• Casual Games

How to Play the Fan Tan Game Online

Fan Tan is an old-school card game that’s been around for ages. It’s easy to learn, but has just enough strategy to keep things interesting. If you like games like Crazy Eights or Rummy, Fan Tan should be right up your alley.

While the game has been played in physical card rooms for years, you can now find it online, too. Whether you want to play against real dealers or just practice on an app, you’ve got options. Let’s go over the rules and how you can start playing today.

What is Fan Tan?

Fan Tan has been around for centuries. It originally started as a gambling game in China, played with small objects like buttons or beans. But at some point, it evolved into a card game that’s now popular worldwide.

The game revolves around playing cards in a sequence, and if you can’t make a move, you have to pass. The first player to empty their hand wins!

How to Play Fan Tan

Fan Tan is played with a standard 52-card deck. It works best with 3 to 6 players, though you can technically play with more. The dealer shuffles and deals out all the cards one at a time until the entire deck is distributed. Because there are 52 cards and the number of players may not divide evenly, some players might end up with one more card than others. That’s completely normal and doesn’t affect the game.

Before the game starts, each player antes up by placing one chip into the pot. In some versions, additional chips are added during play as penalties, making it a low-stakes but still competitive game.

Rules for the Fan Tan Card Game

The goal in Fan Tan is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards. The game is built around the lucky number seven, which plays a key role in how cards are played. If you don’t have a legal move on your turn, you have to pass, and in some versions, you may need to add to the pot. The game continues until one player plays their last card.

Here’s a more detailed look at how to play:

• The player who is dealt the 7 of Diamonds always goes first and turns continue clockwise.
• Players can only play a card if it is directly next in sequence (e.g., if a ♦7 is on the table, only a ♦6 or ♦8 can be played).
• If a player cannot play a legal card, they must pass their turn. Passing in Fan Tan sometimes incurs a penalty, which means you add more chips to the pot.
• The first player to discard their entire hand wins. 

Fan Tan Strategy

Despite being a simple game revolving around creating sequences of matching suites, there is a bit of a strategy to Fan Tan. 

Hold Key Cards: Control the rate of play by holding onto key cards. For example, if you have an important 7 or a needed card (like a 6 or 8), delaying it might block others. This might also force opponents to pass, adding to the pot. 

Change Strategy Based on Number of Players: If you’re playing with 3-4 players, holding cards to block opponents can be more effective. But, in 5-6 player games, suits will open up faster, so it’s often better to be as quick as possible. 

Understand Pacing: In the early game, you should try to get rid of your middle-range cards (like 6s, 8s, and 9s). These are often the most contested spots. If you hold onto an Ace or King until later, you might find yourself unable to play if no one builds up or down in that suit.

Can you Play Fan Tan Online?

Yes! There are a few ways to play Fan Tan online.

Fan Tan is Easy!

Fan Tan is one of those card games that’s easy to pick up but has enough strategy to keep things interesting. If you’ve played games like Crazy Eights, Rummy, or even Solitaire, you’ll probably enjoy this one, too.

Now that you can play online, there’s no reason not to give it a shot. Whether you want the excitement of a live dealer game or just a quick round on a mobile app, the options are there. It’s the perfect balance—straightforward enough to relax with, but strategic enough to stay interesting. 

So if you’re in the mood for a classic card game that doesn’t take hours to learn, Fan Tan is definitely worth a try.