Big Two Rules: Card Ranks, Five-Card Hands and Scoring
Big Two (大老二, also called Deuces or Choh Dai Di) is a race to empty your hand of 13 cards: the first player out wins, and everyone else loses points for the cards they still hold. This guide covers card ranks and suits, the five-card hands, and worked examples of what beats what and how scoring works.
The basics
- Players and cards: four players, one 52-card deck (no jokers), 13 cards each.
- Who starts: whoever holds the 3 of clubs leads, and the first play must include it.
- Following: the next player must play the same number of cards, of the same kind, and higher, or pass.
- End of a trick: when three players in a row pass, the last player to play leads again and may play anything.
- End of a hand: as soon as someone plays their last card.
The leader cannot pass. When following, you may pass even if you could beat the play.
Card ranks and suits
Singles compare rank first, then suit, so the lowest card is the 3 of clubs and the highest is the 2 of spades. Pairs compare rank, then the higher suit in each pair (♠K♣K beats ♥K♦K). Triples compare rank only.
What you can play
| Play | Cards | How it compares |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 1 | Rank, then suit. |
| Pair | 2 | Rank, then the higher card's suit. |
| Triple | 3 | Rank. |
| Five-card hands (low to high) | ||
| Straight | 5 | Five consecutive ranks, any suits. |
| Flush | 5 | Five cards of one suit. |
| Full house | 5 | A triple plus a pair; compare the triple only. |
| Four of a kind | 5 | Four of a rank plus any card; compare the four only. |
| Straight flush | 5 | A straight in one suit; the highest. |
Among five-card hands, a higher type always beats a lower type (a full house beats any flush, four of a kind beats any full house) regardless of rank. Four cards on their own, or two pairs plus a card, are not legal plays.
Straight order (read this one)
Straights do not wrap around: J-Q-K-A-2, Q-K-A-2-3 and K-A-2-3-4 are not straights. The legal straights from lowest to highest are:
So 2-3-4-5-6 is the highest straight and A-2-3-4-5 the second highest; 10-J-Q-K-A is only third. Straights of the same position compare the suit of the top card (the top card of 2-3-4-5-6 and A-2-3-4-5 is the 2). Straight flushes use the same order.
Two flushes compare ranks first: highest card, then the next, and so on. Only if all five ranks match does the suit decide.
MacePlay uses this common Taiwanese ordering. Four of a kind and straight flushes only beat five-card hands; they cannot be used on singles, pairs or triples.
Worked examples
Example 1: does this straight beat that one?
The previous player leads 10♣ J♦ Q♥ K♣ A♠ (10-J-Q-K-A).
- You play A♦ 2♣ 3♠ 4♥ 5♣ (A-2-3-4-5): it beats 10-J-Q-K-A.
- The next player plays 2♦ 3♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♥ (2-3-4-5-6): it beats yours; it is the top straight.
- J-Q-K-A-2 would be illegal: it is not a straight.
Example 2: flushes and four of a kind
- A♥ Q♥ 8♥ 5♥ 3♥ against A♠ Q♠ 8♠ 5♠ 4♠: the first four ranks tie and the fifth card 4 beats 3, so the spade flush wins (ranks before suits).
- The previous player plays a full house 2-2-2-A-A; you play four 4s plus a 3: it beats the full house, because four of a kind is a higher type.
- The previous player plays the single 2 of spades and you want to bomb it with four of a kind: not allowed, the card counts differ.
Example 3: scoring a finished hand
When someone goes out, the other three lose points for each card they still hold:
| Cards left | Per card | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1–9 | 1 pt | 9 cards left = 9 points |
| 10–12 | 2 pts | 10 cards left = 20 points |
| 13 | 3 pts | never played = 39 points |
If the three others hold 1, 10 and 13 cards, they lose 1, 20 and 39 points, and the winner collects them. How much a point is worth depends on the room you sit in.
Common questions
Why does A-2-3-4-5 beat 10-J-Q-K-A?
Because it contains a 2, the highest rank. That is the common Taiwanese rule, and MacePlay follows it.
Can I play again after passing in the same trick?
Yes. Until three players pass in a row, you can still play when your turn comes round.
Is there a penalty for holding 2s at the end?
Not in MacePlay. Scoring only counts how many cards you have left.
Is there a time limit?
Yes: 20 seconds to lead and 15 to follow. When time runs out you pass if following, or lead your lowest single if leading.
Play Big Two in MacePlay
MacePlay's Big Two is a four-player table with a Hint button that finds plays that beat the table, and a Sort button that arranges your hand by rank, suit or combination. Tables start any time, with AI players filling empty seats, and you can open a private room for friends.
MacePlay is for adults 18+ and for entertainment only. Virtual coins have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash or goods.
Ready? Open a table in MacePlay
Four-player Big Two with a Hint button and one-tap sorting.
