Play Idiot for free
Idiot is a card game where the aim is to get rid of all your cards, and the player left holding cards is the Idiot. It is also known as Palace, Karma or Shed, and in the UK often as Shithead. Here on Kitchen Table Cards you can play it free in your browser against a computer player, with big cards, a Hint button and no time pressure.
How to play · Special cards · The end of the game · Tips · Questions
How to play Idiot
Idiot is played with a standard 52-card deck, and Aces are high. Each of the two players gets 3 face-down cards on the table, 3 face-up cards on top of them, and 3 cards in hand. The rest of the cards form the deck.
- Before the game: you may swap cards between your hand and your face-up cards.
- Who starts: the player with the lowest ordinary card in hand goes first.
- Playing: put a card on the pile that is equal to or higher than the top card. You can play several cards of the same rank at once.
- Drawing: after you play, draw from the deck so you have 3 cards in hand again, as long as the deck lasts.
- Can't play? Pick up the whole pile, or play the top card of the deck blindly: if it doesn't fit, you pick up the pile with it.
Special cards
| Card | What it does |
|---|---|
| 2 | Can go on anything. It starts the pile over, so any card can follow it. |
| 5 | Can go on anything. The next player must play a 5 or lower (or a 2 or 10). |
| 10 | Can go on anything, and burns the pile. You then play again. |
| Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank on top of the pile also burn it, and the player who finished the four plays again. |
The end of the game
When your hand is empty and the deck is used up, you play your face-up cards from the table. When those are gone, you play your face-down cards blind, one at a time, without looking first. If a face-down card doesn't fit, you pick up the pile together with it.
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins. The player left holding cards is the Idiot.
How to play on this site
| Swap at the start | Click a card in your hand and then one of your face-up cards to swap them. Press "Start the game" when you are ready. |
|---|---|
| Play cards | Click a card to play it. If you have more of the same rank, they are played together. |
| Play just one of a pair | Drag the card onto the pile: only that card is played, and you keep the others. |
| Pick up the pile | Click the pile. |
| Try the deck | Click the deck to play its top card without seeing it first. If it fits, you don't have to pick up the pile; if not, you pick up the pile with it. |
| Undo | Takes back your last move (and Walter's reply), so a wrong click is never a disaster. |
| Face-down cards | Click one to play it blind. |
| Hint | Suggests swaps at the start, and a good card to play during the game. When nothing fits, the pile and the deck are outlined so you can see what to click. |
| Pause | Stops the other players until you are ready to carry on. |
Tips for winning at Idiot
- Put strong cards face up. 10s, 2s, 5s and Aces are your best friends at the end of the game.
- Play your lowest cards first. Keep your high cards and special cards for when you need them.
- Save your 10s for big piles. Burning a pile of two cards wastes a good card.
- Play pairs and triples together. Getting rid of several cards in one turn is a big step towards going out.
- Use a 5 against a player who is about to go out. It forces them to play low, which they may not be able to do.
Idiot questions and answers
Is this Idiot card game free?
Yes. Idiot on Kitchen Table Cards is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, no sign-up and nothing to buy.
Is Idiot the same game as Palace or Karma?
Yes. Idiot is known by many names: Palace in the United States, and Karma or Shed in other places. The rules vary a little from family to family. This version follows the most common rules.
Who am I playing against?
You play against one computer player, Walter, just like the classic two-player game. Try not to be the one left holding cards!
What do the 2, 5 and 10 do in Idiot?
They can all be played on top of any card. A 2 starts the pile over, so anything can follow it. After a 5, the next player must play a 5 or lower. A 10 burns the pile, and you play again.
What happens to the pile when it is burned?
The cards are removed from the game. The pile is burned by a 10, or when four cards of the same rank lie on top of each other. Then the same player starts the new pile.
What if I can't play any card?
Click the pile to pick it up, or click the deck to try your luck with its top card: if it fits on the pile it is played, and if it doesn't you pick up the pile with it. You may also pick up the pile on purpose at any time.
Which cards should I put face up at the start?
Strong cards: 10s, 2s, 5s and high cards like Aces and Kings. You play your face-up cards at the end of the game, when you most need cards that fit on anything.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. The game is saved on your device after every move, so you can close the page and carry on later.
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