Presidents (2 player card game)

Objective: The objective of the card game “Presidents” is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards and become the President while avoiding being the last player with cards, which results in becoming the “Scum.”

Adaptation for 2 Players: While “Presidents” is traditionally played with more players, it can be adapted for two players by making some modifications to the rules.

Setup:

1. Use a standard 52-card deck.
2. Shuffle the deck thoroughly and deal the entire deck evenly between the two players, with each player receiving 26 cards.
3. Decide who will start the game.

Scoring: In the 2 player version of “Presidents,” the scoring is relatively simple:

1. Winning the Round:
   • The player who gets rid of all their cards first becomes the President.
   • The player who is left with cards at the end of the round becomes the Scum.
2. Cumulative Scoring:
   • The President earns 0 points.
   • The Scum earns a certain number of points, typically equal to the number of cards remaining in their hand.
   • After multiple rounds, the players keep track of their points, and the first player to reach a predetermined score limit wins the game.

Gameplay:

1. Starting the Game:
   • Player 1 starts the game by playing any card or combination of cards from their hand.
2. Taking Turns:
   • Players take turns playing cards in a clockwise direction.
   • Each player must play a card of equal or higher rank than the previously played card(s) or pass if they cannot.
   • The first player to run out of cards becomes the President, and the second player becomes the Scum.
3. Card Rankings:
   • In “Presidents,” the ranking of cards is typically in ascending order, with Aces being the highest and 2s being the lowest.
   • Special card combinations, such as pairs, three of a kind, or straight flushes, may have higher ranks and can beat individual cards.
4. The President’s Privileges:
   • The President has certain privileges, such as forcing the Scum to give them their highest-ranking card(s) or dictating the order of play in the next round.
5. The Scum’s Duties:
   • The Scum must give their highest-ranking card(s) to the President and may have restrictions on their play.
6. Starting the Next Round:
   • After each round, the roles of President and Scum are retained, but the players reshuffle the deck and deal the cards again.

Differentiating Turns:

• Player 1’s Turn: Player 1 starts the game and takes the first turn.
• Player 2’s Turn: After Player 1’s turn, it becomes Player 2’s turn to play their cards.

Summary: “Presidents” is a dynamic 2 player card game where players compete to be the first to shed all their cards and become the President while avoiding the undesirable title of Scum. By adapting the traditional rules for two players, the game maintains its strategic depth and competitive edge. With straightforward gameplay and easy-to-understand scoring, “Presidents” is an entertaining 2 player card game suitable for players of all skill levels.