PICK THE RULES.
THEN DEAL.
Compare common President house rules—including passes, equal ranks, 2s, jokers, revolutions, card taxes, and suit order—with the rules Bleach uses online.
President has no single worldwide rulebook. Agree on passing, equal plays, 2s, pile clears, jokers, and the card tax before the deal—or let Bleach enforce one consistent version for everyone.
The rules groups argue about most
What a Bleach host can customize
Bleach separates table setup from the core rules. A host can open three to eight seats, choose one deck, two decks, or automatic deck sizing, set no turn timer or a 30, 45, 60, or 90-second turn, and adjust computer speed. Table themes and clean or uncensored titles change the atmosphere, not which cards are legal.
The core move validation stays fixed. That is deliberate: a shared online table works best when every phone agrees on the same play without a host acting as referee.
Bleach’s card tax
After a three-player round, last place gives their best card to the President, who returns one card after seeing it. At four or more players, first and last exchange two cards; second and second-to-last exchange one. The next deal begins only after the higher-ranked players choose what to return.
Some groups make the lower player choose the outgoing cards, exchange only one card at every table size, or let the President refuse the tax. Those variants soften the built-in advantage but change the game’s social hierarchy substantially.
Popular offline variations
These can be excellent kitchen-table rules, but piling several together makes the game harder to teach. Add one variation at a time and state it before anyone receives a hand.
How to choose the right ruleset
- 1Start with the version most players know.
Recognition matters more than proving one group’s rules are official.
- 2Write down exceptions.
Special 7s, 8s, 10s, jokers, and revolutions should never be surprise rules.
- 3Keep the first round simple.
New players learn the climb, passes, clears, and finish order before extra effects.
- 4Use one enforced online version.
For remote play, consistency beats stopping every turn to negotiate.
House rules FAQ
What are the most common President house rules?
Groups most often differ on whether equal ranks are legal, whether passing removes you from the pile, what a 2 does, whether jokers are used, when the pile burns, and how many cards are exchanged between ranks.
Can you play again after passing in President?
It depends on the house rule. Bleach uses temporary passing: you skip that turn but may play later if the pile comes back around before it clears.
Does Bleach use jokers or revolutions?
No. Bleach uses standard 52-card decks without jokers, and the rank order stays 3 low through 2 high for the whole round.
Can the host change Bleach’s rules?
The host can choose table size, one or two decks, turn timing, computer pace, table theme, and title language. Core play rules remain fixed so every browser enforces the same legal moves.
How many cards are exchanged after a President round?
In Bleach, first and last exchange one card at a three-player table and two cards with four or more. With at least four players, second and second-to-last also exchange one card.
President is a folk game with many regional versions. For a wider catalogue, see Pagat’s President variations. To play the version described here, open a free Bleach table.