What is Shithead Card Game?
Shithead is a fun card game where players try not to be the last person with cards. The game is also called Palace, Karma, China Hand, or Ten-Two Slide in different places. It likely comes from Scandinavia or Nordic countries. Shithead is similar to the Swedish game VĂ€ndtia and the Finnish game Paskahousu. With time, travelers around the world helped spread it. Especially, it turned out to be a hit among backpackers in the 20th century.
Players take turns playing higher or equal cards on a pile. The last player with cards left is the “Shithead,” explaining the nomenclature of the game. Ultimately, the Shithead rules promise an engaging time for players.
Basic Shithead Rules
- The objective of Shithead card game is to avoid being the last player with cards.
- The game is played with two to five players using a standard 52-card deck.
- Each player gets 3 face-down cards, 3 face-up cards, and 3 cards in hand.
- Players take turns playing a card of equal or higher rank than the top card of the discard pile. If they cannot play, they pick up the pile.
- There are special cards like twosâ which can be played on anything; tensâ which clear the pile; and four of a kindâ which also clears the pile.
- When a player runs out of hand cards, they play their face-up cards. Then they flip and play face-down cards.
- The game continues until only one player has cards left, making them the loser (Shithead.) Needless to say, the loser has to take on a forfeit, like dealing the next round.
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How to Play Shithead Card Game
Objective
The goal of Shithead is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. The game continues until only one person has cards left. That last player is called the “Shithead”– which means they lose the game! So, you have to play your cards smartly and fast to avoid being last.
Requirements
- Regular 52-deck of cards.
- Two to five players (a minimum of three players is the best.)
- A table or flat surface to place the discard pile and face-up cards.
Setup
Deal the Cards: Distribute all the cards to the players so everyone has the same number. Keep your cards in your hand, and donât show them to anyone.
Choose Who Starts: Decide who plays first by flipping a coin or playing rock, paper, or scissors.
Start the Discard Pile: Place one card face-up in the middle. This is the new pile where everyone will play their cards during the game.
Dealing Cards
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Play begins as the dealer gives out cards in three steps.
Step 1: Put three cards face-down in front of each player.
Step 2: Put three cards face-up on top of the face-down cards.
Step 3: Give three more cards to each player for their hand.
The remaining cards are placed face-down in the middle as the draw pile. Before the game starts, players can swap some of their hand cards with their face-up cards if they want.
Players often trade lower-value face-up cards for better ones. However, the face-down cards stay a mystery until they are played later in the game.
Card ranking follows normal rules with Aces being the highest. Suits do not matter in the game mechanics.
Gameplay
The card play begins with figuring out who goes first. The first player is the one with a face-up 3 in front of them. If no one has a face-up 3, players check their hands and the first person to call out that they have a 3 gets to start. If no one has a 3 at all, then the same rule applies for a 4, and so on, until a starting player is chosen.
The first player places one or multiple cards of the same rank from their hand onto the table to start the discard pile. Then, they draw cards from the draw pile until they have three cards in their hand again. The turn then moves clockwise to the next player.
How to play shithead on your turn? Each player must do one of the following on their turn:
- Play a card (mandatory) or set of matching cards (in rank) that are equal to or higher than the top card of the discard pile.
- Pick up all the cards in the discard pile if they cannot or do not want to play a card. If a player picks up the pile, their turn ends and the next player starts a new discard pile by playing any card or set of equal cards.
As long as there are cards in the draw pile, players must always draw until they have three cards in their hand after playing. Once the draw pile runs out, the game continues, but players do not draw new cards.
There is one important rule: If you have cards in your hand, you must play from your hand first. You are not allowed to use the face-up or face-down cards on the table until you have no more cards left in your hand.
Playing Special Cards
Some cards have special effects when played:
- Twos (Wild Cards): A Two can be played on any card. However, the next player must either play another Two or draw two cards as a penalty.
- Tens (Skip Turn & Clear Pile): A Ten can be played on any card except an Eight. It clears the discard pile and lets the same player take another turn and draw one card.
- Eights (Transparent Cards): An Eight can be played on any card. The next player must match or beat the last non-Eight card under it.
If you put down four cards of the same number in a row, like four Kings or four Sevens, something special happens.
- The whole discard pile is thrown away and is no longer part of the game.
- The same player (you) gets another turn right away.
- Play any card or set of the same number to start a new pile.
You can complete a set of four by playing all four at once or by adding to someone elseâs play.
