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Shithead (Card Game)Shithead (also known more politely as Shed, Palace, Idiot and Karma) is a card game in which the aim is to lose all of one's cards. The game, and variations of it, are popular in many countries. The basic structure of the game generally remains similar, but variations often differ in the special roles that the rules assign to particular cards. Rules The game is played by two to six players. Players aim to be the first to leave the game by getting rid of all their cards. From a standard 52 card deck each player is dealt three cards face down in a row. They are not allowed to see these cards. On top of the face down cards, they are then dealt three cards face up. Then the remaining cards are dealt equally between the players. Players are then allowed to switch the dealt cards in their hands with their face-up cards. They to try to ensure their face-up cards are the best possible that they can be, in order to be in the best possible position for later in the game. After the cards have been dealt, players lay cards in turn, starting with the player who holds the lowest card in his hand. (If more than one person has the lowest card then play is started by whichever of these players calls the fastest). Each player must lay a card (or two or more cards of the same number) higher in value than the one before, and then also take a card out of the remaining deck so they have 3 cards at least in their hands (unless the deck has run out of cards or they already have 3 or more cards). When players have no more cards in their hand and then proceed to play from their three face up cards. With cards laid they form a pile until a player cannot beat the highest card and thus they have to pick up all the cards. This puts them at great disadvantage as they will have more cards to lose. There are special rules related to particular cards and combinations (and these can also differ between variations of the game). Burn / Nuke Cards: Cards that remove the existing pile permanently and beat any cards, the player who lays a burn then has a go again. Burn cards can include: 4 of kind: eg four 7's any 10 (the main burn card) Reverse Card: The 9 of any suit reverses the standard rules on the pile, meaning that the next player has to lay a LOWER (or another 9) card on their next term than 9, particuarly useful when high cards dominate the pile. For example Q, K,K,A,A, 9 <- here the next person must lay lower than 9when they would expect to have laid a high card. Restart Card: The 2 of any suit brings the pile back down to the bottom and the next player then only needs to lay higher than a 2 (any card really). Tactical card to take high cards out of play. Mirror / Transparent card: The 8 of any suit is the mirror card, this simply mirrors whatever card is below it in the pile and thus the next player has to beat that card (eg 6 then 8 thus next person must lay higher than 6). Mirror cards also apply to special cards (for example 7). An eight played on a 9 means the next player must lay lower than a 9. 3 is also a popular mirror card. Pick-Up card: The J of any suit can be played on any card to make the next player in turn pick up the pile. The only cards to top this is a) if another J (or the mirror card, rendering itself the equivalent of a J) is played by the next person and so pass the pick up onto the next player or b) The burn card (10) is laid down, removing the pile from play. This can continue until the next player unable to lay a J or a 10 has to pick up the pile. Once a player has lost all their starter cards, and the pick-up pile is empty, they then play their face up cards. This is where other players try to stitch this player with a pile of cards that this person cannot beat in order to make them pick up the pile. This happens as all placers can see the face up cards. For example: Assuming John's face up consists of K Q J, if the player before John lays a 9 or an Ace, John will have to pick up the pile. Once a player has lost their face up cards they are left with their three blind cards of which they can choose any to lay. Other players will, as with the face up cards, try to stitch this player to make her pick up, yet they do not know what the blind cards are so have to base their lay on judgement. A blind card once played MUST be revealed to the other players. For example Sarah and Ben lay a Queen and then an Ace before Rich's go. Rich then blind lays an Ace and the circle continues. If not Rich picks up. However Sarah could lay a Queen but Ben could lay a 9 and thus Rich would have to blindly pick lower than a 9. Once someone has lost all their blind cards and any cards they have in hand they are out of the game. The first to get out wins, the sole remaining person is thus the Shithead! This results in a forfeit of whatever the group decides (usually drink-related but has been known to include anything!) Variations - Obviously, the meanings assigned to each number can be changed (making 7 the reverse card or 5 the pick-up card)
- The J can also be an "invisible" card played on any other card.
- In one variation, other cards are assigned special status (for example where the K means "change direction of play" or the Queen means "play between Queen and 7 on your next go" - that version is known as fuckhead, at least in certain circles
History The game was first documented in 1994 by David Parlett under the bowdlerized name "Shed" and is found in a large number of countries. In Norway and the United Kingdom this game is also known as Idiot. External links
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