There are a lot of Chuo Dai Di variations out there which makes the game more exciting.

In some Asian countries, Chuo Dai Di is known as Da Lao Er, Bu Bu Gao Sheng or Choi Dai Dee.

In the game Dao Lao Er or Bu Bu Gao Sheng there are no flushes, and a full house cannot be used to beat a straight. Four of a kind or a straight flush can be played out of turn to beat any combination. When someone wins the others score 1 per card if they have 10 or fewer cards, or 2 per card if they have 11 or more.

Direction of play

Traditionally, Chuo Dai Di is played counter-clockwise, meaning the cards are dealt to the left. But some play the game clockwise, particularly in the US, where virtually all card games are played in that direction.

In some instaces, people play alternate counter-clockwise and clockwise hands. This removes the advantage or disadvantage of playing before or after a certain opponent.

Playing without triples and flushes

Some play Chuo Dai Di without triples and flushes. In this variation, only single cards, pairs and 5-card combinations like straight, full house, four of a kind, and straight flush can be played.

Playing quads without an odd card

Some allow four of a kind can be played by itself, without a fifth card. In this case fours form a separate type of combination, which can only beat lower fours and be beaten by higher fours.

Honor hands beat all combinations

An honor hand is a four of a kind plus a card or a straight flush. Some allow an honor hand to be played not only to beat a lower 5-card hand, but also to beat singles pairs or triples. This variation is common in central Taiwan.

Two extra cards with a straight flush

In another variation, a straight flush is played with any two extra cards, making a seven card combination. A four of a kind plus a card or a straight flush plus two cards can be played to beat any single card or other combination. A four of a kind plus a card can only be beaten by a higher four plus a card or a straight flush plus two, and a straight flush plus two is only beatemn by a higher straight flush plus two.

Dragon wins

In Hong Kong, some play that a player who is dealt a dragon, which is one card of each rank: A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K, immediately wins the game. Each of the other players scores as though they lost without playing any cards (39 penalty points).

No Play after a Pass

In Indonesia, a player who has passed is not allowed to play cards in subsequent turns of the same trick. Having passed, you cannot play again until a card or combination is passed by all players and the play is restarted. If you play a card or combination and no one else beats it, you are allowed to beat your own cards. In this case, no one will be allowed to beat your second play, since they have all passed your first play. Example: you hold 3-3-8-8-10-10. You lead your 3-3 and the second player, holding 2-2 and no other pairs, decides not to waste these high cards. The other two players also pass. Now you can play your 8-8, the player with 2-2 is not allowed to play, having passed, and so you win with your 10-10.