Big Two Game Rule
Also known as Big Deuce, Top Dog and 大老二 (dà lǎo èr)
Objective
The point of the game is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. There are several combinations (see Ranks and Combinations), but the 2 of spades♠, Big Two, is always the highest single card. However, a 5-card hand that is 4-of-a-kind plus 1 extra card, straight flush, or royal flush can override the Big Two.
Playing
- The game is played with a deck of 52 cards. Remove the jokers from the deck and shuffle the cards.
- Deal the cards out to each player counter-clockwise until all out.
- The person with the 3 of diamonds♦ goes first, either with a single card or a set of combination. The 3 of diamonds♦ must be put down.
- Play proceeds counter-clockwise, with the usual climbing-game rules: each player must play a higher card or combination than the one before, with the same number of cards. (If the starter puts down a single card, all players have to follow with a single card. If the starter plays with five cards combination, then the other players have to follow. The only exception is to have a 4-of-a-kind plus 1 override the Big Two.)
- All plays are made by placing the cards face up in the centre of the table.
- Players may also pass. You can continue playing when your turn comes again. (You are not obligated to beat a card or a combination just because you can. You may choose to pass each time and keep your high cards for a better opportunity.)
- The play continues for several circuits if necessary, until all but one of the players pass in succession, no one being able or willing to beat the last play. When this happens, the heap of played cards are discarded.
- Whoever had the highest card in the last round starts the new round.
- Each player is allowed to know how many cards the other players have in their hands at any time.
Winning
Whoever gets rid of all of his/her cards first is the winner. Game ends either when winner is declared or when there is only one player left.
The players with remaining cards are given penalty score. The penalty is 1 point/card if you have 9 cards or fewer, 2 points/card if you have 10 to12 cards and 3 points/card if you have all 13 cards left at the end (this means you did not play any cards at all). The person with the highest penalty points is the biggest loser.
Ranks and Combinations
- Denomination ranking: Cards ranked from high to low: 2-A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3.
- Suit ranking: Cards ranked from high to low: spades♠, hearts♥, clubs♣, diamonds♦
- Pairs: A pair of equal ranked cards - twos are highest and threes are lowest. Between equal ranked pairs, the one containing the highest suit is better.
- Triples: Three equal ranked cards - twos are highest and threes are lowest. Between equal ranked pairs, the one containing the highest suit is better.
- Five cards: Cards combination ranked from high to low: royal flush, straight flush, 4-of-a-kind plus 1 (also known as a bomb or tiki), full house (3 of a kind plus a double), flush (5 cards of a suit in any order), straight. Some variants of the game only allow same kind of 5-card hands in a round. (See Poker Hands Ranking illustration.)
- Dragon: Anyone who has a 13-card straight (Dragon) wins immediately.
Note
A combination can only be beaten by a better combination with the same number of cards: so a single card can only be beaten by a single card, a pair by a better pair and a triple by a better triple. You cannot for example use a triple to beat a pair or a straight to beat a triple.
