Koi-Koi
Koi-Koi Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Rules
The Hanafuda can be played from 6 years if the child is accompanied by an adult to learn the game.
Goal of the Game
Record the highest number of points by forming combinations of cards named Yaku. When a Yaku is made, the player can choose to stop the round and gain the corresponding points, or say Koi Koi to continue the round and try to gain more points, at risk of losing if his opponent makes a Yaku before him.
Preparation
Shuffle the cards. Play the game face to face, 6 or 12 rounds (one round for one month of the year), play clockwise.
Before starting the game, choose the Oya (Parent), the first dealer of the game. To select him, each player draws a card. The player who drew the nearest card from January becomes the Oya. In case of equality, draw again.
The distribution of cards is done in 2 steps. The Oya distributes 4 cards face down to each player and then poses 4, side by side, face up in the center of the table. He repeats this action once. Each player must have 8 cards. The 8 cards located, now, in the center of the table form the Ba (River). A deck is made with the remaining cards.
Before both players look at their cards, the opponent may ask the Oya to exchange his game with him. The Oya cannot refuse.
Both players examine their cards.
- If a player has 4 cards of the same month Teshi or 4 pairs of cards Kuttsuki (1 pair is two cards of the same month), he automatically wins the round and 6 points, without playing it. The player becomes the Oya and redistributes the cards.
- If 4 cards of the same month Teshi or 4 pairs of cards Kuttsuki are in Ba, the round is canceled. The Oya redistributes the cards.
The Oya starts again the round. For subsequent rounds, the winner becomes the Oya.
Development
The players must assemble combinations of cards, called Yaku, faster than their opponent. The players gain points for each combination they have assembled (see Player Aid card and description).
Each player makes, in turn, the following two actions:
1 - Capture a card from the Ba:
The player selects one card from his hand to assemble in pair, with a card from the Ba corresponding to the same month. He puts his card over the card in the Ba, takes both cards and then places the 2 cards face up in front of him, sorting them for a considered Yaku combination. If there is no match between the Ba and his hand, the player must select one of his cards and lay it in the Ba, face up.
At any time, each player must be aware of the Yaku in preparation by his opponent, to adapt its own game strategy.
2 - Draw a card:
In any case, after completing the first action, the player draws one card from the deck. If this card can be paired with one card in the Ba, he captures the pair of cards and places them face up in front of him (same as above). If this card does not match with any card in the Ba, then the player lays it in the Ba and the other player takes its turn.
In two cases:
- When 2 cards are from the same month in the Ba, the player chooses the most advantageous card to capture to try to complete a Yaku combination.
- When 3 cards are of the same month in the Ba, and a player has or draws the fourth card, he can capture the 4 cards at once (here the rule of Hiki applies, the rule of the month). The player with a Hiki is not required to declare it, unless his opponent tries to capture one of the cards with the Gaji (see use of Gaji).
Combinations Yaku (Bonus)
Each card has one or more tabs of different colours (each with a symbol) to help each player to compose his Yaku. Each Yaku has a specific number of points and card to be valid. Some Yaku also give extra points if they have additional cards.
The Gaji Card
This card is in the month of November.
- If the Gaji is in the Ba: a player can capture with a card of the same month.
- If the Gaji is in a player's hand: the card can be used as a wildcard to capture any card in the Ba. In this case, keep the Gaji paired with the captured card, because all the cards (from the same month of the captured card) remaining in the Ba at the end of the round will be awarded to the holder of this card. The Gaji cannot be used as a wildcard if a card of November has already been played by the other player.
End of Round
The round can end when a player makes a Yaku (bonus). He then decides to continue the round by announcing Koi Koi or stop it announcing Game.
If the player decides to continue the round and he makes a second Yaku, the base score will be doubled. If he raises a second time and makes a third Yaku, the final score will be tripled, and so on. However, if his opponent makes a Yaku before him, the score of the first player is canceled and the points of the second player are doubled.
When a player gains 7 or more points with one or more Yaku, the score is doubled. Only the player who stops the round gains points.
If players have no more cards to play and no Yaku has been done since the last raise, the round ends and there is a draw. No points are scored (made Yaku are lost), the Oya is the same player. To record points, it is mandatory to finish the round on a Yaku.
When a player declares the round finished after making his Yaku, points are counted. All Yaku combinations are added. The winner becomes the Oya, which redistributes the cards. A new round begins.
Endgame
When all rounds are completed, the final winner is the one who recorded the highest number of points.
Optional Rules
The Triad
If a player makes the Yaku 3 blue Tanzaku and 3 red Tanzaku, he gains 3 extra points.
Yaku (Player Aid Card)
Each entry below lists: the Yaku name, the number of cards required (required / out of card-type total in the deck), the base points earned, and how additional cards affect the score.
Kasu
10 (out of 24) Kasu (plain/chaff) cards — 1 point.
+1 point per additional card.
Tane
5 (out of 9) Tane (animal) cards — 1 point.
+1 point per additional "animal" card.
Tan
5 (out of 10) Tan (ribbon) cards — 1 point.
+1 point per additional card.
Aotan
All 3 (out of 3) blue ribbon cards — 5 points.
+1 point per additional ribbon card.
Akatan
All 3 (out of 3) poem ribbon (red) cards — 5 points.
+1 point per additional ribbon card.
Inoshikachou
All 3 (out of 3) cards: Boar, Deer, Butterflies — 5 points.
+1 point per additional "animal" card.
Tsukimi
Both (2 out of 2) cards: Moon card and Saké card (Viewing the Moon) — 5 points.
Hanami
Both (2 out of 2) cards: Moon card and Saké card (Viewing the Cherry Blossoms) — 5 points.
Sankou
3 (out of 5) cards among: Crane, Curtain, Moon, Phoenix, Man — 5 points.
Ame-Shikou
4 (out of 5) cards: 3 "Bright" cards WITH the "Man" card — 7 points.
Shikou
4 (out of 5) cards: Crane, Curtain, Moon, Phoenix — 4 "Bright" cards WITHOUT the "Man" card — 8 points.
Gokou
All 5 (out of 5) cards: Crane, Curtain, Moon, Phoenix, and Man — 10 points.
Card List
The Hanafuda deck used for Koi-Koi has 48 cards: 4 cards for each of the 12 months of the year. Each month's set follows the traditional Hanafuda flower/plant assignment shown in the rulebook's card reference pages:
| Month | Flower/Plant |
|---|---|
| January | Pine |
| February | Plum Blossom |
| March | Cherry Blossom |
| April | Wisteria |
| May | Iris |
| June | Peony |
| July | Bush Clover |
| August | Susuki Grass (Full Moon) |
| September | Chrysanthemum |
| October | Maple |
| November | Willow (Gaji/Lightning) |
| December | Paulownia |
Components
Jokers
If you lose or damage 1 or 2 cards, this game contains 2 Jokers to replace them. They are not used in the rules of Koï Koï.