Overview

Gang of Four is a climbing card game descended from the Hong Kong gambling game Choh Dai Di. Players try to be the first to dispose of all cards in their hand by playing combinations (singles, pairs, triples, five-card hands, or the powerful Gang of Four). After one player empties their hand, remaining players score penalty points based on cards left. The game continues over multiple hands until someone reaches 100 points — the player with the lowest total wins.

Components

• 64-card deck:
  • 60 numbered cards ranked 1-10 (2 of each number in 3 colors: Green, Yellow, Red)
  • 1 Multi-colored 1
  • 2 Phoenix cards (1 Green, 1 Yellow)
  • 1 Red Dragon
• 1 rules booklet
• 1 score pad

Setup

4 players: Deal the entire 64-card deck evenly — 16 cards per player. Sort your hand by rank (1-10, Phoenix, Dragon) and color (Green, Yellow, Red).

3 players: Deal 16 cards to each player plus a separate 16-card “dummy” hand that is set aside unplayed. After each hand, shuffle the dummy back in and re-deal.

First hand: The player holding the Multi-colored 1 plays first and must include it in their opening combination. In subsequent hands, the winner of the previous hand plays first.

Turn Structure

Play proceeds in cycles:

1. The lead player plays a combination of 1-5 cards (or a Gang of Four).
2. Each subsequent player must either play a higher-ranking combination of the same number of cards, or pass. Exception: a Gang of Four beats any combination at any time.
3. The cycle continues until all players pass consecutively after the last play.
4. The winner of the cycle (last player to have played) leads a new cycle with any combination of their choice.
5. Play continues until one player empties their hand.

Direction of play: Counter-clockwise in the opening hand, then alternates between clockwise and counter-clockwise each successive hand.

Actions

Card Combinations (in ascending strength)

Combination	Description
Single Card	Any single card
Pair	Two cards of the same rank
Three of a Kind	Three cards of the same rank
Five-Card Combinations (in order):
- Straight	5 sequential cards of any color mix (no Phoenix or Dragon)
- Flush	5 cards of the same color, any ranks (no Phoenix or Dragon)
- Full House	A pair + three of a kind
- Straight Flush	5 sequential cards all of the same color (no Phoenix or Dragon)
Gang of Four	Four cards of the same rank — wild, beats any combination at any time

Ranking Rules

A combination is higher if:

1. The numerical value is higher (e.g., 10 > 8)
2. If equal number, the color is higher: Green < Yellow < Red
3. For five-card combinations, a stronger type beats a weaker one: Straight < Flush < Full House < Straight Flush
4. A Gang of Four beats any combination. Only a higher Gang of Four, Gang of Five, Six, or Seven (all seven 1s) can beat a Gang of Four.
5. An identical combination (same rank and color) cannot be played on itself.

Special Cards

Card	Rank	Rules
Red Dragon	Highest single card	Can only be played as a single card, never in combinations
Phoenix (Yellow/Green)	2nd and 3rd highest singles	Can be played as a pair (highest pair) or in a Full House, but NOT in straights, flushes, or straight flushes
Multi-colored 1	Highest of all 1s	Can declare any color when used in a Flush

Scoring / Victory Conditions

When a player empties their hand, the hand ends immediately. Remaining players score penalty points:

Cards Remaining	Penalty
1-7 cards	1 point per card
8-10 cards	2 points per card (double)
11-13 cards	3 points per card (triple)
14-15 cards	4 points per card (quadruple)
16 cards	5 points per card (80 points)

The game ends when any player reaches 100 points. The player with the lowest total score wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Card Exchange: At the start of each hand (except the first), the loser (most cards remaining) must give their highest card to the winner (first out). The winner then gives any card of their choice back to the loser. Both exchanged cards are shown to everyone. Ties for most cards: the player with the highest total game score gives up their card. If still tied, the player closest to the winner counter-clockwise.
• Last Card Declaration: When down to one remaining card, you must declare “Last Card!” Failing to declare: you cannot win that hand; the hand continues among other players, and you add 1 penalty point. Declaration is not required if going out with a multi-card combination.
• Last Card Blocking: The player sitting immediately before a “Last Card” player must play their highest-ranking single card if singles are being played, and must open new cycles with multi-card combinations if possible.
• Passing: A player may always choose to pass, even if they have playable cards. All play is optional.
• Discards: All played cards are left face-up in a pile. No touching or peeking at the discard pile.
• Any player may ask another how many cards they have remaining.

Player Reference

Card Rank (low to high): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Phoenix (Green), Phoenix (Yellow), Dragon

Color Rank: Green < Yellow < Red

Five-Card Rank: Straight < Flush < Full House < Straight Flush

Scoring Quick Reference: | Cards Left | Multiplier | Example | |—|—|—| | 1-7 | x1 | 5 cards = 5 pts | | 8-10 | x2 | 9 cards = 18 pts | | 11-13 | x3 | 12 cards = 36 pts | | 14-15 | x4 | 15 cards = 60 pts | | 16 | x5 | 16 cards = 80 pts |

Game end: First player to 100 points triggers end. Lowest total score wins.