Play Idiot (Shithead) Online
Get rid of every card. The last one still holding cards is the Idiot. · 2–4 players
Special cards
- 2
- Reset. Goes on anything, and any card can follow it.
- 5
- Under. Goes on a 5 up to a king. The next card must be 5 or lower.
- 9
- Invisible. Goes on anything and is see-through: the next card has to beat the card under it.
- 10
- Burn. Goes on anything and burns the pile. You play again.
- A
- Highest. Goes on anything, a 5 included. Only a 2, 9, 10 or another ace can follow it.
- 4×
- Four of a kind. Four cards of the same rank in a row burn the pile. You play again.
Play from your hand first and draw back up to three cards while the deck lasts. Then play your face-up cards, and last your face-down cards, blind. If nothing you can play goes on the pile, you pick it up. The last player holding cards is the Idiot.
About Idiot
Idiot is the shedding card game also known as Shithead, Palace, Karma or Shed. Everyone starts with three face-down cards, three face-up cards on top of them and a hand of three. You take turns playing a card equal to or higher than the top of the pile, and a player who cannot keep up ends up picking the pile up. The aim is to get rid of every card, because in the classic game the last player holding cards is the Idiot.
On LetsPlayCards.Online you can play Idiot two ways. Against the computer, you face one to three computer opponents and can start a game straight away. With friends, start a table, copy the invite link or read out the six-character table code, and two to four players can join from their own devices; empty seats can go to computer players. Nothing to install and no account: everyone just opens the link in a browser.
The special cards are what make Idiot more than a game of luck. A 2 resets the pile so any card can follow, a 10 burns the pile and you play again, and four cards of the same rank in a row burn it too. A 9 is invisible, so the next player has to beat the card underneath it, and an Ace can go on anything. Before play starts you choose which three cards to place face up, and that choice decides a lot of games.
Also known as Shithead, Sh*thead, Palace, Karma, Shed.
How to play
- 1Choose three of your six hand cards to place face up on top of your three face-down cards.
- 2The player with the lowest ordinary face-up card starts; 2, 5, 9, 10 and Ace do not count.
- 3Play one card, or several of the same rank, equal to or higher than the top card of the pile.
- 4While the deck lasts, draw back up to three cards in your hand after each play.
- 5If nothing you can play goes on the pile, you pick the whole pile up.
- 6Once your hand and the deck are empty, play your face-up cards, then your face-down cards blind.
- 7Players drop out as they run out of cards; the last one holding cards is the Idiot.
Questions
- Is Idiot the same as Shithead?
- Yes. Idiot, Shithead, Palace, Karma and Shed are names for the same game, and the name usually depends on where and from whom you learned it. House rules for the special cards vary between groups, so check the rules on this page before your first game.
- Can I play Shithead online with friends?
- Yes. Choose Play with friends, enter your name and start a table, then send your friends the invite link or the table code. Two to four players can join, and the host starts the game once at least two are in. If someone drops out, the computer holds their seat until they are back.
- Can I play Idiot against the computer?
- Yes. Play the computer deals you in against one to three computer opponents, so you can learn the rules or play a quick game on your own.
- What does a 10 do in Idiot?
- A 10 can be played on any card and burns the pile: the cards are removed from the game and you play again. Four cards of the same rank in a row burn the pile the same way.
- What do the other special cards do?
- A 2 can be played on anything and resets the pile, so any card can follow. A 9 is invisible, so the next card must beat whatever lies under it. A 5 goes on a 5 up to a king, and the next card must be 5 or lower. An Ace is the highest card and can be played on anything.
- What happens if my face-down card can't be played?
- Face-down cards are played blind. If the card you turn over cannot go on the pile, you pick up the whole pile along with that card, and they go into your hand.