The Endgame and Winning
As you play the game, your goal is to get rid of all your cards. When you no longer have any cards in your hand, you can now start playing from the face-up cards on the table.
If you cannot or do not want to play one of your face-up cards of equal or higher rank, you must add one of them to the discard pile and pick up the entire pile into your hand. This means you will have to start playing from your hand again before you can go back to playing from your table cards.
The next player then starts a new discard pile by playing any card or set of equal cards, and the same card rules apply.
Playing Your Face-Down Cards
Once you have played all your face-up cards and still have no cards in your hand, you must now play from your cards face down.
- Flip one face-down card onto the discard pile using the same card rules.
- If the flipped card is playable (meaning it beats or matches the top card of the pile), it stays, and the next player must play on it.
- If the flipped card is not playable (meaning it is lower than the previously played card), you must pick up the entire discard pile, including the flipped card, and start playing from your hand again.
Winning and Losing
- You win the game when you get rid of all your cardsâhand, face-up, and face-down. Once you play your last card successfully, you drop out of the game and no longer have to play.
- If your last face-down card is unplayable, you must pick up the pile and keep playing until you get rid of all your cards again.
- The last player left holding cards is the “Shithead” (the loser). They must shuffle and deal the next round and may also have to do a funny task (like making tea or performing a silly action) as a penalty.
The game continues until only one player remains. They are officially the “Shithead.” Everyone else has successfully escaped!
Variations of the Game
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Shithead is a highly adaptable card game with numerous regional and house-rule variations. While the core gameplay remains consistent, different groups have introduced various rules to improve strategy, increase unpredictability, or speed up play.
| Type of Variation | Major Changes | Additional Rules |
| Joker Rule | Adds Jokers to the game for six-player matches | Jokers reverse play direction but are not wild cards; a player may end up playing twice in a row. |
| Alternative Dealing | Different methods of distributing cards | Players select face-up cards from their hands before seeing the opponentâs face-down cards |
| Winner-Based Game | Played for a winner instead of avoiding the loser title | The first player to discard all cards wins |
| 10 Play Anytime | Tens can be played at any time | Clears the pile except when played on face cards (J, Q, K, A) |
| Modified Endgame Rule | Players with face-up cards but no hand cards pick up the play pile if they can’t play. | Face-up cards remain for later use |
| Ciaran Gultnieks’ Rules | Special effects for 7s and 8s | Sevens require a lower card; eights reverse play and are transparent (next player beats last non-8 card) |
| Jane Guarducciâs Version | Expanded special card rules | Sevens act as “glass,” eights require a lower card, and jokers cause skipped turns. |
| Reversed Pickup Rule | Play reverts to the previous player instead of passing forward | It avoids punishing the next player for another’s inability to play |
| Twisted Shithead | Nearly all cards have special effects | An elaborate variation of shithead rules with special mechanics |
| Swoop (North America) | Played for a winner instead of a loser | Players must play equal to or lower than the previous card played. |
| Reverse Shithead | Introduces a reverse phase | Beating the previous card is required but has disadvantages |
| Finnish Variants (Mukava & Piina) | Played without jokers | Four face-down and four face-up cards instead of three |
Closure
Shithead card game rewards adaptability and decision-making. Knowing how to play shithead game is to learn when to hold onto key cards or sacrifice a turn to shift the outcome. Social dynamics also add to the entertaining nature of this easy game, e.g., alliances, bluffs, and table talk influence play.
House rules make each session different. You can play it casually among friends or competitively; the game has endless replayability. Try experimenting with custom shithead rules to create your own version!
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FAQs
How to play the Shithead card game?
Shithead is a turn-based card game where players aim to avoid being the last one with cards. Players play higher-ranked cards than the previous one. They use special card effects and clear the deck when needed. The last player holding cards loses.
What are the other names for the shithead card game?
The shithead card game is also known as China Hand, Karma, Ten-Two Slide, Palace or Shed.
How does one lose in Shithead?
The last player with cards loses and is called the âShithead.â This happens when all other players have cleared their hands and piles, leaving one person struggling to play legal moves.
Can you play Shithead with more than two players?
Yes, Shithead is best with 3-5 players but can accommodate more. More players make the game longer and more unpredictable.
What happens if you canât play a legal card in Shithead?
If you canât play a legal card, you must pick up the entire discard pile. This makes it harder to win and adds a risk element when choosing which cards to play early in the game.
Can we play multiple cards in Shithead?
Yes, you can play multiple cards of the same rank at once. For example, if the top card is a 5, you can play two or three 5s together to keep control.
