Last Updated on April 9, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Daifugō (大富豪), meaning “Grand Millionaire,” is a Japanese shedding card game similar to President. Players aim to get rid of their cards as quickly as possible to secure the highest rank in the next round. The game features special rules, including card exchanges and unique card abilities, making each round highly strategic.

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How to Play Daifugō (大富豪)

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Setup

• Use a standard 52-card deck (no jokers, unless using a variant).
• 3–8 players can participate, with 4–6 players being ideal.
• Determine the first dealer randomly. After the first round, the Daifugō (richest player) becomes the new dealer.

Card Ranks

Cards are ranked from highest (2) to lowest (3). Suits generally do not matter. Some variants use Jokers as wild cards.

Dealing and Roles

• The dealer shuffles and distributes all cards evenly. Some players may have one extra card if the deck does not divide evenly.
• Players are ranked based on how quickly they empty their hands:
  • Daifugō (Grand Millionaire) – First player to go out.
  • Fugō (Millionaire) – Second player out.
  • Heimin (Commoners) – Middle players who finish later.
  • Hinmin (Poor Person) – Second-to-last player.
  • Daihinmin (Grand Pauper) – Last player remaining.

Card Exchange (Yakisute or Revolutions)

Before the next round begins:

• The Daihinmin must give their two best cards to the Daifugō, who returns any two unwanted cards.
• The Hinmin gives their best card to the Fugō, who returns one card.
• If a player holds four of the same rank, they may call a Revolution, reversing the ranking (3 becomes highest, 2 becomes lowest).

Gameplay

1. Starting Play: The Daifugō (or dealer for the first round) begins by playing a single card or a set of matching-ranked cards.
2. Following Turns: Players must play an equal number of cards but of a higher rank than the previous play, or they must pass.
3. Passing: Once a player passes, they cannot rejoin that round.
4. Winning the Round: When all players but one have passed, the last player to play wins the round and starts the next one.
5. Special Rules & Variants: Some versions allow Jokers as wild cards, skips, or 8-cut rules, where playing an 8 clears the pile.

Winning the Game

The game continues for a set number of rounds or until players agree to stop. The player with the most rounds as Daifugō is considered the overall winner.

Similar Shedding & Climbing Games

• President – A Western variant of Daifugō with similar ranking and card exchange mechanics.
• The Great Dalmuti – A commercial game with medieval-themed ranks and structured social hierarchy.
• Tichu – A team-based climbing game with strategic special cards.
• Big Two – A Chinese game where players play poker-style hands in a climbing format.