Tichu Rules

Tichu is an [international card game](/) that has gained popularity in the US. Players exploring world card games often enjoy [Skat](/skat) and [Belote](/belote) as well. For diverse card game rules and community insights, [BoardGameGeek](https://boardgamegeek.com/cardgame) is an excellent resource.

  • Category: International Games Popular in the US
  • Players: 4
  • Player notes: 2 partnerships

Objective

Win as a partnership by being the first team to empty their hands while capturing as many point cards as possible. Tichu is a fast-paced Chinese climbing game where skillful combination play, teamwork, and bold bidding matter more than luck. Players race to shed cards by beating previous combinations, but the real objective is deeper: coordinate with your partner, call Tichu at the right moment, control the flow with special cards, and secure key points from your opponents’ tricks. The team that manages tempo, communication, and risk best will dominate.

Material

Tichu deck: Standard 52 + 4 special cards (Dragon, Phoenix, Dog, Mahjong)

Setup

Players: 4 (partnerships sit across) Deal: 14 cards each

How to Play

Climbing game: Play higher combinations:

  • Singles, Pairs, Triples
  • Straights (5+ cards)
  • Full Houses, Four of a Kind + 2 cards (Bomb)

Special cards:

  • Dragon: Highest single (gives trick to opponent!), worth -25 if kept
  • Phoenix: Wild card (+0.5 above last play), worth -25
  • Dog: Passes lead directly to partner
  • Mahjong (1): Always leads; may demand a rank

Tichu Calls

Tichu (100 pts): Call after receiving initial 8 cards and before playing any card. Must go out first to score.

Grand Tichu (200 pts): Call before seeing all 14 cards (after the first 8). Much riskier.

Scoring

Card points:

  • 5s = 5 points
  • 10s = 10 points
  • Kings = 10 points
  • Dragon = 25 points
  • Phoenix = -25 points

First out: Scores no cards (partner takes all remaining team points) One-Two finish: Partnership earns all 100 points for the round

Strategy

  • Pass cards to partner wisely (strengthen their combos)
  • Support partner’s Tichu calls aggressively
  • Use Dog to give partner the lead at crucial times
  • Dragon controls important tricks—use it to deny opponents points
  • Think long-term: shed weak cards early, save bombs for momentum shifts

Winning

First partnership to 1,000 points wins the game!

Frequently asked questions

What is Tichu?

Tichu is a fast, clever climbing game with deep roots in Asian card traditions. It blends moments of Bridge, hints of Dou Dizhu, and the pace of Zheng Fen. You play in partnerships, and the goal is simple to explain but thrilling to achieve: your team wants to see both players empty their hands before anyone else. The game shines thanks to its special cards, bold betting system, and constant tug-of-war between risk and reward.

What are the special cards in Tichu?

Tichu’s charm comes alive through four unique cards. The Mahjong lets you lead and even request a rank from everyone. The Dog hands the lead straight to your partner without a fight. The Phoenix acts as a wild card that fills gaps in combinations, though it carries a small penalty and cannot beat the Dragon. The Dragon stands alone as the highest single card, but whatever it captures gets handed to an opponent, which makes it powerful and tricky at the same time.

What is calling Tichu?

Calling Tichu is your moment to boldly claim that you will go out first. If you make this call before playing your first card, you bet 100 points on your own skill. If you call Grand Tichu before even seeing your full hand, you push the wager to 200 points. When you succeed, your team earns those points. When you fail, you lose them. These calls are the heartbeat of Tichu and reward players who know when to trust their instincts.

What card combinations can you play?

Tichu lets you play all the familiar shapes and a few unusual ones too. You can lay down singles, pairs, triples, full houses or long straights of five cards or more. The game also includes powerful combo types like consecutive pairs. Whatever you play, you must beat both the rank and the structure of the previous combination, which keeps every round lively and tactical.

How do you score Tichu?

Scoring is a mix of speed and card value. If your team finishes first and second, you sweep 200 points instantly and take all the trick points for the round. Otherwise, you add up the points from your tricks, mainly from 5s, 10s, Kings, the Phoenix and the Dragon. Successful Tichu and Grand Tichu calls add 100 or 200 points to your total, while failed calls subtract the same. The first team to reach 1000 points wins the match.