Koi-Koi
Full instructions
A hanafuda game for two players
Table of Contents
Objective
The goal of Koi-Koi is to form specific card combinations (yaku) to score points. This is done by matching cards from a player’s hand with cards from the playing field.
A game is played over a series of rounds, which are usually referred to as months. Typical games are played over 12 rounds, but you can also play shorter games of 9, 6, or 3 rounds.
Game Setup
Choosing a Parent
The cards are shuffled, and each player draws a single card. The player who drew the card from the earlier month becomes the starting parent (also known as the oya).
The parent for each round goes first, and the child (the player not the parent) shuffles and deals.
Each time a player wins a round, they become the parent for the next round.
Dealing
The cards are shuffled, and both players are dealt eight cards (face down). Eight more are dealt face-up between the players. This area is called the field. The remaining cards are placed in a stack to form the draw pile.
A typical game layout
Checking the Field
If all four cards from the same month are showing, clear the field and both players hands, shuffle all cards and deal again. If three cards from the same month are showing, stack them together in the field.
During play, this stack acts as one card in the field. If a player matches with this stack, they get all three cards.
Checking Hands
If a player has been dealt a full month (all four cards from the same month), the round is immediately ended. The lucky player becomes the next parent and scores 6pts.
Example of a three-card stack.
Gameplay
Goal
Players compete during each round to form scoring combinations (yaku) by having all required cards from a combination in their library. Players add cards to their library by playing a matching card during their turn.
On each turn, a player takes both of these two actions:
Play one card from your hand.
Draw one card from the draw pile.
Playing a Card
The player plays a card from their hand face-up to the field.
If the card plays matches the month of a card in the field, the player adds both cards to their library. (If there are two cards from the same month in the field that match, the player chooses one. A three-card stack counts as one card.)
If there is no match, add the played card to the field.
Drawing a Card
The player draws the top card from the draw pile and adds it face-up to the field.
If the card matches the month of a card in the field, the player adds both cards to their library. (If there are two cards from the same month in the field that match, the player chooses one. A three-card stack counts as one card.)
If there is no match, add the drawn card to the field.
A card being matched.
The matched cards added to the library.
Calling Koi-Koi
If a scoring combination is formed, play immediately pauses. The player who formed the combination can either choose to continue playing (to try and form additional combinations), or stop the round and score any combinations they have formed.
To continue the round, the player calls “koi-koi” and play resumes.
Otherwise, the player can stop the round and score their points.
A scoring combination
Ending a Round
A round ends when:
A player stops after forming a combination (does not call koi-koi)
The draw pile is emptied (no one scores)
Scoring
At the end of each round, count the value for any combinations the scoring player made and total them.
If the player scored at least 7pts, they earn a 2x multiplier, applied to their round score.
This score is then added to their total and that player becomes the new parent. All the cards are shuffled and redealt for the next round.
If neither player formed a combination, no one scores and the next round begins with the same parent.
An example of a x2 multiplier
Ending the Game
When all rounds have been played, the player with the most points wins. A new koi-koi champion has been crowned!
scoring combinations
FIVE LIGHTS
all five 20-weight cards
15
points
any four 20-weight cards, must include the Umbrella Lovers
Rainy Four
10
points
any four 20-weight cards, must not include Umbrella Lovers
Four Lights
8
points
Three Lights
any three 20-weight cards
6
points
b-d-b
Boar, Deer, and Butterfly cards
6
points
Printed Flags
all three Printed Flag cards
5
points
Blue Flags
all three Blue Flag cards
5
points
Moon Viewing
Full Moon and Teacup cards
5
points
Cherry Blossom Viewing
Curtain and Teacup cards
5
points
Animals & Seeds
five or more of any 10-weight cards
5
points
+1 point for each card over five
dregs
ten or more 1-weight cards
1
point
+1 point for each card over ten
+1 point for each card over five
Red Flags
five or more of any 5-weight cards
5
points
Optional Variants
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typical library organization