How to Play Big Two
How Hong Kong Big Two is played, from the deal to the last card. Watch the short video, or read on. The examples further down are playable, so you can try a hand before you sit down at a real table.
What is Big Two?
Big Two (鋤大弟, also called Deuces, Big Deuce or Choh Dai Di) is a climbing card game for four players. You win by getting rid of your cards before anyone else. Each turn you either beat what is on the table with a single, a pair, a triple or a five-card poker hand, or you pass and wait.
A round takes a few minutes. Most of the skill is in what you hold back. You decide which cards to spend early, which to save for the finish, and when a trick isn't worth fighting for.
The deal
Shuffle a standard 52-card deck with no jokers and deal all of it clockwise, so each of the four players holds 13 cards. The player holding the 3♦ starts the game and must include that card in the opening play, either as a single, in a pair, or inside a five-card hand.
Card ranking
Big Two ranks cards from 3 (lowest) up through king and ace to 2 (highest). When two cards share a rank, the suit breaks the tie. Spades are highest, then hearts, clubs and diamonds. That makes the 2♠ the best card in the deck and the 3♦ the worst.
Which pair is higher?
How a round works
Play moves clockwise. On your turn you either beat the current play with a hand of the same size and higher value, or you pass. Passing doesn't lock you out. If the trick is still going when it comes back to you, you can play.
- The player holding the 3♦ leads the first trick. After that, whoever won the last trick leads, and can open with any legal hand.
- Play a higher combination of the same type, or pass. A pair can only be beaten by a pair, a five-card hand by a five-card hand.
- When everyone else passes, the table clears. The cards are swept away and whoever played last leads the next trick.
- The first player with no cards left wins the round. The others are ranked by how many cards remain in their hands.
Hands you can play
There are four sizes of play: a single card, a pair, a triple, and a five-card hand taken from poker. There are no four-card plays. Five-card hands rank like this, lowest first.
- Straight Five consecutive ranks in mixed suits. Compared by the highest card, then that card's suit. 5♣ 6♦ 7♠ 8♥ 9♣
- Flush Five cards of one suit. Compared by suit first, then by the highest card. Some house rules flip that order, so check before you sit down. 3♥ 7♥ 9♥ J♥ K♥
- Full house A triple plus a pair. Compared by the rank of the triple; the pair never matters. 9♠ 9♥ 9♣ 4♦ 4♠
- Four of a kind Four cards of one rank plus any fifth card. Compared by the rank of the four. Q♠ Q♥ Q♣ Q♦ 6♣
- Straight flush Five consecutive cards in one suit. Compared by the top card, then suit. No other five-card hand beats it. 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠ J♠
Winning the game
The round ends the moment a player plays their last card. The remaining players are ranked by the number of cards still in hand. Most scoring systems charge a point for each card left, often doubled at 10 or more and tripled at 13. Getting caught holding a big hand costs far more than going out slowly.
Questions new players ask
What happens when everyone passes?
When the other three players pass in a row, the trick is over. The cards on the table are cleared and the player who made the last play leads the next trick with any legal hand of any size.
Can I pass and then play again in the same round?
Yes. A pass only skips your current turn. If the play comes back around to you while the trick is still live, you may beat it.
Is Pusoy Dos the same game?
Pusoy Dos is the Filipino member of the family. The shape of play is the same, but the suit order and some hand rankings differ. Read the Pusoy Dos guide before joining one of those rooms.
Do I need an account to play online?
No. Open a room, share the link with three friends and start. Video chat is optional and nothing needs to be installed.
Try a quick demo game
A private solo table against the AI, right here on the page. Nothing to sign up for.
Big Two
You know the rules. Sit down at a table.
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