Are you ready to reign supreme in the world of card games? If so, then President is the perfect game for you. This classic card game is a battle of wits and strategy, where players compete to become the ultimate President. With its easy-to-learn rules and fast-paced gameplay, President is a game that will keep you and your friends entertained for hours on end.
The game of President is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards. To start the game, each player is dealt seven cards. The player with the highest-ranking card leads by playing that card face up in the center of the table. The other players must then follow suit by playing a card of the same suit that is higher than the card that was led. If a player cannot follow suit, they can play any card they want.
The game continues in this way until one player plays a card that cannot be beaten. The player who played the highest card then wins the trick and collects all of the cards that were played. The winner of the trick then leads the next trick. The game continues in this way until one player has gotten rid of all of their cards. That player is then declared the President.
Understanding the Basics of President
President is a classic card game that’s easy to learn but challenging to master. It can be played with any number of players, from two to six. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards.
The game is played with a standard 52-card deck. The cards are ranked from high to low as follows: A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 (low).
The game starts with the player to the left of the dealer. That player leads by playing a card face up on the table. The next player must then play a card of the same suit, if possible. If they don’t have a card of the same suit, they can play any card they want.
The player who plays the highest card of the suit led wins the trick. If two or more players play the same card, the player who played the card first wins the trick.
The winner of the trick collects the cards that were played and places them in a pile face down in front of them. The winner of the trick then leads the next trick.
The game continues in this manner until one player gets rid of all of their cards. That player is the winner of the game.
Here is a table summarizing the rules of President:
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Lead | The first player to play a card in a trick. |
| Follow | The act of playing a card of the same suit as the card led. |
| Trump | The act of playing a card of the spade suit, which can beat any other card. |
| Win | The act of taking the cards that were played in a trick. |
| Lose | The act of failing to take the cards that were played in a trick. |
Setting Up the Game
President is a shedding-type card game for three or more players. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards.
Dealing the Cards
The cards are dealt evenly to all players. If there are three players, each player will get 17 cards. If there are four players, each player will get 13 cards. If there are five players, each player will get 10 cards.
Choosing the President
Once the cards have been dealt, the players take turns drawing cards from the deck. The first player to draw an ace becomes the President. The player to the left of the President becomes the Vice President, and the player to the left of the Vice President becomes the Secretary.
The President’s Role
The President has the following powers:
- Can make any player draw two cards.
- Can make any player skip their turn.
- Can switch cards with any other player.
- Can choose the suit that is trump for the round.
The Vice President’s Role
The Vice President has the following powers:
- Can make any player draw one card.
- Can make any player skip their turn.
liCan switch cards with any other player, except the President.
The Secretary’s Role
The Secretary has the following powers:
- Can make any player draw one card.
- Can make any player skip their turn.
Dealing the Cards
The dealing process in President begins with the selection of a dealer, usually determined randomly. Once chosen, the dealer shuffles the deck thoroughly and distributes the cards evenly among the players. Depending on the number of players participating, the number of cards dealt per hand varies:
| Number of Players | Number of Cards Dealt |
|---|---|
| 2-4 | 13 cards |
| 5-6 | 10 cards |
| 7-8 | 8 cards |
After each player receives their initial hand, two additional cards, known as the “widow,” are placed face down in the center of the table. These cards are not accessible to any player and serve as a draw pile throughout the game.
Bidding and Calling President
Bidding in President is the process of determining how many tricks each player believes they can take during a round. Each player bids a number between 0 and 13, representing the number of tricks they think they can win. The player with the highest bid becomes the President and leads the first trick.
Calling the President
After all players have bid, the player to the left of the President has the option of calling the President. If they do, the President must play the highest card in their hand on the first trick. If they fail to do so, they lose a life. If the President’s bid is called, the other players can take tricks by playing a higher card of the same suit or a trump card. The player who takes the most tricks wins the round and becomes the new President.
Table of Rank
| Rank | Card |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ace |
| 2 | King |
| 3 | Queen |
| 4 | Jack |
| 5-10 | Numbers |
If the President’s bid is not called, the other players can still take tricks by playing a higher card of the same suit or a trump card. However, the President does not have to play the highest card in their hand on the first trick.
Playing the Cards
The game begins with the player to the left of the dealer drawing a card from the deck and playing it face up on the table. The next player must then play a card of the same suit with a higher rank, or a trump card. If the player cannot play a card, they must draw a card from the deck. The player who plays the highest card wins the trick and leads the next round. Aces are the highest cards, followed by Kings, Queens, Jacks, and so on.
There are some special cards in the deck that can change the course of the game:
- The President: This card can be played at any time, even out of turn. It beats all other cards, except for the Vice President.
- The Vice President: This card is second only to the President. It can beat all other cards, except for the President.
- The Spy: This card can be played to see the top card of the deck. The player who plays the Spy can then decide whether to draw that card or not.
- The Lookout: This card can be played to see the next card that will be played. The player who plays the Lookout can then decide whether to play a card that will beat it or not.
- The Joker: This card can be played as any card in the deck. It can be used to win a trick or to bluff other players.
The Trump Suit
The trump suit is the suit that is determined by the first card played in a round. If the first card is a heart, then hearts are trump. If the first card is a diamond, then diamonds are trump, and so on. Trump cards can beat any other card, regardless of suit. However, the President and Vice President cards can still beat trump cards.
