President Game Rules

How to play the card game President

At Playiro, we break down how to play President, go over the rules and roles, and share strategic tips to help you dominate the table and rise to power.

Preparations

To play President, you’ll need:

• A standard 52-card deck
• 4 to 7 players (more players = more fun)
• A flat surface and space for discards and player seating order

Objective:

Be the first to get rid of all your cards and become the President in the next round.

Setup:

1. Shuffle and deal all cards evenly to players.
2. If there’s an extra card or two, set them aside or give them to the first player as a bonus.
3. Determine seating randomly for the first round. Player ranks will affect seating and gameplay in future rounds.

Gameplay in President

Players take turns clockwise, playing cards in ascending seat order, aiming to beat the previous play.

Rules:

• The player with the 3 of Clubs starts the first round (or choose randomly).
• Each player must play a card or set of equal cards matching the quantity previously played and equal or higher in value.
• If you can’t or don’t want to play, you pass.
• Once all players pass in a row, the pile is cleared, and the last player to play starts a new round with any card(s).
• Play continues until one player runs out of cards.

Card rankings (low to high):

3 < 4 < 5 < 6 < 7 < 8 < 9 < 10 < J < Q < K < A < 2 (highest)

You can play:

• Single cards
• Pairs, triplets, or quads (e.g., three 6s)
• You must match the quantity (e.g., two 9s can only beat two 7s)

Titles & Roles

After each round, players are ranked based on the order they finish:

In the next round:

• The President gives their two worst cards to the Asshole and receives the Asshole’s two best cards.
• The Vice President and Vice-Asshole (if 6+ players) swap one card each.
• These roles affect seating order and add a fun social hierarchy to the game.

How do you win in President?

There’s no fixed scoring system unless you decide to track round results.
The aim is to consistently finish as President while avoiding being stuck as the Asshole.

For extra fun, you can:

• Set a goal like: “First player to become President three times wins”
• Or simply play indefinitely and enjoy the chaos.

Strategies and tips for President

Want to dominate the table? Here are Playiro’s best strategies:

Play low early

Start with your weaker cards and save your big ones (2s, high pairs) for later control.

Clear the pile strategically

If you’re the last to play before everyone passes, you control the next round. Use that to lead low-value or tricky cards.

Stay aware of other players’ cards

Always track who’s running low - avoid helping them go out too easily.

Use bombs and clears

A quad (four of a kind) beats any play - even a 2.
Some variations allow special clears (agree on house rules first).

Don’t reveal all your power

If you’re clearly winning, you might become a target in the next round. Stay strong but subtle.

Overview of the game rules