Rules For 5 Kings Card Game

3 min read 27-11-2024

The 5 Kings card game, also known as President, is a popular and engaging multiplayer card game that blends strategy, luck, and a bit of social deduction. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the rules, ensuring you're ready to conquer your opponents and claim the coveted title of President!

Getting Started: Setup and Dealing

What you'll need: A standard 52-card deck, and 4 or more players.

Dealing: Shuffle the deck thoroughly. Deal out all the cards evenly among the players. No cards are left over.
Ranking: Aces are low, followed by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King.
The Goal: Be the first player to get rid of all your cards.

Gameplay: Playing Your Cards

The First Player: The player with the lowest card (usually the 2 of Clubs in this game) plays first.
Playing Cards: Players must play a set of cards of the same rank (e.g., three 7s), or a higher rank than the previous set played.
Number of Cards: The number of cards played must match the number of cards played in the previous round. You can't play 2 cards if the previous player played 3 cards, unless you have only 2 cards left.
Passing: If a player doesn't have a set of cards that can be played, they must "pass."
Combinations: You can play multiple combinations of the same number of cards in one turn. For instance, if the previous player played 3 7's, you could play 3 9's and then 3 Jacks in the same turn.

Special Cards and Actions

Pairs: Two cards of the same rank.
Triplets: Three cards of the same rank.
Fours: Four cards of the same rank.
Five-of-a-Kind: Five cards of the same rank.
Straight: A consecutive sequence of cards of any suit. The minimum length is three cards.
Full House: A set of three cards of the same rank and a pair of another rank.

Winning the Round and Becoming President

Empty Hands: The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the round.
Rank Order: Players are ranked based on the order in which they get rid of their cards. 1st place is President, then Vice-President, etc. and lastly Scum.
Scoring: Each round adds to the overall score. The scores are typically cumulative, so the players with the highest cumulative scores may not be the President in each individual round.

Next Round: Dealing and Penalties

Card Distribution: The President and Scum redistribute cards for the next round. The President deals the cards. The Scum shuffles the deck before dealing.
Dealing Cards: The President is given the highest cards, the Scum the lowest. The Vice-President and others receive cards accordingly. Note: The way of distributing the cards among the players can vary based on local rules.
Penalties (Optional): In some variations, the Scum is penalized with extra cards in the next round. The President may get to choose who plays first in the next round, or be allowed to pass less.

Variations and House Rules

Many variations of 5 Kings exist. Some common variations include:

Bombing: The possibility to play specific combinations to override other higher-ranked plays. Such as 4 2's.
Specific Card Rankings: Some versions use slightly different ranking systems or additional special rules for certain cards like Jokers.

Conclusion

Mastering the rules of 5 Kings opens up a world of strategic gameplay and exciting competition. Experiment with different strategies, adapt to your opponents' moves, and remember that even a little bit of luck can make all the difference in securing the Presidential title! Now get out there and play!