Winning the Game
The game is won by the player who is the first to get rid of all of their cards. The player who wins the last trick gets 1 point. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Variations
There are many variations of the President card game. Some common variations include:
| Variation | Description |
|---|---|
| Cutthroat | In this variation, players can play any card, regardless of suit or rank. The only cards that can beat a President or Vice President are other Presidents or Vice Presidents. |
| Suicide | In this variation, players must get rid of all of their cards, including the President and Vice President. The player who gets rid of all of their cards first wins. |
Special Cards and Abilities
### 6. Number 11 (Jack)
The Jack is a powerful card in President, and it has two special abilities:
- Reverse: The Jack can be played at any time to reverse the direction of play. This can be a powerful defensive move, as it can allow a player to prevent an opponent from playing a card that they need.
- Skip: The Jack can also be played to skip the next player’s turn. This can be a useful move to prevent an opponent from playing a card that they need or to give yourself more time to plan your next move.
The Jack is a versatile card that can be used in a variety of ways. It can be a powerful defensive or offensive move, and it can also be used to disrupt an opponent’s strategy.
### Other Special Cards
### Jokers
Jokers are the most powerful cards in President. They can be used to represent any other card, and they can be used to play any suit. Jokers can be used to trump any other card, and they can also be used to win tricks.
Winning the Trick
Winning a trick is the primary goal in a round of President. To win a trick, players must follow specific rules and strategies.
Trump Suits
The suit of the card played by the player who led the trick determines the trump suit for that trick. Any card of the trump suit outranks cards of other suits.
Card Hierarchy
Within each suit, cards are ranked from highest to lowest: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Leading the Trick
The player who led the trick can lead with any card they choose, including a trump card.
Following Suit
Players following the trick must play a card of the same suit led, if possible. If they cannot follow suit, they may play a trump card or any other card.
Playing a Trump Card
Trump cards can be played at any time, even if the player can follow suit. A trump card always outranks cards of other suits, even cards of the suit led.
Wild Cards
Some versions of President include wild cards, such as jokers or 2s, which can represent any card or suit.
Scoring the Game
Scoring in President is crucial to determine the winner. The game is played in rounds, and each round consists of 10 tricks. The points earned by each team in a trick are tallied at the end of each round.
8. Trick Points
Each trick has a point value assigned to it. The team that wins the trick earns the points associated with the cards played in that trick.
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 7 | 7 |
| 8 | 8 |
| 9 | 9 |
| 10 | 10 |
| Jack | 11 |
| Queen | 12 |
| King | 13 |
| Ace | 14 |
The total trick points for each round are then multiplied by the multiplier associated with the President or Vice President.
Ending the Game
The game of President ends when one player gets rid of all their cards. This player is declared the winner, and the other players are ranked in order of how many cards they have left.
Round-by-Round Play
If a player has no cards left at the end of a round, they are said to have “gone out.” When a player goes out, the round ends and the next round begins.
Ending the Game
The game ends when one player has gone out in each round. The player who has gone out in the most rounds is declared the winner.
If two or more players go out in the same round, the player with the highest-ranking card is declared the winner.
The game can also end in a tie if two or more players go out in the same round and have the same highest-ranking card.
Scoring
| Rank | Score |
|---|---|
| President | 10 |
| Vice President | 9 |
| Secretary | 8 |
| Treasurer | 7 |
| Member | 6 |
| Commoner | 5 |
| Peasant | 4 |
| Bum | 3 |
| Loser | 0 |
Variations and Strategies
Variations
- 20-Card President: Uses a standard 20-card deck, with Aces and 2s as wilds.
- 40-Card President: Uses a standard 40-card deck, with 10s and Queens as wilds.
- 52-Card President: Uses a standard 52-card deck, with no wilds.
- Renegade President: A variant where players start with two hands, one face up and one face down.
- No-Knock President: A variant where players cannot "knock" to indicate that they cannot play a card.
Strategies
- Trump Early: Playing trump cards early can help you win tricks and control the game.
- Hold High Cards: Aces and 10s are valuable cards, so hang onto them as long as possible.
- Lead with Small Cards: Starting with low-value cards can help you draw out higher cards from your opponents.
- Chase Aces: If you have a high card, playing it after an Ace can help you win the trick.
- Know When to Knock: If you cannot play a card, it’s often better to knock than to play a low card.
- Learn Your Opponents’ Playstyles: Pay attention to how your opponents play and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Manage Your Hand: Keep track of which cards have been played and which are still in the deck.
- Bluff Sparingly: Bluffing can be effective, but don’t overdo it or you’ll lose credibility.
- Don’t be Afraid to Lose: Losing a hand or two doesn’t matter in the long run. Focus on playing your best and having fun.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you play President, the better you will become at identifying your opponents’ strategies, managing your hand, and playing winning cards.
How to Play Card Game President
President is a shedding-type card game for four players, played with a standard 52-card deck. The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all of their cards.
The game begins with each player being dealt 13 cards. The player with the highest-ranking card (2 of spades) is the first president. The player to the left of the president is the vice president, the player to the left of the vice president is the prime minister, and the player to the left of the prime minister is the farmer.
The president leads by playing a card. The other players must then play a card of the same suit, if possible. If a player cannot play a card of the same suit, they can play any card they want. The player who plays the highest-ranking card of the same suit wins the trick and leads the next card.
If a player plays a 2, the player who wins the trick becomes the president. If a player plays a 3, the player who wins the trick becomes the vice president. If a player plays a 4, the player who wins the trick becomes the prime minister. If a player plays a 5, the player who wins the trick becomes the farmer.
The game continues until one player gets rid of all of their cards. That player is the president and wins the game.
