President (Scum)
Get rid of your cards first to become President. Last place washes the dishes.
Setup
Deal all cards evenly. Player with the 3 of clubs goes first.
How to Play
- Play singles, pairs, triples, or straights — must be higher than previous play.
- Pass if you can't or won't play. When everyone passes, the last player starts fresh.
- First to empty their hand is President, last is Scum.
- Scum gives their 2 best cards to President; President gives 2 worst cards to Scum.
How to Win
Be the first to get rid of all your cards.
Hold onto your high cards (2s are highest!) to control the round when you need to.
Is President (Scum) Right for You?
President is the classic climbing game for a loud group of four to seven, built around the addictive social loop of trading cards up and down a hierarchy each round. Reach for it at a party where the same people will play several hands and enjoy the rivalry of dethroning the President.
Maybe skip it if: If you dislike rich-get-richer mechanics where the loser hands their best cards to the winner, the card exchange will frustrate you.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the start-of-round exchange: the Scum gives the President their two best cards and gets two junk cards back.
- Thinking you must beat the previous play; you may always pass, and passing can be the smart move to dump a single later.
Strategy Tips
- Break up pairs you cannot use early so you are not stuck holding matched cards at the end.
- As President, dump your low cards while others still have to follow; hoard your 2s for when you must seize the lead.
Popular Variations
Two-card and pair play
Most tables let you lead pairs or triples that must be beaten by higher matching sets, which adds far more tactics than single-card-only play.
Twos and jokers clear
A common house rule lets a 2 (or joker) be played as a 'bomb' that clears the pile and lets you lead again.
Our Take
We love President as a group filler precisely because it is unfair: clawing your way from Scum back to President over a night is the whole point. Just agree on the variations before you deal, because every group plays it slightly differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people do you need for President?
Four to seven is the sweet spot; with three it loses the social hierarchy that makes it fun.
How do you win a round?
Be the first to shed all your cards; the first out is President for the next round and the last holding cards is the Scum.