Why is the 2 the highest card in President?

In the standard rules the order runs from high to low as 2, Ace, King, down to 3 as the lowest. The 2 sits at the top, so a single 2 wins almost any singles round, which is why players hoard them to seize the lead. A few regional versions instead play aces high and 2 low, so agree on the ranking before you deal.

What is the card swap between President and Scum?

From the second hand on, ranks carry over from the previous hand. Before play starts, the Scum must give the President their two best cards and the President returns any two cards. The High-Scum gives the Vice-President their single best card and gets one card back. This tax rewards the winners and is the main challenge for anyone trying to climb out of the Scum seat.

Do I have to play a card on my turn?

No. You can always pass, even if you hold a card that could beat the current play. Passing does not remove you from the round, so you can rejoin on a later turn. When every other player passes, the last person to lay cards down wins the round, clears the pile, and leads the next one.

Can a pair beat a single card?

No. You must match the number of cards last played. A single is only beaten by a higher single, a pair by a higher pair, and a triple by a higher triple. You cannot change the combo size mid-round; the size is locked by whoever leads the round.

What is a Revolution in President?

Revolution is a popular variation where leading four of a kind flips the entire card ranking for the rest of the hand, so the lowest cards suddenly become the strongest. A second four-of-a-kind reverses it back to normal. Not every group uses it, so check before you play.

Is President free to play online?

Yes. You can play President free on lovecardgames.com directly in your browser, along with its Japanese version Daifugo. It supports both smart bots and live multiplayer with friends, with no download and no signup needed.

How to Play President (Scum, Asshole, Daifugo)

President is the world's most popular climbing card game, known by a wild range of names: Scum, Asshole, Capitalism, Rich Man Poor Man, and in Japan, Daifugo. The goal is simple: be the first to get rid of all your cards. The twist is social. Where you finish decides your rank for the next hand, and the loser literally pays tax to the winner. Here is everything you need to play, from card rankings and combos to the all-important card swap.

President is a shedding game for roughly 4 to 7 players using a standard 52-card deck (some versions add the two jokers, and big groups use two decks). It plays fast, it is brutally social, and a single hand teaches you the rules. The depth comes from timing, counting, and the ruthless card exchange between the winners and losers of the previous hand.

Card Rankings

This is the first thing to learn, because it is upside down from most games. In standard President, the 2 is the highest card and the 3 is the lowest. The full order from high to low is:

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

Suits do not matter for beating a card. A King is a King no matter the suit. The lone 2 is the most powerful card in the game and almost always wins a singles round, which makes it precious. (Some regional versions, especially on the US West Coast and Hawaii, play aces high and 2 low instead, so always agree on the order before you deal.)

The Deal, the Ranks, and the Card Swap

In the very first hand, deal all the cards out clockwise as evenly as possible. Some players may end up with one extra card; that is fine. The player holding the 3 of clubs leads first and must include that card in their opening play.

From the second hand onward, players take titles based on how they finished the previous hand. With five players the ranks are President, Vice-President, Citizen (the neutral middle), High-Scum, and Scum. The Scum shuffles and deals, and then the swap happens before play begins:

Scum gives the President their two best cards. The President hands back any two cards they do not want.
High-Scum gives the Vice-President their single best card. The Vice-President returns any one card.

This tax is the engine of the game. The President starts every hand loaded with high cards, while the Scum starts crippled. Climbing out of the Scum seat is the real challenge and the real fun.

How a Round Works

On your turn you either beat the current play or you pass. The core rules:

You must match the number of cards last played. If someone leads a single, you can only answer with a higher single. If they lead a pair, you must play a higher pair, and so on.
Your play must be higher in rank than the play before it. Equal or lower is not allowed (unless you are using an "equalizer" variation, below).
Passing does not knock you out. You can re-enter on a later turn in the same round.
When everyone passes in turn, the last player to lay cards down wins the round, clears the pile, and leads the next round with any legal combination they choose.

Counting Combos: Singles, Pairs, Triples, Bombs

You may lead one, two, three, or four cards of the same rank. The size of the lead locks the size of every reply in that round:

Single: one card, beaten by any higher single.
Pair: two of a rank, beaten by a higher pair.
Triple: three of a rank, beaten by a higher triple.
Four of a kind: in many house rules a quad is a "bomb" that can be dropped to win a round outright, or it triggers a Revolution (see below).

The skill is in counting your combos before you commit. A pair of 2s is two guaranteed round-winners, but split them and you lose the lead twice as fast. Knowing which combinations you can still form tells you when to fight for the lead and when to dump junk.

Climbing and the Power of the Lead

"Climbing" is the heart of the game: each play must climb above the one before it. Whoever wins a round controls the next lead, and the lead is everything. When you have the lead you get to set the combo size and unload your weakest, most awkward cards safely. That is why players hoard 2s and four-of-a-kind bombs: not just to win cards, but to seize control of the table at the right moment.

Winning and Re-Ranking

The first player to empty their hand becomes the next President. Play continues for the remaining players to settle every position, all the way down to the last player holding cards, who becomes the new Scum and deals the next hand. Many groups even rearrange seats by rank. There is no complex scoring; the reward is your title and the tax it earns you next hand.

Popular Variations

Revolution (Kakumei): leading four of a kind flips the entire card ranking for the rest of the hand, turning low cards into the strongest. A second four-of-a-kind flips it back.
The 8-Cut (8-giri): a Daifugo staple where playing an 8 (or a set of 8s) immediately ends the round and lets you lead again.
Equalizers: some tables let you match the exact rank just played to "pass the turn along" or end the round instantly.
Sequences (runs): stricter Daifugo rules allow runs of three or more consecutive cards as a single combo.
Jokers: when used, jokers are wild and outrank even the 2.

President sits in the same family as other climbing and shedding games. If you enjoy it, try Big Two, Tien Len, Daifugo, Pusoy Dos, or the lighter Crazy Eights and Switch. Prefer trick-taking instead? Reach for Spades, Hearts, or Seep. For something with cards but a calmer pace, there is always Indian Rummy, Spider Solitaire, and FreeCell.

Strategy Tips

Guard your 2s and bombs. They are your tickets to the lead. Spend them to take control, then dump trash.
Lead low when you control a round. Unload weak singles and odd cards while you can, so you are not stuck with them at the end.
Do not break good combos for a tiny win. Keeping a triple or a quad intact often clears more cards later.
Count what has been played. Once every higher card is gone, your King or Ace becomes unbeatable.
As Scum, play patiently. You start weak, so save your few strong cards to grab the lead and climb out of the basement.

Play now

Ready to climb from Scum to President? Play President free on lovecardgames.com right in your browser, or try the Japanese version, Daifugo. Take on smart bots or invite friends for live multiplayer, with no download and no signup required. Deal the cards and start shedding.