Also known by the names of "Pooraccio", "President", "Cretin", "Capitalist" and "King", it is a famous card game in which each player tries to get rid of their own to become King, President or at least avoid be… miserable.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: General Guide
Step 1. Score
The name of the game comes from the scoring system. Since there are many variations, there are just as many options. Before you start playing, determine the scores you will use. You will need as many as there are players (at least 3).
- President or King - who wins the previous round
- Vice President ("VP") or Minister - who comes second
- Vice Miserable - from second to last
-
Miserable - the last one
The titles can be modified according to personal tastes and the participating players. If you are many you can also add Secretary (under the VP), Citizens, Farmers or Nullity. Some choose to use the presidential line of succession, ending with Galoppino (before Miserable)
Step 2. Learn the terms
Whenever a player discards, there will be a term accompanying his card. Familiarize yourself with the terms to be able to play efficiently.
- Single - when only one card is discarded
- Double - a pair of cards of the same rank
- Triple - three cards of the same rank
- Quadruple - four cards of the same rank
- Bomb - a single discarded card along with four of the same type (in some variations)
- Void - if someone plays a hand and everyone else folds, the table is void. The cards are removed and the same player starts over, discarding what he wants. And if that player gets rid of all the cards, the next person can command the hand. If no one is able to answer, it is declared void again and is passed to the next player.
Step 3. If you play with drinking, establish rules
In fact, we must not think only of the general ones, but also of those relating to drinking. The following are example rules: you can be as creative as you like.
- The card corresponding to the number of players present is called "social". When discarded, everyone has to drink at least twice. Any card can be social, and even two or three can be discarded one after the other. The next player, however, will have to play on the card preceding the social one.
- If a player passes, he must drink. Sometimes this rule is restricted, applying it only if everyone folds before the table is canceled.
- If a player discards a card of the same value as the previous one, the next one loses the turn and therefore drinks. For example: if player one discards a 4 followed by player two, who in turn discards the same value, player three loses his turn and must drink. If player four also discards a 4, player five skips the turn and drinks.
Step 4. Name the necessary cards
It is not imperative but you can choose cards that have specific functions. This is to give a group of players with different abilities greater possibilities.
- Some players like to pick a card that automatically cancels the table. If discarded, it starts over and that person discards whichever card they prefer. It is usually a 2.
- Furthermore, by choosing a joker (usually 3) you can substitute any card (except the one that cancels the table).
- Instead of starting whoever is on the left of the dealer, start the game with whoever has a specific card (for example the 4 of spades).
Part 2 of 3: How to Play
Step 1. Make the cards
The Miserable requires a deck of cards (without joker) that must be dealt clockwise from the left, starting from the dealer and going in descending order of hierarchy until the whole deck is exhausted (it is assumed that the players are already seated in the correct order). This ensures that the King starts with the least number of cards if the hands are odd. Some groups prefer to change seats each round to make things easier.
- On the first round, anyone can deal the cards. If the number of cards is odd, roll a die to see who does less.
- In certain variants, the Miserable must pass his two best cards to the King. If there is a Vice Miserable or a Miserable Jr., he must deliver a card to the King and the Vice Minister respectively who in exchange will give him two and one of theirs. worse cards.
Step 2. Start with a low card
Whoever stands to the left of the dealer or the one designated by the previously chosen card (4 of spades for example) begins. The next player may discard the same card, a higher one, a pair, three or four of the same or higher value. With each discard, the value increases until no one can play anymore.
- Each player must discard at least the same number of cards. If one puts two 3s, the next one has to put either two 3s or two 4s, and so on. Obviously, 3 or 4 of the same suit are also a double.
- If a player cannot play, he passes. He can still play in the same round, but he chooses to pass that specific turn. If all players cannot continue, the hand is canceled and the last one to discard restarts.
Step 3. Continue the scrap
As the game progresses, each player will have fewer and fewer cards. When one is left without, he becomes King. That player will stand by while the rest of the table will fight to death not to become Miserable. To speed things up, however, once the King is found, you can count each player's cards to determine roles.
If the scores are kept, the players get points according to their position: 2 for the King, 1 for the Minister and nothing for the others. More importantly, higher-ranking players can generally abuse their power to lower the scores of others
Part 3 of 3: Generic Variants
Step 1. Extra Rules of Passing
Passing can also be changed. Here are a couple of common variations:
- Some play with the obligation to beat the previous hand if there is a chance. Passing is only allowed if you cannot actually play. This makes the game less interesting and leaves no room for any strategies.
- Some players do not allow the passing player to play subsequent turns in the same round. If you fold you have to wait for someone to win the hand and start the next one. It can get boring for those with bad hands.
Step 2. Play with the sequence
If the player before you puts a 5 and a 6 and you a 7, you can declare "sequence". Whoever plays after you will have to respect the normal sequence of cards: 5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A. If anyone has no answer, they are eliminated from the round.
Step 3. Let the King decide arbitrary rules
If you play with drinking, you could up the ante. The King will likely scramble to find the most annoying rules he can apply, such as:
- Thumb Master: When the King hides his thumbs under the table everyone must immediately imitate him. The last one who remembers, has to drink.
- Anyone who looks at the King when he is also looking at him must drink.
- Before the hand starts, someone has to make a toast to the King (this is a good time to tease him). If no toast is made, the King may choose a punishment.
- The king designates a player (or orders the Miserable to do so) who must drink everyone's drinks as long as he is in charge.
Advice
- Include the jokers. They usually beat everything: doubles, triples, quadruples and even four cards of the same rank. You can only put one in the deck and treat it as a penalty card.
- Here is another variation: when playing an 8 in any way (including doubles and triples), you can ask for "low" or "high". If you call "low", whoever is after you will be forced to play any card with a value less than 8. If it is double 8, it will have to play a double that is less than 8. If you bid "high," the game will proceed normally..
-
AK version. Four cards of the exact combination: 7, 4, K, A (referring to the AK47 weapon) are a very strong hand that can be played together to get rid of four cards. Also beats the highest card (Joker, if you use it).
Triple 6 (the number of the Beast) beats Joker and AK47. It is considered the strongest combination that can be had in this game
