Objective of the Game
Dou Di Zhu is an exciting card game where the goal is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. The game is designed for three players, where one player assumes the role of the "Landlord" and the other two form a team against him.
Components
- A standard deck of 54 playing cards (52 regular cards plus two Jokers, one red Joker and one black Joker).
Gameplay
1. Dealing the Cards
- Shuffle the deck and deal 17 cards to each player.
- The remaining three cards are placed face down in the center. These will be picked up by the player who becomes the Landlord.
2. Determining the Landlord
- An auction round begins for the role of the Landlord. Players bid to become the Landlord, starting from 0 points.
- Players decide whether they want to bid to become Landlord and must place a bid (typically 1, 2, or 3 points).
- The player with the highest bid becomes the Landlord, takes the three central cards, and starts the game.
3. Game Rules
- The Landlord starts the game by playing the first combination of cards. Combinations can include single cards, pairs, triples, straights (sequences of five or more cards), full house (a triple plus a pair), or the strongest combination, the bombs (four of a kind or joker pair).
- Other players must respond with a higher combination of the same type or pass; playing a pair requires the next player to play a higher pair.
- A bomb can beat any single combination, except a higher bomb.
- If a player passes, they are out of that round.
- The game continues until one player plays all their cards.
4. Winning Conditions
- The Landlord wins if they rid themselves of all their cards before either of the other players.
- The opposing team wins if either of them gets rid of all their cards first.
Strategic Tips
- As the Landlord, try to have a strong combination for starting and foresee the opponents' moves to prevent them from efficiently getting rid of their cards.
- As a member of the opposing team, it is crucial to collaborate to stop the Landlord from getting rid of all their cards early. Try to pick the best moment to play your strongest combinations.
- Save the "bombs" for key phases in the game to outsmart your opponents and tilt the balance in your favor.
The game offers a fascinating mix of luck, strategy, and teamwork, making it a challenging and entertaining pastime.
