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President
President, also known as Scum or Asshole, is a climbing card game for three to six players where you race to empty your hand. Finishing order assigns ranks from President down to Scum, and those ranks carry social privileges into the next round, including card exchanges.
President Rules
The whole deck is dealt out, possibly unevenly. The player to the dealer's left (or the Scum from the prior round) leads any single card or set of equal-ranked cards. Twos are usually the highest rank and aces second; threes are lowest.
Going clockwise, each player must play the same number of cards as the lead at a higher rank, or pass. When everyone passes, the last player to play takes the pile away and leads fresh. The first to run out of cards becomes President for the next round.
Players finish in order: President, Vice-President, then down to the Scum who is last out. In following rounds, the Scum gives their best cards to the President and receives the President's unwanted cards, reinforcing the hierarchy each hand.
President Strategy & Tips
Dump low cards early
Threes and fours win nothing and only clog your hand. Shed your weakest cards while leads are low so you keep high cards for control later.
Save twos as escape cards
A two (or whatever rank is top) clears almost anything and lets you seize the lead. Hold one to break out of a bad spot or to claim the lead when the pile is high.
Time your sets to break opponents
Leading pairs or triples forces others to match the count, which traps players holding only singles. Use multi-card leads to make rivals pass and hand you the pile.
Use President privileges wisely
As President you receive the Scum's best cards each round, so use that head start to lead aggressively and stay on top of the hierarchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you win the President card game?
By being the first to play out all of your cards in a round, which earns you the President rank. Holding that rank gives you card-swap advantages going forward.
What is the Scum in President?
The last player still holding cards each round. The Scum must hand their best cards to the President next round and usually deals and leads.
What card is highest in President?
Most rules make the 2 the highest card, with the Ace just below it, while the 3 is the lowest. Some groups also use special clearing cards.
How many players can play President?
Typically three to six or more. The full deck is divided among the players, so more players simply mean smaller starting hands.