Short rules
How to play Shithead
A quick guide for starting a table and learning the flow without digging through a long rules article.
Setup
Each player starts with hand cards, visible table cards, and hidden table cards. Play starts from the hand, then visible table cards, then hidden table cards.
Your turn
Play valid cards onto the pile. In general you play matching or higher ranks, unless a special card changes the rule. If you cannot play, you take the pile.
Special cards
- 2 resets the pile.
- 5 is transparent and uses its special turn-order behavior.
- 7 forces the next player to go higher or lower, depending on the choice.
- 8 skips the next player.
- 10 burns the pile immediately.
- Joker is wild, except it cannot stand in for 2, 5, or 10.
Rules note: 2, 5, and 10 can be played on every card. Exception: if a 7 is active, the next card must follow the higher/lower restriction.
Winning and losing
Get rid of all your cards before everyone else. The last player left with cards loses and becomes the Shithead.