How to Play Dou Dizhu (Fight the Landlord)
Dou Dizhu (斗地主, "Fight the Landlord") is one of the most played card games in China. Three players use one deck with jokers. One player bids to become the landlord and plays alone against the other two, the peasants. The first player to play all their cards wins for their side. kawu uses the classic bidding rules and counts points only.
Cards and ranking
54 cards, including a small and a big joker. From low to high:
3 < 4 < 5 < 6 < 7 < 8 < 9 < 10 < J < Q < K < A < 2 < small joker < big joker
Suits don't matter.
Deal and bidding
- Everyone gets 17 cards; the last 3 are the face-down bottom cards.
- A random player bids first. In turn, each player speaks once: bid 1, 2 or 3 points, or pass. Each bid must be higher than the ones before.
- A bid of 3 ends the bidding at once. Otherwise, once everyone has spoken, the highest bidder becomes the landlord.
- If everyone passes, the cards are dealt again and the next player bids first.
- The landlord takes the 3 bottom cards (shown to everyone), has 20 cards, and leads.
Playing
- The landlord leads any combination. Then play goes round: on kawu you, then Right, then Left.
- Each player either plays the same kind of combination with the same number of cards, but higher, or passes.
- A bomb beats any non-bomb; a higher bomb beats a lower one; the rocket (both jokers) beats everything.
- When two players pass in a row, the last player to play leads again with any combination.
- The first to empty their hand wins. If it's the landlord, the landlord wins; if it's either peasant, both peasants win.
Combinations
| Combination | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single | Any one card | 5 |
| Pair | Two of the same rank | 8 8 |
| Triple | Three of the same rank | 9 9 9 |
| Triple with a single | Triple + one card | 9 9 9 + 4 |
| Triple with a pair | Triple + a pair | 9 9 9 + 4 4 |
| Straight | 5+ singles in a row, 3 to A | 3 4 5 6 7 |
| Pair chain | 3+ pairs in a row, 3 to A | 3 3 4 4 5 5 |
| Plane | 2+ triples in a row, 3 to A | 3 3 3 4 4 4 |
| Plane with wings | Plane + as many singles, or as many pairs | 3 3 3 4 4 4 + 5 7 |
| Four with two | Four + two singles, or four + two pairs | 6 6 6 6 + 3 9 |
| Bomb | Four of the same rank | 7 7 7 7 |
| Rocket | Both jokers |
Kicker rules on kawu: a kicker never has the same rank as the main part (3 3 3 3 is a bomb, not a triple with a 3). A plane's single wings all have different ranks, and so do its pair wings. Four-with-two takes two singles of different ranks or two pairs of different ranks. The two jokers can't both be kickers, because together they're the rocket.
Comparing: only the same kind and size can be compared, by the main part. A triple with a single is compared by its triple, a plane by its highest triple, and four-with-two by its four.
See all of them with examples in the Dou Dizhu combinations guide.
Points
- Base = the winning bid (1, 2 or 3).
- Multiplier: ×2 for every bomb or rocket played; ×2 for a spring (the landlord wins and neither peasant played a card); ×2 for an anti-spring (the peasants win and the landlord played only its first lead).
- Settling: each peasant settles base × multiplier with the landlord. If the landlord wins, it gets that from each peasant. If it loses, it pays each peasant that much.
Example: bid 2, one bomb played, the landlord wins. Each peasant loses 2 × 2 = 4 points and the landlord gains 8.
kawu only counts points, stored in your browser and used for your stats.
Playing on kawu
- Tap cards to select them (selected cards rise), or drag across your hand to select several at once.
- Hint cycles through the plays you can make.
- Play is greyed out when your selection isn't valid, and the reason is shown.
- "1 card left!" and "2 cards left!" warn you when an opponent is nearly out.
- There's no undo in Dou Dizhu.
- There's also a Chinese version.
Next: Dou Dizhu strategy.
Frequently asked questions
How many players does Dou Dizhu need?
Three. One becomes the landlord and plays alone against the other two, the peasants. On kawu you play with two computer players.
Can a straight include a 2?
No. Straights, pair chains and planes may only use 3 to Ace. 2s and jokers can never be part of a chain.
What beats a bomb?
A bigger bomb (four of a higher rank) or the rocket (both jokers). The rocket beats everything.
How are points scored?
The base is the winning bid (1, 2 or 3). It doubles for every bomb or rocket played and for a spring or anti-spring. Each peasant then settles that amount with the landlord. kawu counts points only, saved on your device.
Last updated 2026-10-18