[2][3][4] It is a Westernized version of Chinese climbing card games[5] such as Zheng Shangyou, Tien Len in Vietnam and the Japanese Daifugō.

A large or odd number of players generally calls for having at least one "Person" role, but there can be as many as needed.

If the Scum is the dealer, this ensures that the President begins with the fewest cards if the hands are uneven.

[8] The player on the dealer's left begins by leading any number of cards of the same rank (1–4; 5 or more are possible with wildcards, jokers or multiple decks).

The player on the left may then play an equal number of matching cards with a higher face value, or may pass.

This continues until all players have had a turn (which may or may not be because the highest-value card has already been played), or opted to pass.

The President is the dealer (or the Scum in some versions), and the players must rearrange themselves around them so that they are seated in order of rank, clockwise.

Some variants do not rearrange the seating of the players, so everyone plays in the same order each hand (though the president still leads the first trick).

After the first round has determined player rank, subsequent hands are opened by the president.

In some variations of the game, after the president (or whoever deals) has dealt and everyone has received their hands, the players must trade cards with one another, based on positions.

Revolutions are typically utilized in the game to create better balance and avoid having the same player remain in first position forever.

For example, if a player plays 4 aces, it can be beaten with three 2s, both One-Eyed Jacks, or the King of Hearts.

That card is discarded, however, Bob has ended on a 2, which means he immediately becomes scum/super scum, and Alice does not fall to the lowest rank.)

Another variant requires the President to give their lowest cards to the scum, even if this "breaks up" a good combination in their starting deal.