Shithead (card Game) - Rules - Wildcards and Special Attributes

Wildcards and Special Attributes

Aside from the basic order of play, the core aspect of Shithead is the "wildcards". These vary greatly depending on regional variations, though the core of the rules remains the same. Most variants have the 2, 3 and 10 as wildcards and 7 and 8 as having special attributes. Wildcards may be played on any other card, those with special attributes must be placed on a matching or lower card.

2 - Playing this wildcard simply means the next player must lay higher than a 2.

3 - This wildcard has two roles: it changes the direction of play until a 3 is played again and it also "mirrors" the previous card. For example if a player lays an Ace, and the player to their left lays a 3, then play returns to the player who played an Ace and they must then lay an Ace or a wildcard.

10 - Laying a 10 burns the pile and removes it from the game. The player who laid the 10 must then lay another card before play continues.

7 - Laying a 7 means that the next player must match or go lower than a seven. Subsequent play returns to the standard order.

8 - Laying an 8 means that the next player misses their turn. (Laying a 3 on an 8 also results in the next player missing their turn).

Jack - Jacking a player means they have to pick up the pile of cards. Then the player after them takes the next turn.

In some variations of play, the 7 card changes the direction of play among the players. Playing two 7 cards would make no change overall as the direction is changed then changed back and play continues with a higher card finally placed on top of the 7, all in the same hand. In other variations the 7 is known as 'Pants Down Seven' and can be played at any point as a mirror card (equivalent to the value of the card below it), however as forfeit the player must pull his trousers down and they must stay down for the remainder of the game. Should another 7 be played by the same player, then the player must pull down his boxers/pants. With this variation, the original special attribute of the 7 is transferred to the 9 card, so playing a 9 means that the next play needs to be equal or lower than 9.