Scumbag
From The Hangman's Guide to Card Games
Scumbag is usually called something else (said Arsehole in
Britain) although it has many other names including President,
Rich Man Poor Man, plain Scum, and many others. It is
a helarious game to play and becomes greater entertainment the
larger the group playing.
Players, Teams, and Seating
4 to 7 individual players, situated in a circle.
The Deck and Card Ranking
A standard 52 card deck is needed. The cards are of the
standard order. That is, highest to lowest: A, K,
Q, J, 10... 2. The suits have no importance. A double
deck (two 52 card decks) can be used together for groups over
7 players.
The Objective and Scoring
The ultimate goal of Scumbag is to get rid of all of one's
hand, especially the first to do so, but hopefully not the last.
The last player to be rid of all his hand is dubbed the
Scumbag. The first player to be rid of all his
hand is dubbed the President.
Scoring is not a necessary part of the game, though recommended.
It can give other players a better chance of changing
their luck in the game. Scoring is simple. The first
player, in each round, to get rid of all of his cards receives
2 points and the second receives 1 point. The first player
to reach a specified amount, such as 11 points, wins.
The Deal and Play
The selection of the dealer is not specified. From the
first dealer, dealing moves to the left each hand. The
player to the left of the dealer may cut or bump the deck to
approve the shuffle. All of the cards are dealt out one
at a time. Some players may have one more card than some
of the others at the end of the deal.
Play begins with the player to the dealer's left and continues
clockwise, or to the left. The first player leads by setting
down any card or set of cards of any single value, like a pair,
three, or four 7s. Each following player can either pass
or then play a card or set of cards that is of higher value
than the previous player's. If a single card is played,
then the next card played must be of a higher value. If
a set of two cards is played, only a set of two cards of a higher
value can be played over the previous set. A set of three
cards may not be played over a set of two, a set of four may
not be played over a set of three or two, and so on. It
is not a requirement for players to play cards in their hand
at any time during the game; they may pass at any time.
The play continues in this manner until every player other
than the player who last played passes. In other words,
if any player sees his own card(s) at the top of the pile, then
he wins the trick and the cards may be set aside. This
last player then leads a new card or set of cards. In
the case that the last player to play happens to play his last
card and all other players have passed back to him, the lead
goes on to the player to his left.
Play goes round and round the group until each player except
one gets rid of all of their cards. The first person to
get rid of their cards, as mentioned before, is dubbed the President.
The second is dubbed the Vice-President. The
one remaining player with cards is dubbed the Scumbag.
Other names may be given to every other player, if players so
wish. The purpose of these titles is both for scoring,
and because, after the next deal, the Scumbag must give the
President his highest valued card and the President then gives
the Scumbag whatever card he chooses to. The President
also leads the next round.
Play can go on indefinitely purely for the enjoyment of it,
or until the specified alotment of points has been reached.
Terminology
President The title given to the player
of each hand who first gets rid of his cards, and therefore
must give any card at the beginning of the next hand to the
only player left with cards at the end of the current hand.
Vice-President The title given to the
player of each who is second to get rid of his cards.
Scumbag The title given to the only player
holding cards at the end of a hand, and therefore must give
the highest valued card to the President at the beginning of
the next round.
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