Guandan (掼蛋) is a four-player, two-deck partnership card game. This app lets you play online with friends using a table code, or practise one-tap solo matches against server bots, with a bilingual rules guide, narrated tutorials and a phone-friendly table. This guide covers gd.micstec.com and the rules as this app implements them.
| Players | Four, in two fixed partnerships: you and the player opposite you are a team |
| You need | A free account (email and password, or Google). Sign-in is remembered on your device |
| Works on | Phone, tablet and desktop browsers; installable as an app. Live games need a connection |
| Languages | Chinese and English interface, rules and tutorials |
Get started
- Open Guandan and choose Take a seat. You can choose Explore the rules first without an account.
- Sign in with email and password or Sign in with Google. Sign-in is remembered on your device.
- In the lobby, choose how to play:
- Vs bots — You + a bot partner vs two bots, starting immediately.
- Create table — open a table for friends and share its code.
- Join table — enter the six-character Table code from a friend.
- Open tables — browse tables other players have listed and Request to join.
- Use the top bar for Language, Help, Install, Inbox (notifications) and your account menu.
Play with friends
Host a table
- Choose Create table, add a Table name (optional), and create it.
- Choose Copy invite to share the code or link. Friends enter it under Join table.
- When at least two players are seated, choose Start match. If the table is not full, you are asked Not full yet — start anyway? — empty seats are filled by bots.
- As host you can approve or reject Join requests, choosing which bot seat the newcomer takes over, and Remove a player. A removed player's seat is taken over by a bot so the game continues; Allow back lets them request to join again.
- List my tables publicly (on by default) controls whether your table appears in Open tables. Tables idle for more than ten minutes are hidden.
Join a table
Choose Join table and enter the code, or open the invite link. To join a listed table, choose Request to join in Open tables and wait for the host to approve. You can join mid-game; you take over a bot's seat and hand.
Table tools
- Table chat for messages to everyone at the table (in a solo game it becomes Contact admin).
- Plays — the current deal's play log. Send data sends the deal's data to the administrator if something looks wrong.
- Settings — including Advanced bots. At shared tables, the host's setting applies.
- Step away (keep seat) minimizes the table so you can come back; Leave table gives up your seat. The host can End table to dissolve it for everyone.
Read the table
- Your hand is at the bottom, your Partner at the top, and opponents left and right. A team colour band marks partners.
- The top-left corner shows the deal number, the table status and the level being played (for example 打 7 — "playing 7s").
- The top-right corner lists both teams' current levels. 庄 marks the team whose level this deal plays.
- The centre shows each player's last play, who leads, pass markers, and First out / Last out badges.
- Player chips show each player's name, team, cards left and a glow when it is their turn.
Play your turn
- Tap cards to select them; tap again to deselect.
- Choose Play. If the selection is not legal, the reason is shown — for example, it does not beat the previous play.
- Choose Pass if you cannot or do not want to beat the current play. The player who starts a new trick cannot pass.
- On a phone, all 27 cards fit in two rows, and Play / Pass float at the bottom of the screen.
The rules in brief
These are this app's fixed house rules; regional versions differ. Open Help → Rules for nine illustrated chapters with card examples.
Setup and levels
- Two decks (108 cards including four jokers) are shuffled on the server and dealt 27 to each player.
- Each team has a level, starting at 2 and climbing to A. The level of the team whose deal it is becomes the level rank: it ranks above A and below the jokers.
- Wild cards: the two hearts of the level rank (红桃级牌) are wild. They can stand in for any non-joker card to complete a combination, but cannot be combined with jokers. A wild played alone counts as the level rank.
Legal combinations
| Combination | Shape |
|---|---|
| Single | One card |
| Pair | Two of the same rank (joker pairs must match: two small or two big jokers) |
| Triple | Three of the same rank |
| Full house | A triple plus a pair of a different rank |
| Straight | Exactly five consecutive ranks (A can be low, A-2-3-4-5, or high, 10-J-Q-K-A; no wrapping, no jokers) |
| Consecutive pairs | Exactly three consecutive pairs, such as 334455 |
| Plate (钢板) | Exactly two consecutive triples, such as 777888 |
| Bombs | Four or more of a kind, a straight flush, or all four jokers |
To beat a play, you must play the same combination type (and length) with a higher rank — or any bomb strong enough.
Bomb ladder (weakest to strongest)
4 of a kind → 5 of a kind → straight flush → 6 of a kind → 7 of a kind → 8 of a kind → Heaven bomb (all four jokers). Within the same grade, the higher rank wins. Every bomb beats every non-bomb.
Tricks, passing and partner leads
- When every other active player passes, the trick ends and the last player to play leads the next one.
- If a player goes out with a play nobody beats, their partner leads next (接风) and may play any shape.
Ending a deal and climbing
The order in which players empty their hands sets the result: first out (上游), second, third and last out (下游). The deal ends when three players are out. The first-out team climbs:
| First-out team's result | Levels gained |
|---|---|
| Both partners first and second | +3 |
| First and third | +2 |
| First and last | +1 |
The first team to come out first while at level A wins the match, with a celebration.
Tribute
- There is no tribute in the first deal.
- From the second deal, last out gives their highest single card to first out (the app picks it; you choose Confirm tribute). Wild hearts can be tribute. A player holding all four jokers in the new hand is exempt.
- First out returns any one card ≤ 10 to last out (Return one card ≤ 10).
- Tribute is public: the received card is highlighted and announced. First out then leads.
Practise against bots
Vs bots pairs you with a bot partner against two bot opponents, and bots also fill empty seats at group tables. Advanced bots (on by default) plan their hands, count played cards, cooperate with their partner and use endgame tactics. Turn it off in the lobby or table Settings for the original, simpler strategy.
Watch the tutorial
This narrated English desktop walkthrough shows the actual game interface. Use the mobile or Chinese versions if they suit you better. The in-app Help also picks the right version automatically.
English mobile tutorial · Chinese desktop tutorial · Chinese mobile tutorial
Install on your phone
Choose Install in the top bar. If no prompt appears, use the browser menu's Add to Home screen; on iPhone, tap Share → Add to Home Screen. The installed app starts faster and opens full screen.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Play is rejected | Check that your cards form one legal combination of the same type and length as the previous play, with a higher rank — or play a bomb. |
| Table code should be 6 letters or digits | Re-enter the code exactly as shared. |
| My join request is pending | The host must approve it; it shows Request sent — waiting for the host. |
| You already host a table | Opening a new table dissolves your old one. Return to your existing table instead, or confirm. |
| You were removed by the host | Ask the host to Allow back, then request to join again. |
| The table stopped updating | Check your connection and choose Refresh. |
| Something looks wrong in a deal | Choose Send data in Plays so the administrator can review it, or write via Contact admin. |