Crazy Eights is a shedding-type card
game for the eight leaders of the countries considered to be the top eight economic powerhouses on
earth. Each leader is dealt a set of eight distinct cards with each bearing the likeness of one of the eight leaders. The object of the
game is to be the first leader to get rid of all of his or her cards on the discard pile. Rules vary from year to year and are routinely ignored resulting in
high-jinks, hurt feelings, and enough 'Breaking News!' to totally satisfy the editors of each cable news network.
In the most recent
game (2014) seven cards bearing the likeness of the Russian leader Vladimir Putin were placed on the discard pile and he was then eliminated from the
game. Fearing no retribution, many thought Putin's taking of Ukraine's Crimea
may have contributed to his early exit from the game. Others speculate that the seven other leaders were uncomfortable with Putin constantly flexing his pectoralis major muscles on his shirtless chest.