Editing Shithead (card game) (section)

== Play ==
[[Eldest hand]] is the first player dealt a 3 as an upcard. If no player has 3 face up, then the first player to [[declare (cards)|declare]] a 3 in hand starts. If no-one has a 3, then the game is started by the person dealt a 4, etc. Eldest leads off by playing a card or [[set (cards)|set]] of cards face up in the middle of the table to start a common [[wastepile]]. In turn and in clockwise order, players play a card or set that is equal to or higher in rank than the top card of the wastepile. If unable or unwilling to do so, they must pick up the wastepile and add it to their hand cards.<ref name="pagat"/><ref name="parlett"/>

Each player must have at least three cards in hand at all times; a player who has fewer than three after playing to the wastepile draws cards from the stock, if possible, to make the hand up to three again.

=== Special cards and quartets ===
Deuces (2s), tens and four-of-a-kind quartets have special roles:<ref name="pagat" /><ref name="parlett"/>

* ''Deuces''. A deuce may be played on any card and any card may follow a deuce.
* ''Tens''. A ten may be played on any turn, regardless of the top card on the wastepile or even if there is no wastepile card. When a ten is played, the wastepile is removed from play and set aside for the remainder of the game. The same player then plays any card or set to begin a new wastepile.
* ''Quartets''. A [[quartet (cards)|quartet]] is a set of four cards of equal rank e.g. {{Cards|5d|5c|5h|5s}} or {{cards|8h|8d|8s|8c}}. If a player is able to play a quartet, the wastepile is set aside as if a ten had been played.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donohoe |first=Rick |date=2023-07-22 |title=Shithead Card Game: How To Play, Rules And Strategies {{!}} Tiny Monkey Games |url=https://tinymonkeygames.com/card-games/shithead-card-game-how-to-play-rules-and-strategies |access-date=2023-08-12 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In addition, the last player to complete a quartet on the top of the wastepile by playing its fourth card also removes the wastepile. Either way, the same player may then play another card or set.<ref name="pagat" />