Arschloch (Scum) – Rules
Play Arschloch (Scum) against the computer
1. Overview
Arschloch is a fun shedding game with changing “ranks”. In turn you play the same number of cards with a higher rank on top of the previous player's cards – or pass. Whoever is first out of cards becomes President, whoever still holds cards at the end is the Arschloch (“scum”). In the next round the Arschloch must hand their best cards to the President.
| Other names | President, Bettler; internationally President, Scum |
| Players | 3 to 6, best with 4 to 6 |
| Time | one round 5 to 10 minutes; usually many rounds in a row |
| Age | 10 and up |
| Difficulty | easy |
2. Goal
Get rid of all your cards as quickly as possible – and don't be the last one left.
3. What you need
- 32-card Skat pack (7 to ace in four suits). A 52-card pack works too.
- Pen and paper only for the points variant.
4. Setup
- Dealer: In round 1 any player, afterwards always the Arschloch of the previous round.
- Shuffle and let the player on the right cut.
- Deal: One at a time clockwise until everyone has the same number of cards:
| Players | Cards each | Left over |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10 | 2 |
| 4 | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 6 | 5 | 2 |
- The two leftover cards: In round 1 they stay face down. From round 2 they are turned up: the 3rd player of the previous round takes one and discards a hand card face down instead, then the 4th takes the other (with 3 players it stays where it is).
- Card exchange (from round 2):
- The Arschloch gives the President their two highest cards; the President gives back any two cards.
- Vice-Arschloch and Vice-President swap one card each in the same way.
- With 3 players, President and Arschloch swap only one card each.
- Start: In round 1 whoever holds the 7 of clubs begins. From round 2 the Arschloch begins.
[ Player 3 ]
[ Player 2 ] [ trick in the middle ] [ Player 4 ]
[▒ set aside]
[ Player 1 ]
5. Card values
Ranking (low → high): 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, king, ace.
- Suits don't matter – only the rank counts.
- Cards have no point values.
- The ace is the highest card. But you may not go out with an ace.
6. How to play
Leading a trick. The leader plays a single card or several cards of the same rank (pair, three or four of a kind) face up in the middle.
One turn. The next player must play exactly the same number of cards of a higher rank – or pass.
| In the middle | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| a 9 | a single 10, jack … ace | two cards, a 9 |
| a pair of 9s | a pair of jacks, queens … | a single card, three of a kind, a pair of 9s |
| three queens | three kings or three aces | anything else |
- Passing is always allowed, even if you could play. A player who passed may play again later in the same trick.
- Equal ranks may not be played.
Ending a trick.
- When all other players have passed one after another, the trick is over. The cards leave the game, and whoever played last leads the next trick.
- If the highest card still in play is played (at first the ace, after all aces the king and so on), nobody can beat it: the trick ends at once.
Going out. Whoever has no cards left gets their rank. If they won the trick, the next player to their left who still has cards leads.
7. Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Trick | The cards piled up in the middle until everyone passes |
| Lead | Make the first play of a trick |
| Pass | Play nothing; you may play again later in the same trick |
| President | The first player out |
| Vice-President | The second player out |
| Citizen | The places in the middle |
| Vice-Arschloch | The second-to-last player |
| Arschloch | The last player still holding cards |
| Card exchange | Before every round from round 2: the Arschloch hands over the best cards |
8. End of the round & scoring
The round ends when only one player still holds cards – they are the Arschloch. The order of going out gives the ranks: President, Vice-President, Citizens, Vice-Arschloch, Arschloch. With 3 players: President, Citizen, Arschloch.
Standard: There are no points – the rank is reward or punishment enough. The “winner” is the current President.
Points variant: Everyone scores as many points as players who went out after them.
| Place (4 players) | Points |
|---|---|
| President | 3 |
| Vice-President | 2 |
| Vice-Arschloch | 1 |
| Arschloch | 0 |
With 6 players: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. Points are added up after every round. The first player to 15 points wins (or the most after an agreed number of rounds). Tied players share the win.
9. Special cases
What if nobody beats the cards?
The trick goes to whoever played last. They lead again.
What if the trick winner has no cards left?
The next player to their left who still has cards leads.
What if I only have aces left?
You may not go out with an ace. Whoever has only aces left automatically becomes Arschloch. If this happens to a second player, they take the place just before.
May I pass even though I could play?
Yes – and you may play again later in the same trick.
What if someone plays incorrectly?
The cards go back into the hand. If two players play at once, only the player whose turn it is counts. After a misdeal, deal again.
Can two people play?
Not really – the game needs at least three players.
10. Variants & house rules
Standard in this description: ace is the highest card, no going out with an ace, no points.
| Variant | What changes |
|---|---|
| High 10 | The 10 is the highest card, even above the ace. |
| Matching | Equal ranks are allowed; the next player then skips. |
| Bomb | Four of a kind beats any trick. |
| Revolution | Four of a kind reverses the ranking. |
| 52-card pack (President) | The 2 is the highest card – good from 6 players. |
| Changing seats | Players move seats according to their rank. |
When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone, the variants “ace high” and “high 10” are available.
11. Example round
Starting position. Four players, round 1. Player 1 deals 8 cards to everyone. Player 3 holds the 7 of clubs and begins; then Player 4, Player 1, Player 2.
- Player 3 leads a pair of 8s (8 of hearts, 8 of diamonds).
- Player 4 plays two jacks. Player 1 passes. Player 2 plays two kings.
- Player 3, Player 4 and Player 1 pass. Player 2 wins the trick and leads.
- Player 2 plays a single 7. Player 3 plays a 10, Player 4 a queen, Player 1 an ace – the highest card. The trick ends at once; Player 1 leads.
- Play continues. Player 2 goes out first (President), then Player 1 (Vice-President), then Player 4 (Vice-Arschloch). Player 3 still holds cards at the end and is the Arschloch.
- Next round: Player 3 deals, gives Player 2 his two highest cards and gets two bad ones back. Player 4 and Player 1 swap one card each. Player 3 leads.
12. Common mistakes
- Playing a different number of cards than were led. A pair must be answered with a pair.
- Playing equal ranks. It must always be higher.
- Trying to go out with an ace. Play your aces in time.
- Thinking passing knocks you out of the trick. You may play again in the same trick.
- Not handing over the highest cards in the exchange. The Arschloch must give up their two best cards.
Tips for beginners: Get rid of low cards early, ideally as a pair or three of a kind when you lead. Remember which high cards have already been played. Don't break up pairs – they are hard to beat. And plan your finish: win a trick with a safe card and then lead your last combination.
Origin & history
Arschloch is the German-language form of the shedding game known internationally as President or Scum; related are the Japanese Daifugō and the Chinese Zheng Shangyou. Its origin and age are not precisely documented. Typical is the players’ ranking, which is re-established after every round: whoever is last still holding cards is the “Arschloch” and must hand over their best cards in the next round. In German-speaking countries it is often played with a Skat deck; the rules differ greatly from group to group.