Dou dizhu

Dou dizhu, meaning fight the landlord, is a Chinese shedding-type card game played by three people using a standard 54-card deck including both jokers. One player is designated the landlord for the round and plays alone against the other two, who form a temporary team of peasants, with the landlord receiving extra hidden cards to compensate for facing two opponents. Players bid before the deal to determine who becomes the landlord, then take turns playing single cards, pairs, straights, or other recognized card combinations that must beat the previous play or pass, with the first player to empty their hand ending the round and determining whether the landlord or the peasant team wins. Originating in Hubei province and spreading nationally from the 1990s onward, Dou dizhu became one of the most widely played card games in mainland China, popularized further through online gaming platforms and mobile apps that host large numbers of simultaneous players.