Tichu

A multi-genre shedding game that combines elements of Bridge, Daihinmin, and Poker.

Tichu is a partnership card game where teams of two sit opposite each other. Partners work together to score points and gain the lead across multiple hands, aiming to be the first team to reach a predetermined points total set before the game begins.

The Tichu deck includes 56 cards across four suits: Jade, Swords, Pagodas, and Stars. Each suit contains 13 cards ranked from 2 through 10, followed by Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. Additionally, there are four special cards: the Dragon, Phoenix, Hound, and Mah Jong.

Each player receives eight cards initially and may declare "Grand Tichu"—a 200-point bet that the caller will be first to play all their cards. After players decide on Grand Tichu, six more cards are dealt, after which Grand Tichu can no longer be declared. At any time before playing their first card, a player may call "Tichu"—a 100-point bet that they (not their partner) will go out first. The differences between Grand Tichu and Tichu lie in their timing, the number of cards seen when declaring, and the points at stake.

Once all 56 cards are dealt (14 per player), the exchanging phase starts. Each player must pass one card face down to every other player—three cards in total (one to each opponent and one to their partner)—and receives three cards in return.

After the exchange, the player holding the Mah Jong leads the first trick. They may play any valid combination, and other players can either pass or play a higher combination of the same type (except for Bombs, discussed later). A single card is beaten only by a higher single card; a sequence of two pairs only by a higher sequence of two pairs; a seven-card sequence only by a higher seven-card sequence; a full house only by a higher full house (based on the trio's rank). When all others pass, the player who played the highest combination collects the trick and leads the next one. If that player has no cards left, they have "gone out," and the lead passes to the player on their right (continuing rightward if necessary). A round ends once both teammates have no cards left—meaning at least two, and possibly three, players have gone out. If one player remains with cards, they incur a penalty and surrender their hand to the opponent’s won tricks, while their own tricks go to the first player who went out.

The game concludes when a team reaches or surpasses the predetermined total points set at the start.

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