Guandan scorekeeping: finishes, level advances and passing A

For a local sports event or card-game session, agree the rules before opening the scoreboard. These worked examples and recording steps help you check the format and enter results consistently.

Guandan usually has four players using two decks, with opposite seats forming teams. A common recreational format advances team levels from 2 to A according to finish order. Competitive events can instead use fixed deals, points or time limits. This guide describes level-play bookkeeping and labels variations rather than presenting one house format as universal.

Record finishes before advancing a team

The first finisher is 头游 (first), followed by second, third and last. A common agreement awards the first finisher’s team three levels if the partner finishes second, two if third, and one if last. Write all four names in order. “Our team won” is not enough to verify the advance later.

Do not confuse the winning and losing pair

A team taking first and second is often described as 双上; the opponents occupy third and last, or 双下. Local speech may use the losing-pair term for the entire result. Announce “A team first and second, B team third and fourth” alongside the nickname, then apply the agreed advance.

From level 5 to level 8

A team playing 5 finishes first and second. A three-level advance moves its next level to 8: 5→6→7→8. A third-place partner would lead to 7, and a last-place partner to 6. Keep each team’s level separately; the other team does not automatically move when A advances.

The level sequence is 2 through 10, then J, Q, K and A. Reaching A and passing A are separate events. Before the final stage, agree how advances into A are handled, which finishes pass A, and how failed attempts are counted. Do not introduce a different finish condition after the last deal.

Agree pass-A and repeated-A conditions

Pass-A agreements differ. Some require first place with a partner who is not last; others require first and second. A “three attempts at A” format may include a fallback level after repeated failure. The site’s options help represent your chosen agreement; their availability does not make one choice the national tournament standard.

1. Fix the teams and seats and label all four players clearly.
2. Agree starting levels, advance sizes, pass-A and any fallback condition.
3. Announce the complete finish order before settling each deal.
4. Keep tribute, anti-tribute and opening-play agreements alongside the level record.
5. When changing operators, hand over both levels, A-attempt counts and the previous finish order.