Rules for Scum

Scum is a very popular card game, especially among teens and young adults. It's a social and fun game centered around status and hierarchy.

The game is for 3–8 players (best with 4) and typically takes 10–20 minutes per round. You need a standard 52-card deck, and jokers can be included if desired.

The goal is to be the first to get rid of all your cards and become the Scum. The last player holding cards becomes the Boms (also called the Slave) and suffers a disadvantage in the next round.

The entire deck is dealt out to all players, one card at a time. It doesn’t matter if some players receive one more card than others.

Players sort their cards by value in hand. The game can be played endlessly, with new rounds and new roles based on previous round results.

The cards are ranked from highest to lowest as follows:

1. 2 (highest)
2. Ace
3. King
4. Queen
5. Jack
6. 10
7. 9
8. 8
9. 7
10. 6
11. 5
12. 4
13. 3 (lowest)

Suits have no impact on card values.

Special cards:

• Sixes and jokers: Can act as wild cards that replace other cards
• 3 of clubs: In some variants, this starts the first round
• 3 of diamonds: In other variants, this starts the first round

In the first round, the player with the 3 of clubs or 3 of diamonds (depending on the variant) starts. In later rounds, the Boms (loser of the previous round) starts.

Here’s how to play:

1. The starting player lays down one or more cards of the same rank — for example, two fives
2. The next player must lay down the same number of cards of higher rank (e.g. two sixes) or pass
3. Play continues clockwise until all players pass except one
4. The player who played the last (highest) card wins the trick and starts the next one
5. If this player has no cards left, the player to their left starts the next trick

When a player has played all their cards, the others continue until only one player remains with cards.

• Sixes and jokers: Can substitute any other card when played alongside them. For example, “three aces and a six” can be played as four aces. If played alone, sixes (or jokers) have their own value (6).
• Four of a kind: In some variants, four identical cards beat all combinations and clear the pile. The next player starts a new trick.

After each round, players are assigned titles based on the order they finished:

• Scum: First to play all their cards
• Vice Scum: Second to finish (only with 4+ players)
• Neutral: Middle-position players (with 5 players)
• Vice Boms: Second to last (only with 4+ players)
• Boms/Slave: Last player holding cards

Before the next round begins, players exchange cards as follows:

• The Scum receives the two best cards from the Boms and returns two of their choice (usually weak ones)
• The Vice Scum receives the best card from the Vice Boms and gives back one card of their choice

The Scum may also request specific cards from the Boms.

After the exchange, the Boms starts the next round.

Scum can theoretically be played forever, round after round. Players often agree on a set number of rounds in advance.

A popular variant is to track how many times each player becomes Scum. The player with the most presidential rounds at the end is the ultimate winner.

There are many variations of Scum:

• Card exchange size: Can range from 1–3 cards depending on house rules
• Starting player: May be the player with the 3 of clubs, 3 of diamonds, or the lowest card
• Four of a kind: In some versions, clears the board
• Bonus round: If the same person is Scum two rounds in a row, they receive a special bonus
• Revolution: In some variants, a player with four 2s or four jokers can declare “revolution,” flipping the hierarchy — Boms becomes Scum and vice versa

Here are some helpful tips for doing well in Scum:

• Try to get rid of your single low cards early
• Save your high cards (2s and Aces) for the end or to win a trick starter
• Pay attention to how many of each rank other players have played
• As Scum, give your worst cards to the Boms to maintain your advantage
• Be patient if you're the Boms — try to improve your position over several rounds
• Use jokers strategically with high cards to build strong combinations