Understanding the Basic Gameplay
Asshole is a simple yet entertaining card game that involves a mix of skill, strategy, and a touch of luck. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the basic gameplay:
Setup
- Use a standard deck of 52 cards.
- The number of players can range from 3 to 8.
- One player is designated as the dealer, who shuffles the deck and deals out all the cards face down.
Gameplay
- Objective: The goal of the game is to get rid of all your cards while preventing others from doing so.
- Starting Play: The player to the left of the dealer starts by playing a card face up on the discard pile.
- Matching Cards: Players must match the rank or suit of the card on top of the discard pile. For example, if a 7 of hearts is on the pile, players can play a 7 of any suit or a heart of any rank.
- Special Cards: There are four special cards in the deck:
- Ace: Can be played on any card and forces the next player to draw two cards.
- 9: Acts as a “wild card” and can be played on any card.
- 10: Forces the next player to skip their turn.
- Jack: Reverses the direction of play.
- Running Out of Cards: The first player to discard all their cards becomes the “A” (best rank). The remaining players are ranked in order from “2” to “N” (worst rank).
Scoring
At the end of each round, the players who still have cards receive penalty points based on the cards in their hands. The “A” receives no points, while the “N” receives the most points.
| Card | Points |
|---|---|
| Ace | 15 |
| Face cards (K, Q, J) | 10 |
| Number cards (2-9) | 5 |
Playing the Cards: Suits and Ranks
Suited Combinations
Sorted in descending order of value, the suited combinations are:
| Rank | Combination Name |
|---|---|
| A-2-3-4-5 | Straight flush |
| 10-J-Q-K-A | Royal flush |
| Any five cards in the same suit | Flush |
Un-Suited Combinations
Un-suited combinations, also ranked in descending order of value, are:
| Rank | Combination Name |
|---|---|
| A-A-A-A | Four of a kind |
| A-A-A | Three of a kind |
| A-2-A | Two pair |
| A-A | One pair |
| Any five cards of different suits and ranks | Nothing |
Specific Hands
Some hands have specific names that override the above rankings:
Bomb: Any eight of spades combination (e.g., A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8♠).
Sandbag: A hand consisting of the 2♣, 3♣, 4♣, 5♣, and 6♣.
Special Cards: Aces and Deuces
In Asshole, aces and deuces are special cards that play a significant role in the gameplay.
Aces
Aces are the highest-ranking cards in the game, and they can be used to beat any other card. Aces can also be used to lead a trick, preventing the other players from playing higher cards.
Deuces
Deuces are the second-highest-ranking cards in the game, after aces. Deuces can be used to beat any card except an ace. Deuces can also be used to lead a trick, but only if no other player has played an ace.
Catching Deuces
One of the most important aspects of playing Asshole is “catching deuces.” This refers to playing a deuce on a trick that contains an ace.
When a deuce is caught, the player who played the ace must pick up the entire trick. This can be a major disadvantage, as it can result in the player losing multiple cards.
To avoid catching deuces, players can try to play aces on tricks that already contain deuces. This will prevent the other players from being able to catch them.
| Card | Rank | Special Ability |
|---|---|---|
| Ace | Highest | Can beat any other card, lead a trick |
| Deuce | Second-highest | Can beat any card except an ace, lead a trick if no ace is played |
Strategic Play: Controlling the Flow of the Game
Understanding the Card Ranks
In the game of Asshole, the card ranks are determined by their numerical value, with Ace being the highest and 2 being the lowest. When playing multiple rounds, the player with a full rotation of cards (2-10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace) in their hand has the highest authority and becomes the “Captain”. The player next in line is the “Vice President”, followed by the “Secretary”, and so on.
Winning and Moving the Cards
The goal of the game is to move all the cards in your hand to the next player. You can only play a card that is one number higher or lower than the card currently played. For example, if the current card is a 5, you can play a 4 or a 6. Aces can be played on 2s or Kings.
Blocking and Reversing the Flow
When a player cannot play a card that is one number higher or lower than the current card, they must “block” the flow by playing a card that is not in the correct sequence. This forces the next player to try to play a card in the correct sequence, or to also block the flow. If all the players block, the flow is reversed and the player who played the lowest card in the previous round must now play another card.
Knowing When to Block
There are several situations where it may be advantageous to block the flow:
- To prevent another player from winning the round.
- To force a player to play a card that is beneficial to you.
- To reverse the flow and gain an opportunity to play a card that is beneficial to you.
