Dhumbal
Classic Nepalese hand-reduction game. Throw sets and runs to minimize your hand value, and call Dhumbal when your points drop to 10 or less.
How to play
2 to 5 players are dealt 5 cards each from a standard 52-card deck.
Card point values: Ace is 1, numbers 2–10 count at face value, Jack is 11, Queen is 12, and King is 13.
On your turn, you may declare Dhumbal if your hand totals 10 points or less.
Otherwise, you must throw one or more valid cards: a single card, a set of equal rank (2+ cards), or a suited sequence (3+ consecutive cards).
After throwing, pick 1 card to restore your hand, either from the face-down stock pile or from the floor choice cards just thrown by the previous player.
When Dhumbal is called, all hands are revealed. If the caller has the strictly lowest hand, they score 0 points while opponents score their hand values.
If any opponent has an equal or lower total than the caller, the caller is caught (Jhyap khane) and receives 25 penalty points plus their hand total, while the catcher scores 0.
The game ends when any player reaches or exceeds the target score (default 100). The player with the lowest score wins!
About Dhumbal
Dhumbal (also widely known as Jhyap) is an exhilarating and strategic hand-reduction card game originating from Nepal, played by two to five players using a standard 52-card deck. The objective is to minimize the cumulative point values of cards held in hand by shedding sets of equal rank and suited sequences of three or more cards. Card values count Aces as 1, numbers 2 to 10 at face value, Jacks 11, Queens 12, and Kings 13. When a player believes their hand totals 10 points or less, they can boldly declare Dhumbal to end the round. If the caller holds the strictly lowest total, they score zero points while opponents take their hand points. However, if any opponent matches or beats the caller's total, the caller is caught and penalized 25 points plus their hand score, making timing and bluffing crucial.
Dhumbal at a glance
| Players | 2–5 players |
|---|---|
| Type | Table game: play online with friends, or with bots in any seat |
| Family | Shedding |
| Bot levels | Easy, medium and hard |
| Options | Target Score: 100 or 50 or 150; Calling Threshold: 10 or 5 |
| Turn timer (online) | 30 seconds |
| Cost | Free, no download |
Tips for Dhumbal
- Throw pairs, triplets, and suited runs whenever possible: shedding multiple cards shrinks your hand size and drops your point total far quicker than single discards.
- Keep a close watch on opponents' hand sizes: an opponent holding only one or two cards is very likely sitting on a low score and could catch your Dhumbal call.
- Pick low cards (Aces, 2s, and 3s) from the choice cards on the floor when available, as they reliably drive your total down toward the calling threshold.
Questions about Dhumbal
How many people can play Dhumbal?
Dhumbal is played by between 2 and 5 players. Real players and bots can share a table, so a game can always start even if you do not have enough people.
Can I play Dhumbal against the computer?
Yes. Pick easy, medium or hard bots and start straight away. Bots only use what a player in their seat could see, so they cannot peek at your cards.
Can I play Dhumbal online with friends?
Yes. Create a private room and share its code, or join a quick match. If someone drops out mid-game, a bot takes over their seat.
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