Tichu Rate : 4.3

An innovative multi-genre card game blending elements of Bridge, Daihinmin, and Poker

Tichu is a strategic partnership card game where teams of two players sit opposite each other. Partners collaborate to accumulate points and gain advantage throughout the match. The game consists of multiple hands, with the first team reaching a predetermined target score declared the winner.

Game Components

The Tichu deck contains 56 cards divided across four suits: Jade, Swords, Pagodas, and Stars. Each suit features 13 cards ranking from 2 through Ace (A), plus four special cards: the Dragon, Phoenix, Hound, and Mah Jong.

Gameplay Mechanics

Players initially receive eight cards and may declare "Grand Tichu" - a 200-point wager predicting they'll be first to play all their cards. After this optional declaration, six additional cards are dealt, after which players may declare the standard "Tichu" (100-point wager). The fundamental difference lies in the timing and point values of these declarations.

Card Distribution

Following the full 14-card distribution to each player (totaling 56 cards), the exchange phase commences. Each participant must pass one face-down card to every other player - three outgoing and three incoming cards per player.

Trick-Taking Rules

The Mah Jong holder initiates play by leading any valid combination. Subsequent players must either pass or play a stronger combination of the same type (except for special "Bomb" plays). Single cards beat only higher single cards, while multi-card combinations (sequences, full houses) must be beaten by superior versions of identical structure.

Winning Conditions

A hand concludes when both partners exhaust their cards. The final card-holding player suffers penalties: surrendering their remaining cards to opponents and their won tricks to the first player who went out. The overall match concludes when any team reaches the pre-established target score.

For comprehensive English-language support, visit: Tichu Official Support