Presidents Rules

Objective

Climb to the top of the table by emptying your hand before anyone else and claiming the title of President. Fall behind, and you might end up as the Scum, stuck at the bottom of the social ladder. Presidents thrives on quick decisions, table reading, and a playful dose of chaos, because every round shifts the hierarchy and changes how you start the next one.

Material

A standard 52-card deck:

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

Card Ranking

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

2s instantly clear the pile.

Setup

Players: 4–8 (best with 4–6)

First game: Deal all cards as evenly as possible. A few players may receive one extra card, which doesn’t affect play.

Following games: Players sit in order of rank, from President at the top to Scum at the bottom. Before the next hand begins, card exchanges take place:

• The Scum gives their best card to the President, who returns any card they choose.
• The Vice Scum exchanges with the Vice President in the same way.
• Middle players (the Citizens) simply keep their seats and their cards.

Rank Hierarchy

1. President
2. Vice President
3. Citizens (middle of the pack)
4. Vice Scum
5. Scum (always deals the next hand)

How to Play

Starting the Round

• First round: Player holding 3♣ leads.
• Later rounds: President always leads.

Playing Cards

Players lay cards of equal or higher rank than the current pile.

You may play:

• Singles (one card)
• Doubles (pair)
• Triples (three of a kind)
• Quads (four of a kind — instantly clear)

You may pass at any time, even if you could play.

Clearing the Pile

The pile is cleared when:

1. Everyone passes (last player to play begins next round)
2. A 2 is played
3. A four of a kind is played

Special Rules

2s

Highest cards. Play a 2 → instantly clear → you lead next.

Four of a Kind

Any four matching ranks clear the pile immediately.

Multiples Rule

If the pile begins with pairs or triples, you must match the quantity:

• If led with two 5s, you must play a pair higher than 5 (or a triple/quad).
• If led with three 8s, you must play three of a higher rank (or quads).

Card Exchanges (After First Round)

At the start of every round except the first:

• Scum → President: 2 best cards
• President → Scum: 2 worst cards
• Vice Scum → VP: 1 best card
• VP → Vice Scum: 1 worst card

This creates a powerful advantage for upper ranks.

Ending the Round

Players go out in order:

1. President (first out)
2. Vice President
3. Citizens
4. Vice Scum
5. Scum (last)

These results determine seating and card exchanges for the next round.

Strategy

As President

• Maintain control with strong singles.
• Force opponents to burn their 2s.
• Save mid-strength pairs to block players close to winning.

As Scum

• Aim to climb one rank at a time.
• Play defensively and preserve the few strong cards you get.

General Tips

Early Game:

• Dump weak singles (3s, 4s, 5s).
• Keep pairs/triples intact.

Mid Game:

• Track how many 2s have been played.
• Watch opponents’ card counts.

Late Game:

• Block players close to finishing.
• Use powerful cards to secure your exit.

Variants

Asshole / Scum

Same core game; different names.

Kings Variant

Kings are the highest rank instead of 2s.

Revolution

Playing four consecutive cards of increasing rank reverses the entire ranking order (3 becomes highest, 2 becomes lowest).

Tournament Scoring

Optional point system (lower is better):

• President: 0
• Vice President: 1
• Citizens: 2
• Vice Scum: 3
• Scum: 4

Lowest total after a set number of rounds wins.

Tips

Card Management

• Track all 2s—there are only four.
• Preserve pairs and triples for critical plays.
• Only break strong combinations when necessary.

Table Awareness

• Build soft alliances to control the President.
• Pay attention to who passes quickly—likely holding power cards.

Common Mistakes

• Burning 2s too early
• Breaking up pairs needlessly
• As President, overplaying and drawing the table’s attention
• Refusing to pass strategically when holding strong cards