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Background – This game probably originated in the coastal China around 1980. It has gained huge popularity in the large cities of China- in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taiwan, Philippines and Singapore. In fact, the game has also reached popularity in many western countries. This game is also known by some other names such as Deuces, Da Lao Er (da lao er), Choh Dai Di or simply Dai Di, Bu Bu Gao Sheng bu gao sheng, Pusoy Dos etc.
Requirements – A standard 52 playing card pack is used where the cards rank from high to low, like 2-A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3. Big Two is actually a game to be played by the four players. However, it is possible to be played by the three or even two as well.
Objective – The winner has to be the first to get rid of all of his cards, by playing them to the table. If a player cannot be first to play all the cards, then he should try having as few cards as possible by the time the other player finishes.
Betting – The penalty is one point per card remaining in hand. Normally the players agree upon a stake - say $1 per point. At the end of the session each pair of players settles up according to the difference between their scores.
Payouts – The points are counted on the number of cards remaining in hand. In case the person playing after you has only one card left in hand, you must try to make up some tricks to hinder him from winning. In such cases, if a single card is to be played, you must play your highest card. If it is your turn to lead, you should either lead a combination more than one card or must lead with your highest card.
If you fail to implement the tricks and as a result the person after you wins by playing his single card, you have to pay the losses of all three players.
How to Begin – The game simply begins with the player to dealer's right (if playing anticlockwise) and so ends with the dealer. The very first deal of the session starts with the lowest card holder. In most cases, instead of the lowest card holder, the winner plays the first card after each new deal. Thereafter the winner of each session plays first in the next. However, sometimes the 'loser' of each hand, having the most cards in hand, plays first in the next session.
If a tie was made for most cards, then those who were involved in the tie must expose their cards and each of them will form the largest playable combination that they can from their cards. In the next session, the dealer /starter will be the player whose combination had the smallest number of cards, or weakest combination.
How to Play – Sometimes the Big Two is played clockwise. This type of arrangement is especially popular and practiced in America, where virtually all such games are played in that particular direction. However, this style is very unusual to the birth place of this game. Sometimes people arrange for alternate hands both clockwise and anticlockwise, which actually to neutralize the advantage or disadvantage of playing next after a certain opponent.
How to Win – The winning is more thrilling in Hong Kong. Here the one who dealt a dragon, which is one card of each rank combination: A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K, wins the game immediately. Each of the other players in this case scores as though they lost without playing any cards, called the 39 penalty points.
