Dou Dizhu

About this board game

Dou Dizhu is a card game for 3–4 players that takes about 30 minutes to play. Its name literally means “fighting the landlord,” capturing the central role of the game’s bidding system.

Played with a standard deck including both jokers, Dou Dizhu uses bidding to determine which player becomes the landlord. This structure makes the game work especially well with three players, giving the round a clear opposing side and a changing balance of power.

Once the landlord has been determined, the other two players team up against that player. The result is a compact contest built around the relationship between one individual and a two-player team, all within a traditional card-game format.

• Designed for 3–4 players
• Approximately 30 minutes of play time
• Uses a standard deck with both jokers
• Features bidding to determine the landlord
• Pairs the other two players against the landlord

Popular in China, Dou Dizhu offers a distinctive multiplayer setup without requiring a specialized deck. Its defining feature is the transition from bidding to an uneven alliance: one player takes the landlord role while the remaining two cooperate against them.

For players looking for a focused Chinese card game with a clear team-versus-one framework, Dou Dizhu presents its core idea directly. The combination of familiar cards, a landlord bid, and a three-player structure gives the game its recognizable identity.