Guandan

How it plays

1. 1Four play as two partnerships sitting opposite, with two decks, 108 cards, 27 each. Every hand has a level card: the rank of the level being played. Ranking runs red joker, black joker, the level card, then Ace, King and so on down to 2.
2. 2The level card in hearts is wild: played with other cards it can stand for anything except a joker.
3. 3The leader plays a combination; each player in turn plays a higher one of the same kind, or a bomb, or passes. When everyone else passes, the last to play leads again.
4. 4Combinations: single, pair, triple, triple with a pair, a straight of five, three consecutive pairs, and two consecutive triples. A bomb is four or more of a kind, a straight flush, or the four jokers. Bombs rank: four jokers highest, then six or more of a kind, straight flush, five of a kind, four of a kind.
5. 5The first to run out of cards is first, then second, third and last. The team of the player who finished first goes up: three levels if their partner was second, two if third, one if last.
6. 6Before the next hand comes the tribute: last place gives their highest card (not the wild) to first place, who returns a card no higher than 10. If one team took first and second, both opponents pay tribute. A side that must pay but holds both red jokers between them refuses.

How you win

A team wins by playing a hand at level Ace in which one of them finishes first and their partner is not last. House rules differ on the details of passing Ace and of tribute, so agree them before you start.