Hanafuda Koi-Koi
Also known as: Koi-Koi / Koi Koi / HanafudaHanafuda Koi-Koi is a traditional Japanese card game for two players that takes about 15 minutes. Match cards by month and collect sets to score. Free. In-browser. No account.
Joining is free, and no account is needed.Learn how to play (3 min)
Hanafuda Koi-Koi in 30 seconds
- Set upShuffle the 48 cards, lay 8 on the table and deal 8 to each player.
- Take turnsPlay a card to capture a matching month, then flip one from the deck and do the same.
- Make a combinationBrights, animals, ribbons and plains form combinations that score points.
- Stop or Koi-KoiWhen you score, stop the round and bank the points, or call Koi-Koi and keep going.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players |
| Play time | About 15 min |
| Type | Hanafuda |
| Ranked play | Yes |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-09-13 |
How to play Hanafuda Koi-Koi online
- Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
- Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
- Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 2 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup
- Two players. You need a hanafuda deck of 48 cards (twelve months of four).
- Lay eight cards face up on the table and deal eight to each player. The remaining 24 form the deck.
- Choose a first dealer. After that, whoever scored in the previous round deals.
How to play
- On your turn, play one card from your hand. If a card of the same month is on the table, take both. If not, your card stays on the table.
- Then flip the top card of the deck and do the same with it.
- If two cards of that month are on the table, you choose which one to take. If three are there, the fourth card takes all four.
- Lay your captures in front of you, sorted into brights, animals, ribbons and plains.
- As soon as you make a combination, you choose: stop the round and take the points, or call Koi-Koi.
- Koi-Koi keeps the round going. If the other player scores after that and stops, their points are doubled.
- If both hands run out with no combination, the round scores nothing and the same player deals again.
Winning
- Combinations score: Five Brights 10, Four Brights 8, Rainy Four Brights 7, Three Brights 5, Flower Viewing 5, Moon Viewing 5, Boar-Deer-Butterfly 5, Red Poem Ribbons 5, Blue Ribbons 5.
- Five animals score 1, five ribbons score 1 and ten plains score 1 — each extra card adds one more point.
- Only the highest of the Bright combinations counts.
- A round worth seven points or more is doubled.
- After the agreed number of rounds (twelve by default), the higher total wins.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rounds | How many rounds decide the overall winner. | 12 rounds | Yes |
| Flower and Moon Viewing | Flower Viewing and Moon Viewing count as combinations. | On | Yes |
| Double from seven | A round worth seven points or more is doubled. | On | Yes |
| Koi-Koi doubles | If the other player scores after your Koi-Koi, their points are doubled. | On | Yes |
| Sake cup counts as a plain | The ninth-month animal card also counts towards the plains. | On | Yes |
| Four of a month / four pairs | Combinations decided by the dealt hand. They score six and end the round. | On | Yes |
FAQ
How many players?
Two. Send the invite link and the other player just opens it in a browser.
How many rounds does a game last?
Twelve by default. A party can choose 3, 6 or 12.
Do I need a hanafuda deck?
No. The cards are drawn on screen.
Can I practise alone?
Yes. Press Play vs CPU to play against the computer.
Can the other player see my hand?
No. They only see how many cards you hold; the cards themselves are only ever sent to your own screen, and the deck is sent to nobody.
Can I play at school or work (unblocked)?
Yes. Hanafuda Koi-Koi runs entirely in your browser, with nothing to download or install, so it works on most school and work networks that block app stores or game downloads. If your network blocks the whole site, ask an administrator to allow boardgamejoin.com.
Is there a 2 player mode?
Yes — Hanafuda Koi-Koi is played by exactly 2 people.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. Press “Play vs CPU” on the Hanafuda Koi-Koi page to start right away against a computer opponent — no waiting for other players.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.
Can two people play?
Yes. This game supports 2 or more players.
Rights holder and physical edition
This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.
Card art: Louie Mantia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Related games
Same type (Hanafuda)
This is currently the only Hanafuda game. More will appear here as they are added.
Same player count
Last updated 2026-09-13 · Run by Qdan, Inc.