How to play Guandan

How to Play Guandan – A Quick Start

Guandan is a 4-player team card game using two decks (108 cards). Teammates sit opposite each other.

Card Ranking & Key Types

- Highest: Four Heavenly Kings (both jokers + both small jokers).
- Bombs: 4+ cards of the same rank. 6+ card bombs beat straight flushes.
- Straight Flush: 5 same-suit consecutive cards.
- Other hands: singles, pairs, triples, straights, etc. Different types can’t beat each other.
- Wild card: The red Joker of the current rank (e.g., red 2 when playing “2”) can substitute any card except jokers.

Winning & Scoring

- First to finish = “head player”.
- Head + second place → win 3 levels.
- Head + third place → win 2 levels.
- Head + last place → win 1 level.Goal: advance from 2 to A; first team to pass A wins.

Tribute & Return

- Losing team gives their largest non-wild card to winners.
- Winners return a low card.
- If losers have two jokers, they can refuse tribute (“resist”).

Tips

- Team play: Good cards? Help your partner. Bad cards? Sacrifice to protect them.
- Connect: If your partner finishes and no one beats them, you lead next.
- Count key cards (jokers, Aces) to track power.