Advanced Blocking Strategies
Once you have a good understanding of the basics of blocking, you can start to implement more advanced strategies. One common technique is to “hold” certain cards, such as low numbers or cards that are one number away from a sequence, until you can use them to advantage.
| Hold | Potential Move |
|---|---|
| 2 | To block a player who is trying to win with a 3 |
| 4 | To block a player who is trying to win with a 5 |
| Ace | To block a player who is trying to win with a King |
By carefully considering the cards in your hand and the cards that have been played, you can develop a strategic approach that will help you win more rounds of Asshole.
Advanced Tactics: Sabotaging Opponents
In a cutthroat game of Asshole, sabotage is essential. Here are seven advanced tactics to undermine your opponents and secure victory:
1. **False Passing:** Offer to pass an Ace to an opponent, then discard it at the last second.
2. **Delayed Asshole:** Hold on to the Asshole card until you force an opponent to lead.
3. **Defensive Play:** Protect your valuable cards by playing them strategically and blocking opponents’ attempts to take them.
4. **Bluffing:** Pretend to have strong cards to intimidate opponents into playing defensively or discarding their own good cards.
5. **Card Counting:** Keep track of the cards that have been played to anticipate what opponents may have left.
6. **Tricky Leading:** Lead with weak cards to bait opponents into playing their better cards, then switch tactics.
7. **Advanced Card Discarding:**
– **Controlled Discarding:** Discard cards that could potentially benefit opponents, including Aces and Kings.
– **Strategic Discarding:** Discard cards that you know an opponent is trying to collect, such as Jacks or Queens.
– **Bluff Discarding:** Discard a good card to make opponents believe you have a weak hand, then surprise them with a strong lead.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Calling the game “a**hole”
While the game is often referred to with this term, it’s considered offensive. Use “Asshole” instead.
2. Not following the rules
Ensure you understand the rules thoroughly before playing.
3. Not paying attention
Stay focused on the game and avoid distractions.
4. Getting angry
Losing is part of the game. Keep your temper in check.
5. Overbidding
Don’t underestimate the difficulty of making your tricks.
6. Underbidding
Don’t sell yourself short. Bid accurately based on your hand strength.
7. Leading with a low card
Reserve your low cards for later in the round.
8. Not paying attention to the played cards
Keep track of the cards played to gain insight into other players’ hands and strategize accordingly. This includes noting:
| Card Played | Possible Implications |
|---|---|
| Low card | Player may have a strong hand or be trying to deceive |
| High card | Player may be trying to protect a high-ranking card or bluff |
| Suit lead | Player may have multiple cards in that suit or be attempting to force the suit |
| Trump card | Player has a strong trump suit or is trying to clear a blocking suit |
9. Not taking risks
Sometimes, it’s necessary to take calculated risks to win.
10. Not having fun
Asshole is a game meant to be enjoyed. Relax and have a good time with your friends.
Variations and Game Enhancements
Self-Play
In the self-play variation, players form four teams based on standard ranking: one team with two 7s, one with two 8s, one with two 9s, and one with two 10s. Each player’s score is kept track of, with every player aiming to outscore their opponents within their teams. The first player to reach a predetermined score wins the game.
Sudden Death
Sudden Death is a setup variation where the first player who gets a total score of 31 or higher loses.
Suicide
In Suicide, players play for themselves with a deck comprised of only four 7s. The goal is for the first player to get rid of all of their cards. Additionally, a “cheat” card is included in the deck, which the player holding it can play at any time to force another player to draw 4 cards.
Asshole with Two Decks
In this variation, two standard decks of 52 cards are shuffled together to form a deck of 104 cards. This setup leads to longer gameplay and a highly strategic game with many different card combinations.
Asshole with a Joker
When playing with a Joker, the card is used as a wild card. This adds an unpredictable element to the game and requires players to be more adaptable in their gameplay strategy.
Asshole with Three Players
In this variation, three players use a deck with 36 cards (the 2s through 8s are removed). The gameplay follows the same basic rules, except each player takes three cards initially instead of five.
Asshole with Eight Players
For eight players, a deck with 72 cards (the 2s and 3s are removed) is used. The rank order is slightly altered, with the 7s now being the highest-ranking cards. The gameplay proceeds as normal, with players forming two teams of four.
Asshole with a Ladder
The Ladder variation begins with the standard ranking of the cards. However, after each hand, the rank of each card is adjusted by one, creating a shifting hierarchy throughout the game.
Flexible Rank Ordering
In this variation, players have the flexibility to establish their own custom ranking order for the cards. This allows for a wide range of game dynamics and requires players to adapt to the unique ranking system.
