Asshole (or President) Drinking Game

The Asshole drinking game, also known as Presidents and Assholes, is a fun and dynamic card game with a hierarchy of player ranks.

To play, gather a standard 52-card deck and designate a dealer for the first round, with subsequent rounds seeing the dealer position rotate clockwise. Players are dealt cards face down and strive to be the first to get rid of all their cards to become the President in the next round.

The game involves playing cards of the same rank in ascending order, with the next player required to play higher-ranked cards or pass. The hierarchy of player ranks, including President, Vice President, Middleman, Vice Asshole, and Asshole, adds a strategic twist, with each rank carrying specific privileges and responsibilities. The President has the power to make rules for subsequent rounds, while the Asshole must perform tasks like shuffling cards or fetching drinks.

With its dynamic gameplay and element of strategy, Asshole is a favorite among friends for a lively night of drinking fun, but players should always remember to enjoy responsibly and know their limits.

Here are the basic rules:

Setup:

1. Gather a standard 52-card deck (jokers optional) and a group of players.
2. Designate a dealer for the first round. Subsequent rounds, the dealer rotates clockwise.

Objective: The goal of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards and become the President in the next round.

Gameplay:

1. The dealer shuffles the deck and deals out all the cards evenly to the players.
2. Players do not look at their cards; they keep them facedown in a stack.
3. The player to the left of the dealer starts by playing one or more cards of the same rank (e.g., three 7s).
4. The next player must play the same number of cards but of a higher rank. For example, if the previous player played three 7s, the next player must play three 8s or higher.
5. If a player cannot or chooses not to play higher cards, they pass.
6. The round continues until all players have passed consecutively. Then, the player who played the last set of cards starts a new round with any number of cards of any rank.
7. The first player to get rid of all their cards becomes the President in the next round. The second player becomes the Vice President, the third player becomes the Middleman, the fourth player becomes the Vice Asshole, and the last player becomes the Asshole.

Rank Hierarchy:

1. President: The highest-ranking player. Can make rules, command players, and often receives benefits in subsequent rounds.
2. Vice President: Second highest-ranking player.
3. Middleman: Middle-ranking player.
4. Vice Asshole: Second lowest-ranking player.
5. Asshole: Lowest-ranking player. Responsible for tasks such as shuffling cards, getting drinks for other players, etc.

Rules for Rank Changes:

1. At the beginning of each round, the President can make rules that apply to all players (e.g., “Players must drink when they play a face card”).
2. After each round, the President can exchange two cards with the Asshole, who must give the President their two highest cards in return.
3. At the beginning of each round, the Asshole must give their two highest cards to the President.
4. The Vice Asshole must give their highest card to the Vice President.
5. The Middleman and Vice President do not exchange cards.
6. The President can also call for a “Social” at any time, where everyone drinks.

The game continues with players moving up or down in rank depending on their performance in each round. The fun and dynamic nature of the game make it a favorite among groups of friends, but remember to drink responsibly and be mindful of limits.