GoStop Rules — Complete Guide

Go-Stop is Korea's classic flower-card game, played with 48 hwatu cards across 12 months by two players. Each holds 7 cards with 6 face-up on the table; on your turn you capture matching months from the table and flip from the draw pile, building scoring sets (gwang, pi, geoddeok, dan). Whenever your total improves to 3 or more, you call "Go" to keep playing and double the stakes, or "Stop" to bank your points and win the round.

Play now — it's free

Cards and players

Go-Stop uses the Korean flower deck (hwatu): 48 cards, 4 per month for all 12 months, from January (pine) to December (cedar). Matching is always by month.

Two players face each other. Each is dealt 7 cards, 6 cards are laid face-up on the table, and the remaining 28 form the draw pile.

The four card categories

Every card belongs to exactly one category, which decides its value:

CategoryCountWhat it isPoints
Gwang (bright)5The game's five bright cards (sun, moon, and more)3 cards = 3 pts, 4 = 4 pts, 5 = 15 pts
Dan (ribbons)10Cards bearing a written ribbonEach complete 3-ribbon set = 3 pts
Geoddeok (animals)9Cards with animal, bird or human figures5 or more = 1 + (count − 5)
Pi (plain)24Unadorned cards10 or more = 1 + (count − 10)

Note: the month-11 ribbon belongs to no ribbon set, so it never scores dan points.

How a turn works

On your turn, play one card from your hand: if a card of the same month lies on the table you capture both (if two lie there you choose one); with no match your card stays on the table.

You then flip the top card of the draw pile: if it matches a table card you capture both; otherwise it joins the table.

Turns alternate until the hands run out (7 cards each) or the draw pile is exhausted.

Scoring sets

Your score comes from the cards you have captured:

SetRequirementPoints
Gwang3 bright cards+3
Gwang4 bright cards+4
All five gwangall five bright cards+15
Pi10 or more plain cards1 + (count − 10)
Geoddeok5 or more animal cards1 + (count − 5)
Hongdan (red ribbons)ribbons of months 1, 2 and 3 together+3
Cheongdan (blue ribbons)ribbons of months 6, 9 and 10 together+3
Chodan (plain ribbons)ribbons of months 4, 5 and 7 together+3
Godorianimal cards of months 4, 9 and 10 together+5

All qualifying sets add up, and you only face a decision once your total reaches 3 or more and beats your previous best in the round.

Go or Stop: the doubling decision

Whenever your total rises above your previous best (minimum 3 points), you choose between:

CallMeaningEffect
Gokeep playing for a higher scoreevery Go call — by either player — doubles the final round score (×2 per call)
Stopend the round immediatelyyou win the round and bank your points multiplied by the current multiplier

The decision is time-boxed: 15 seconds to call Go or Stop, 25 seconds per move — otherwise the server plays for you automatically.

Round end and winning

If the hands run out with nobody calling Stop, the raw totals are compared as they stand (no Go doubling): the higher score wins and an exact tie is a draw.

Rounds follow one another on the same table, with the round number always on screen.

The site offers free tables plus chip tables at three stakes — 100, 1,000 and 10,000 chips — and every round earns XP: win +50, draw +20, loss +10, with levels climbing to an exclusive title.

Quick tips for beginners

Don't Stop at the first 3 points: each Go call doubles your payout, but hands your opponent a chance to overtake you.

Watch the table months: a card matching two table cards captures two cards at once.

Collect ribbons of one group (1–3, 6–10 or 4–7) instead of scattering them — a complete set adds 3 points.

The animal cards of months 4, 9 and 10 together (godori) are worth 5 points in one go.

Count the remaining bright cards: moving from 3 gwang to 4 only lifts you from 3 to 4 points, but the fifth jumps you to 15.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards are used in Go-Stop?

48 flower cards (hwatu): 12 months with 4 cards each, and matching is always by month.

How many players play GoStop?

Two players face each other one-on-one — this is the mode implemented on this site.

What does "Go" mean in Go-Stop?

It keeps the round going instead of ending it. Every Go call — by you or your opponent — doubles the final round score (×2 per call).

What does "Stop" mean?

It ends the round immediately: you win it and bank your points multiplied by the current multiplier.

When do I get the Go or Stop choice?

When your total reaches 3 or more points and beats your previous best in the same round.

What is Godori?

Holding the animal cards of months 4, 9 and 10 together — worth 5 points at once.

How many points are the bright (gwang) cards worth?

Three bright cards = 3 points, four = 4 points, all five = 15 points. One or two score nothing.

What happens if nobody calls Stop?

The round runs until the hands run out, then the higher raw score wins with no doubling — an exact tie is a draw.

Can I play GoStop online for free?

Yes — you can play GoStop online free at gostop.yeeqia.com directly in your browser, no download or sign-up required.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes, the site is mobile-first and runs in any modern Android or iPhone browser, with full Arabic support.