
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,001
- BGG rating
- 6.0
Lost in R'lyeh
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2016

Rules assistance for Palace
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Palace is a board game for 2–6 players, 20 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Player Elimination, and Single Loser Game.
"Palace" is a very popular game played with regular playing cards, and also is commonly called names like "Shithead" or "Karma". There are numerous variations with other names like "Smeghead", "Shit-boot" or "Mukava". In Sweden it is referred to as "Vändtia" and often comes with minor rules variations. The game is for two to six players in which players aim to not be the last player to get rid of their cards. Who gets rid of their cards first is usually considered unimportant. The loser must deal the next game. The game requires one regular 52-card deck (plus 2 Jokers, when six play). Aces are high, although twos and tens act as trump cards in different ways. Each player gets a set of piles of two cards, three face up and three face down. They then take turns to play cards onto a central pile, drawing from the deck to replenish their hand. If they can't make a play they have to pick up the pile and the next player begins a new one. Once a player has emptied their hand and no more cards can be drawn, they move on to play cards from their own piles.
Palace supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Palace is 20 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Palace for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Palace has a complexity rating of 1.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Palace belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Player Elimination, and Single Loser Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Palace as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.