Oicho-Kabu
Also known as: Oichokabu / Kabu
Oicho-Kabu is a 10-minute hanafuda card game for 2–6 players. A dealer faces the rest of the table, and hands closest to 9 in the last digit win. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Play with friendsJust send the invite link. No sign-up for them either
Find an opponent onlineComing soon (October)
Oicho-Kabu in 30 seconds
- Set upOne dealer and the rest as players. The dealer lays four hanafuda cards face up; players put points on any of them.
- Third cardEach card gets a second card. 3 or less must draw a third, 7 or more cannot (except a pair of 9s), 4 to 6 is your call.
- CompareThe dealer reveals and decides the same way. Closest to 9 (Kabu) in the last digit takes the points.
- WinArashi pays 3x. Once the dealer has gone around the table, or anyone reaches zero points, the highest total wins.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2–6 players |
| Play time | About 10 min |
| Type | Hanafuda |
| Ranked play | No |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-09-26 |
How to play Oicho-Kabu online with friends
- 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 2–6 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup, play, winning, and house rules
Setup
- Two to six players. Playing alone, you face the computer.
- It uses the 40 hanafuda cards for months 1 to 10 (November and December are removed). Each card is worth its month, shown as a number in the card's top-left corner.
- Everyone starts with 1,000 points, and 10, 20, 50 or 100 points can be put on each card. By default the first dealer is whoever turns up a card closest to 9.
How to play
- The dealer lays four cards face up (Kata, Niban, Sanban and Hiki, from the dealer's right; on screen they run left to right). The dealer's own card stays face down.
- Players put points on any of the four cards. You can use several cards, and several players can share a card (your total cannot exceed your points). When everyone presses Ready, the hand starts.
- Each card gets a face-down second card. Only the players who put points on that card can see it (a card with no points gets its second card face up).
- Card by card, the player with the most points on it (on a tie, the one seated closest after the dealer) decides whether to draw a third card. If the last digit of the two cards is 3 or less, a third card must be drawn; 7 or more cannot draw (except a pair of 9s). 4 to 6 is your call. There is no fourth card.
- Last, the dealer reveals their card, adds a second card and decides on a third by the same rule.
Winning
- Each card is compared with the dealer's hand: whichever last digit is closer to 9 (Kabu) wins. A winning player takes their points in from the dealer; a losing player gives them to the dealer. Equal values are a draw (or the dealer's, by setting).
- Three of a kind (Arashi) pays 3x (three 3s, Arashi-Kabu, pays 5x). The dealer's first two cards 9 and 1 (Kuppin) and a player's first two cards 4 and 1 (Shippin) beat any value (a third card cancels them).
- Hands rank Arashi (three of a kind; between two Arashi the higher last digit wins) > Kuppin (dealer) > Shippin (player) > value (last digit). A player's Arashi beats the dealer's Kuppin, and when the dealer's Kuppin and a player's Shippin appear together, Kuppin wins for the dealer.
- If the dealer's last digit is 5 or less (Goke; Kuppin and Arashi do not count), or the same dealer has dealt three hands, the dealer role passes to the next seat. Once the dealer has gone around the table once by default (two or three times by setting), the highest total wins. The game also ends early if anyone's points reach zero.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equal valuesEqual valuesA hand's value is the last digit of its total (9, Kabu, is best; 0, Buta, is worst). When dealer and player have the same value, Draw means no points change. Dealer wins gives every tie to the dealer, which is a big edge for the dealer. | What happens when the dealer and a player have the same last digit. | Draw | Can be changed |
| ArashiArashiArashi is three cards of the same number, paying 3x (5x for three 3s, Arashi Kabu). With Players only, a dealer who gets three of a kind is compared by value as usual, which tilts the game slightly toward the players. | Whether the dealer can also score Arashi (three of a kind, 3x), or players only. | Dealer and players | Can be changed |
| Kuppin / Shippin orderKuppin / Shippin orderKuppin is a dealer-only hand whose first two cards are 9 and 1; Shippin is a player-only hand whose first two cards are 4 and 1. Each beats any plain value (Kuppin stops there; drawing a third card cancels Shippin). With 9 then 1, 4 then 1 only, the cards must come in that order, so these hands are rarer. | Whether Kuppin (9 and 1) and Shippin (4 and 1) need the cards in that order. | Any order | Can be changed |
| First dealer | How the first dealer is chosen. | Everyone turns a card; closest to 9 deals | Can be changed |
| Passing the dealer rolePassing the dealer roleGoke means a value of 5. With Goke, the dealer role passes when the dealer's value is 5 or less and stays when it is 6 or more (up to three hands in a row). With Every hand, the role moves one seat each hand, so everyone deals equally often. | The dealer role passes when the dealer's last digit is 5 or less (Goke), or after three hands with the same dealer. | Goke (up to three hands) | Can be changed |
| Length | How many times the dealer role goes around the table. | Once | Can be changed |
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FAQ
Is real money involved?
No. No real money is used — points exist only inside the game. They cannot be bought, cashed out or carried over to another game.
How many players?
Two to six. Playing alone, you face the computer.
Which cards are used?
The 40 hanafuda cards for months 1 to 10 (the game was originally played with kabufuda). Hanafuda cards have no printed numbers, so each card's value is shown in its top-left corner.
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.
Related games
Same type (Hanafuda)
Same player count
Last updated 2026-09-26 · Run by Qdan, Inc.