President & Scum
Play President free online — the classic climbing card game also known as Scum, Asshole, Bum or Landlord. Be first to empty your hand and you are President for the next hand; finish last and you are the Scum, handing your best cards to the winner. Four players against the computer, no download or sign-up.
Overview
President is a race to get rid of your cards. You play against three AI opponents. The finishing order gives everyone a title for the next hand, and the titles come with a card exchange that keeps the winners on top — unless the Scum can fight back.
The ranking
A full 52-card pack is dealt out, 13 cards each. Suits do not matter. Cards rank low to high:
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K A 2
The two is the highest card and the three the lowest.
Leading and beating
- The leader plays any single card, or a set of two, three or four cards of the same rank.
- Each player in turn must play the same number of cards, all of one rank, higher than the play on the table. A pair is beaten only by a higher pair, a triple only by a higher triple.
- You may pass at any time, even when you could beat the play — holding a two back is often worth it.
- Passing does not shut you out: you may play again next time the turn comes round.
- When everyone else passes, the cards are set aside and whoever played last leads again with anything.
Going out and the titles
Shed your last card and you are out for the rest of the hand; the others play on to settle who ends up where. Finishing order gives the titles: first out is President, then Vice-President, then Vice-Scum, and whoever is left holding cards is the Scum.
The exchange
Before every later hand the Scum hands their two best cards to the President, who hands back any two they do not want. The Vice-Scum and Vice-President swap one card the same way. The President then leads.
Scoring
Each hand pays 3 points for President, 2 for Vice-President, 1 for Vice-Scum and nothing for Scum. Keep the seat and keep the crown.
Controls
Tap cards to select them, then Play; Pass to sit out the turn and Clear to deselect. During the exchange you pick the cards to hand over the same way.