Frequently argued questions
Can you put a 2 on anything? Yes. A 2 can be played on any card, and any card can be played on a 2. It resets the pile without burning it.
Do suits matter? No. Suits in Shithead are purely decorative, like the felt on a snooker table or the H in Harrogate. A 2 of anything is the 2.
Can you put a 10 on anything? Yes, in the official rules a 10 goes on anything, burns the pile out of the game, and the burner goes again. Some tables restrict the 10 to piles it could legally beat; that's a variant.
What does the 8 do? It's invisible. The next player has to beat the card underneath it. Multiple 8s stack; an 8 on an empty pile means anything goes. Some houses have 8s skip the next player instead; see the variant.
Do 7s go lower? Not here. In the official rules the 7 does nothing and the "go lower" job belongs to the 9. But sevens-go-lower is the most popular house rule in the game, and it has its own page.
What happens if I can't go? You pick up the entire pile into your hand and your turn ends. The next player starts a fresh pile with anything.
Can I pick up the pile even if I can play? No. If you can legally play, you must. Voluntary pickups are a slightly suspicious variant.
Can you play more than one card at once? Yes, any number of cards of the same rank can be laid together. Four of a kind on top of the pile burns it, even when different players built it, and the completer goes again.
Do the face-up cards go into your hand? In the official rules, yes: when the deck is gone and your hand is empty, you pick up your three face-up cards and play on. Many tables play them off the table instead; see the variant.
What if my blind card can't beat the pile? You pick up the whole pile plus the failed card, and you'll need to empty your hand again before you're back on your blinds. Yes, it's happened to everyone. No, it doesn't get easier.
Can you win on a magic card? Yes, any card can be your last in the official rules. The "no finishing on magic" restriction is a variant.
Who goes first? The player to the dealer's left, in the official rules. Lowest-card-opens is a common alternative.
How many people can play? Two to five on one deck. Six or more, shuffle two decks together; all the rules survive, including eight-of-a-kind burns. We suggest ruling that four of a kind still burns.
Does the burned pile come back? No. Burned cards are out of the game for good. Don't shuffle them into anything; just enjoy the smell.
Can I look at my face-down cards? No. Not when you're dealt them, not during, not "accidentally". They're played blind, one at a time, and their treachery is the point.
Is Shithead the same as Palace, Karma or Shed? Near enough. Same game, different passports; see the family tree.
What does the shithead have to do? Shuffle and deal the next game, and answer to the title until someone else earns it. Some tables add drinks-fetching. We consider this tradition, and correct.
Is there a politer name for this game? Yes: Shed, Karma, Palace. The rules work the same, but the game can tell you're embarrassed of it.
My mate says these rules are wrong. These rules were codified in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and written down. Your mate's rules live in his head, next to his darts average. The settler will broker peace.