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♠ SHITHEAD ♠The Classic Card Game ~ Est. 1992www.shitheadcardgame.com ♣ ♦ ♠ ♥ |
♠ Rule Variations ♠
One of the best things about Shithead is that house rules are everything. Over the years, many regional and group variations have developed. Here are some of the most popular ones:
► Jokers as Supreme Card
Add 2 Jokers to the deck. A Joker can be played on anything and beats all other cards. Some groups allow the Joker to also burn the pile (like a 10), while others simply treat it as the highest card.
► The "Invisible" Rule (Jacks)
Jacks are "invisible" or "transparent" — when you play a Jack, the next player must play as if the Jack wasn't there, matching or beating whatever card is underneath it. This lets you use Jacks to stall without changing the state of play.
► 3s as Mirror Card
A 3 can be played on anything and mirrors the value of the card below it. The next player must beat the card that was under the 3, not the 3 itself. An interesting tactical alternative!
► 7s Mean "Play Lower"
In this popular house rule, when a 7 is played, the next player must play a card equal to or lower than 7 (instead of equal to or higher). If they cannot, they pick up the pile. Some groups also allow another 7 to continue the low sequence.
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► No Swapping
Some groups skip the pre-game swap entirely — whatever face-up cards you're dealt, you're stuck with them. This adds an element of luck and can lead to some truly painful face-up card situations.
► Speed Shithead
There are no turns! All players play as fast as they can onto a shared central pile. The only rule is that each card must be equal to or higher than the one below it. If you play an illegal card, you pick up. Chaotic and brilliant for parties.
► Ace High / Ace Low
In some versions, Aces are the highest non-special card (above King). In others, Aces are low (below 3). The classic rules treat Aces as high, but agree with your group before starting!
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► Multiple Deck Madness
For large groups (6+ players), shuffle two or even three standard decks together. This makes the draw pile last much longer and increases the chances of completing four-of-a-kinds. Games can become epic marathons!
► The "Shed" Variant (No Face-Down Blind Play)
In this friendlier version, players ARE allowed to look at their face-down cards at the start of the game (but cannot swap them). This removes the blind-luck element of the endgame, making it more strategic.
► Drinking Shithead
Friends playing Drinking Shithead
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There is no single "official" set of rules for Shithead — the beauty of the game is that house rules make every group's game unique. The rules on this page represent the most common version. Always agree on the rules before you start playing!
Know a variation we haven't listed? Email us and we'll add it!
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