How to play Big Two

Big Two — known as 鋤大弟, Deuces, or Dai Di — is one of the most popular card games in East and Southeast Asia, and a brilliant fast-shedding game for four. The whole deck is dealt out and you race to get rid of every card, playing singles, pairs and poker hands that have to beat whatever's on the table. It's quick to learn and full of timing and bluff. Here you play against three bots.

Goal

Be the first to empty your hand. When someone goes out, everyone else collects penalty points equal to the cards left in their hand — so even if you don't win, get your count down.

Card order

Ranks run 3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A-2, so the 2 is the highest card and 3 the lowest. When two cards have the same rank, suits break the tie: ♦ < ♣ < ♥ < ♠. The player holding the 3♦ leads first, and their opening play must include it.

What you can play

• A single card, a pair, or a five-card hand.
• Five-card hands rank low to high: straight < flush < full house < four of a kind < straight flush.
• You must follow with the same number of cards and a higher rank, or pass. (A five-card hand can only be beaten by a higher five-card hand.)
• When three players pass in a row, the table clears and the last player to play leads anything they like.

Strategy

Tap cards to select them, then Play. Hold your 2s and high cards to seize the lead when it matters, and try to bury low cards inside straights and flushes so you're not left holding them. Keeping a spare single to slip away on a clear table is often what gets you out first. Don't sit on a huge hand hoping for the perfect play — every card left is a penalty point. P passes, N starts a new game.