President
Cards Used
President is played with a standard 52-card deck without jokers and is best suited for 4–7 players. In larger groups, two decks may be used. In most versions, cards are ranked from 3 (lowest) up to 2 (highest), with 2 being the strongest card.
Aim of the Game
The aim of President is to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in their hand. The order in which players finish determines their rank for the next round, with the first player becoming the President and the last player becoming the Scum (also known as Beggar or another agreed name).
Point Scoring
President does not use a traditional points system. Instead, players are ranked based on when they finish the round. The first player to discard all of their cards is the President, while the last player remaining with cards is the Scum. In many versions, these rankings affect the next round, with the President receiving advantages and the Scum receiving disadvantages during the card exchange before play begins.
How to Deal
Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal all the cards as evenly as possible among the players. If the cards cannot be divided equally, some players may receive one extra card. Players keep their cards hidden from one another and arrange them in any order they choose.
Gameplay
- 1
The player with the agreed starting card (commonly the 3 of Clubs) begins by playing one or more cards of the same rank.
- 2
Play continues clockwise, with each player either playing the same number of cards of a higher rank or choosing to pass. Once a player passes, they cannot play again until a new round of tricks begins.
- 3
The trick ends when all other players have passed, allowing the last player to successfully play cards to start the next trick with any card or matching set.
- 4
Players continue discarding cards until they have none remaining. The first player out is the President, while the final player left with cards is the Scum.
- 5
In many versions, before the next round begins, the President exchanges their lowest card with the Scum's highest card, while the Vice President and Vice Scum may also exchange one card. This ranking system adds an extra level of strategy across multiple rounds.
Need a deck? Pick up a Cardvenir pack and see the city while you play.