President is a shedding card game with simple moves. The minimum player count is 2, but there must be at least 3 players to remove perfect information.
Players are dealt cards, starting with the President (a random player in the first round). Hands are private information to each player, but everything else is public knowledge, including what cards have been played.
In each round, card transfers occur depending on the results of the previous round, and then tricks are played until only one player remains. Players win when they have played all of their cards (have no cards remaining).
On the first round, this part is skipped, and the player with the special 3 of hearts starts (but must play that card).
The Scum gives the President his 2 best cards. If there are at least 4 players, the High-Scum gives the Vice President his best card.
After that, the President chooses 2 cards to give to the Scum. If applicable, the Vice President chooses 1 card to give to the High-Scum.
The Scum starts the first trick.
In each trick, the first player plays a combo of N cards, and then each player plays a combo to beat or equalize the previous combo.
Each player can play on top of the current trick or pass.
The cards ranks (4 each per deck) are in this order from lowest to highest:
3 < 4 < 5 < 6 < 7 < 8 < 9 < 10 < Jack < Queen < King < Ace < 2
If enabled, Jokers (2/deck) are considered to be above 2, since they are flexible wildcards that may be used as any card.
Intermissions last up to 30 seconds, ending early if all players are ready.
Each turn lasts up to 20 seconds, with automatic moves (when starting a trick, all of the smallest cards; otherwise, pass). Unused turn time cannot be carried to future turns. There is only a turn timer, not a game timer.
Number of decks to use.
Jokers are used as wildcards.
When at least 4 cards of the same value are played at the same time, the rankings are reversed (except jokers) until the end of the round.
A revolution ends the current trick and starts a new one.
For N >= 2, N-1 cards of rank 2 (3 if revolution is active) beat N cards that are not 2. The only higher move is N cards of rank 2.
Passing does not prevent the player from continuing to play in the same trick.
If off, when everyone except P (the last player to move) has passed, P starts a new trick. If P already won, the player after P starts instead.
Playing the same combo as the previous instead of playing a higher combo is equalizing.
If the trick ends, the next player starts the next trick.
If on, only scum can equalize.
Who starts the first trick?
When there is no president/scum (the first round), a random player is selected to start.
If at least 4 cards of the same rank are played in a trick (possibly by equalizing), the trick ends, allowing the next player to start a new trick.
If an 8 is played, the trick ends, and the current player starts a new trick.
Players play once per trick, so they are treated as having passed after playing. The player before the player starting the current trick will start the next trick.
If the last card played is 2, a player is effectively demoted to scum (enters the front of the new queue, after any others who are penalized).
Similar to the previous option, but applicable when a joker is the last card played.