Daifugo (Japanese President) card game rules
Be first to empty your hand (“go out”). Daifugo, or Tycoon, is Japanese President for 3+ players.
Play Daifugo (free)How a round goes
Pick who leads
stronger cards
Last to play leads
sets your rank
Card strength
What you can play: a single, a set or a run
- Set: 2 to 4 cards of one rank, like 7 7
- Run: 3 or more in a row in one suit, like 5♠ 6♠ 7♠
- Joker: stands in for any card
The card swap: the Beggar gives up their 2 best cards
With 3 players, only the Tycoon and the Beggar swap.
House rules: agree on them before you start
Revolution: four of a kind flips card strength
Kakumei in Japanese
8-Stop: an 8 clears the table at once
Hachi-giri in Japanese, also called the Eights rule
Suit lock: the same suit twice, and only that suit can follow
Shibari in Japanese
More house rules
✓ You can turn these on or off in our game
| Jack back ✓11 back | A J flips card strength until the table clears |
|---|---|
| Spade 3 ✓ | The 3♠ beats a single Joker and clears the table |
| Tycoon falls ✓Miyako-ochi | If anyone else goes out first, last round’s Tycoon drops to Beggar |
| Banned finish ✓ | Going out on a 2, a Joker or an 8 is a foul |
| Run revolution ✓ | A run of 4 or more also starts a Revolution |
| 5 Skip ✓ | Each 5 skips the next player |
| 7 Give ✓ | Each 7 gives one of your cards to the next player |
| 10 Discard ✓ | Each 10 lets you discard one card |
| 9 Reverse | A 9 reverses the direction of play |
| Q Bomber | Play a Q and name a rank. Everyone discards it |
| Ambulance | Two 9s clear the table |
| Sandstorm | Three 3s beat anything and clear the table |
| 4 Stop | A 4 stops an 8-Stop |
| Gekokujo | If the Beggar comes first, all ranks flip |
Daifugo vs President: runs, Jokers and house rules
| President | Daifugo | |
|---|---|---|
| Ranks | President, Vice-President, Citizen, Scum | Tycoon, Rich, Citizen, Poor, Beggar |
| Top card | 2 | Joker, then 2 |
| Plays | Singles and sets | Singles, sets and runs |
| Swap | Scum gives their best card | Beggar gives 2, Poor gives 1 |
| Four of a kind | A normal set | Revolution |
| An 8 | A normal card | 8-Stop |
Based on the basic game on Pagat.com. Many tables add their own rules.
Closer to President: turn off house rules and Jokers in Settings (runs stay on).
FAQ
- How many players and cards?
- Usually 3 to 6 players (3 to 5 in our game), with 52 cards plus 1 Joker. 2 Jokers or none also work
- Can 2 people play?
- The rules need at least 3. In our game, 2 people can play online and the computer fills the empty seats
- How many decks do you need?
- One is enough for up to about 8 players. Bigger groups can shuffle in a second deck
- Who goes first?
- Round 1: a random player, as in our game, or whoever holds the 3♠ or 3♦. Then the Beggar
- Who leads if the last player to play went out?
- The next player after them
- Can I pass if I have a card I could play?
- Yes, unless you are leading
- Can I play again after passing?
- It depends on the group. Our game allows it. The official rules don’t
- Do the ranks change with the number of players?
- With 5 or more, Citizens fill the middle. With 3: Tycoon, Citizen, Beggar
- Can I always play an 8?
- Only if it beats the table: on a 3 to 7 normally, on a 9 to 2 while the order is flipped
- Does an 8 in a run clear the table?
- Not in the official rules or in our game
- Does a Joker count toward a Revolution?
- Yes. Three of a kind plus a Joker starts one
- Is the Joker still strongest during a Revolution?
- Yes
- Does the Spade 3 work during a Revolution?
- Yes
- Do 2 and 3 connect in a run?
- No (a few house rules allow it). K-A-2 does connect
- How do you compare two runs?
- By their lowest cards
- Can I go out on a Joker?
- Yes, unless you play Banned finish. The official rules call it a foul
- What happens after a foul finish?
- You become the Beggar for that round
- Are Daifugo, Daihinmin and Tycoon different games?
- No, just different names. Daifugo means grand millionaire, Daihinmin grand pauper
Official rules of the Japan Daifugo Federation
- 4 players and 2 Jokers. Each gets 13 cards, and the 2 cards left over (not Jokers) stay out
- House rules used: Revolution, 8-Stop, Suit lock, Spade 3 and Tycoon falls
- Once you pass, you can’t play until the table clears
- Going out on a 2 (a 3 during a Revolution), a Joker, an 8-Stop 8 or the like is a foul
From the federation’s rule book, checked in October 2026
Play Daifugo (free)
