President (game)

President (also known as "Asshole" or "The Great Dalmuti") (or even Scum) is a card game for 3 or more players in which the object is to get rid of all of one's cards. There are many different variations, but the basic principles remain the same. This game is usually a drinking game. Or, score can be kept, with the asshole being given a score a 0, the vice-asshole a score of 1, and so on until the president scores 1 less than the number of players. (If there are 5 players, the president scores 4.) The total score for all hands played determines the winner.

The game can be played with any number of players. Usually 1 standard deck of cards (optionally including 1 or more jokers) is used per six or seven players. All cards are dealt out. The order of cards, from highest to lowest, is Joker, 2, Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. Before each round of play there is a settlement of cards depending on the players' order of finish in the previous hand. The "President", or player who got rid of all of his cards earliest, receives a set number of cards (typically 1 or 2) from the player who was not able to get rid of all of his cards (typically called the "Asshole"). The President then gives the same number of cards back to the Asshole, potentially getting rid of weak cards (i.e. singles). There may be other card exchanges depending on the number of players in the game.

Play proceeds as follows: The "Asshole" plays first. (Variant: The "President" plays first, giving the "President" an additional advantage.) Play proceeds in clockwise order. Each player must play a higher card or card combination than the previous player. A player may elect not to play, even if he is able to. Cards can be played either singly or in pairs, triples, etc. A pair ranks higher than a single card, and a triple ranks higher than a pair, etc. A Joker is the highest card of all. There are usually special rules concerning the 2. Some play that a single 2 beats any pair (and a pair of 2s beats a triple), while some play that a single 2 beats only other singles. Some variations hold that the only cards that can beat a 2 are a pair or triple of 2s or the joker.

The play proceeds around the table. In some variations the play continues around the table until all players pass. In other variations each player plays once in a round. The last player to play to a round leads to the next round. The first player to get rid of all of his cards becomes the "President" for the next hand. After the President has been determined, the remaining players continue to determine "Vice-President", "Vice-Asshole" and "Asshole". (With more than 4 players, make up additional names for the middle players.) Normally, there is no scoring and no way to win the game, other than the general satisfaction of being "President" as much as possible. For those who insist on keeping score, the method indicated above is best.

On the first hand, there is no "President", and no cards are exchanged. The person with the lowest card (usually the 3 of clubs) leads.

Table of contents 1 Optional Rules 1.1 Skip Rule 1.2 Poker Hands 1.3 Suit Ranks Count 1.4 Change Seats After Every Round 1.5 Deal All The Cards 1.6 Must Match Previous Type 1.7 Twos Beat Everything

Optional Rules

Skip Rule

When a card is played that matches the rank of the previously played card, the next player must pass. For example, if the ten of hearts is played on the ten of clubs, the next player must pass, even if he wished to play a jack. This rule also applies when a pair is played on a pair of the same rank.

The skip rule allows one unusual situation. If only 2 players remain, skipping a player ends the round. For example, a six has just been played by player B. Player A has two sixes and a seven. Player B has an eight. Player A may now play a six, forcing player B to skip. This ends the round. Player A may start the new round by playing another six. However, this does not cause player B to skip again, because the end of the previous round removed the six from the table. Notice that player A would have been able to avoid becoming Asshole if he could force player B to skip twice.

Poker Hands

In addition to playing pairs and triples, you are allowed to play a 5-card poker hand. This includes straight, flush, full house, etc.. When you play 4 of a kind, you must also play any 5th card to complete the hand.

Suit Ranks Count

Ordinarily, the suits do not matter. Optinally, suits rank in alphabetical order, same as in Bridge. Diamonds beats clubs, hearts beats diamonds, and spades beats hearts. So, the ten of spades may be played on the ten of diamonds, but the ten of clubs may not be played on the ten of diamonds. Of course, the jack of clubs may still be played on the ten of diamonds.

Change Seats After Every Round

After every round, the seating changes, based on the order of finish in the prior round. The "President" gets the most comfortable chair. The vice-President sits to his left, and so on, until the "Asshole" sits to the "President"'s right, in the least comfortable chair. Since the President plays first, this gives a slight advantage to the players seated to the President's left

Deal All The Cards

If the number of cards is not evenly divisible but the number of players, the lowest ranked players get the extra cards. For example, with 5 players and a 52 card deck, the "Asshole" and "vice-Asshole" get 11 cards, and the other 3 players get only 10 cards. Some players remove the odd cards from the deck.

Must Match Previous Type

If the last person played a single card, then all plays for the rest of the round must be a single card. For example, a pair of threes may not be played on a seven. Similarly, three fours may not be played on a pair of sixes. The player who starts a new round (after all other players pass) may play anything he chooses.

Twos Beat Everything

When you play a two, that beats any other hand, including a pair, three-of-a-kind, or poker hand. The person who played the two immediately wins the round and leads to the next round, playing anything he wishes.