Tichu

Tichu is an exhilarating partnership climbing card game that takes inspiration from the beloved mechanics of Zheng Fen. This game is a perfect blend of strategy, teamwork, and a sprinkle of luck, all while players race to shed their cards and score points!

Utilizing a standard 52-card deck, Tichu is enhanced with four special cards: the Dog, Phoenix, Dragon, and Mah Jong (1). Understanding how to play is easy and adds layers of intrigue:

On your turn, you can either outplay the current top card combination—whether it’s a single card, a pair, a sequence of pairs, or a full house—or simply pass. If all players pass in turn back to the player who played the highest card, they win the trick, clear the cards, and lead the next round. The type of card that’s led dictates what can be played in that trick. For example, leading with a single card means only single cards can follow, while initiating with a straight of seven cards allows for only straights of seven.

At the end of each round, the last player to play clears their hand by giving all won cards to the first player who emptied their hand. Any leftover cards in the final player's hand are handed to the opposing team. Points are awarded cleverly: fives are worth 5 points, and both tens and kings are worth 10 points each. Each hand starts with a base value of 100 points before bonuses come into play.

Players can call “Tichu” at the start of a round—before any cards are played—to show their confidence in emptying their hand first. If successful, their team collects 100 points; if they fail, they incur a 100-point penalty! The cards are dealt in suspenseful groups of eight and six, raising the stakes every round.

Additionally, a player can call “Grand Tichu” after examining just their first eight cards for a chance at a ±200 point bonus. If both players on a team manage to finish their hands before their opponents, they enjoy a hefty 200-point bonus, with Tichu and Grand Tichu bonuses and penalties still applicable.

Prepare for thrilling rounds filled with strategic depth and chance! The first team to reach a score of 1,000 points emerges victorious! Dive into the excitement of Tichu today!