6♦, 9♠ 9♥, K♣ K♦
  • Invalid: A single card or three 8s

Revolution (Optional)

If someone plays four cards in a row (like 5-6-7-8), the whole ranking flips. Suddenly 3 becomes the strongest card. A nose dive for Aces. Things get chaotic fast.

Card Exchanges

Before every round except the first, ranks exchange cards.

Standard Exchanges

  • Asshole gives President: their 2 best cards
  • President gives Asshole: their 2 worst cards
  • Vice Asshole gives VP: their best card
  • Vice President gives VA: their worst card

It hurts the lower ranks. It boosts the top. And it creates hilarious swings from one round to the next.

Ending the Round

Players finish in order as they empty their hands:

1st out = President 2nd = Vice President Middle players = Citizens 2nd to last = Vice Asshole Last = Asshole

The whole table reshuffles socially, not just with cards.

Variants

Scum

Same rules, just a different name.

President

A polite version, identical otherwise.

Kings

Variant where Kings outrank everything instead of 2s.

Revolution Rule

Four in a row flips the rankings until someone triggers another revolution.

Beer Asshole

A social twist where the Asshole fetches drinks and the President sets the rules. Things escalate quickly.

Strategy

As President

  • Lead with strong singles
  • Push opponents to burn their 2s early
  • Keep control of the pace

As Asshole

  • Your goal is survival
  • Use any high card you receive wisely
  • Don’t overcommit early

General Tips

Early game:

  • Get rid of weak cards like 3s, 4s, 5s
  • Save your 2s for key moments

Mid game:

  • Watch what others play
  • Count the 2s
  • Build pairs or triples when you can

Late game:

  • Get aggressive if you’re close to winning
  • Try to block the leader from emptying their hand

This game is part strategy, part social chaos and part pure momentum. Every round tells a different story.

Frequently asked questions

What is the game Asshole also known as?

Asshole goes by a whole collection of names. Some tables call it President, others say Scum, Kings or even Warlords. The name changes depending on the region or the friend group, but once the cards hit the table, the gameplay barely changes at all. Same chaos. Same social ladder. Same deliciously petty moments.

What is the objective of Asshole?

The whole point of the game is to empty your hand before anyone else does. Do it first and you rise straight to President. Finish dead last and you drop all the way down to Asshole. Everyone else lands somewhere in the middle. These rankings stick for the next round, and that’s when the real fun begins.

What does the Asshole have to do?

The Asshole has the toughest job at the table. At the start of each round, they hand over their two best cards to the President and only get the President’s two worst cards back. It stings every time. On top of that, the Asshole deals the cards and handles the pile whenever it needs clearing. It’s a rough spot, but climbing out of it feels incredibly satisfying.

What cards are strongest in Asshole?

In most groups, 2s sit proudly at the top of the food chain. Aces come right after, then Kings, all the way down to humble 3s. That’s the classic order. But the beauty of this game is how wildly house rules can shift things. Some groups flip the entire ranking on its head, turning 3s into monsters and pushing Aces to the bottom. Always check the local customs before you play.

What are doubles and triples in Asshole?

Players can drop multiple cards of the same rank at once, whether it’s a pair, a triple or even all four. When someone does that, the next player has to match both the number of cards and the rank. If the pile shows a pair of 7s, you need a higher pair. Same deal for triples and quads. It keeps the tension sharp and the table honest.

Can you skip your turn in Asshole?

Yes, you can absolutely pass. Sometimes you can’t beat the pile, and sometimes you just don’t feel like wasting a good card. But there’s a catch. Once you pass during that round, you’re out until the pile clears. No jumping back in halfway through. You wait, the pile resets, and then you get another shot.