At first, he only let us watch. But eventually, we got the chance to play, and let me tell you, those Chinese experts really know their stuff. We highly recommend learning this way, if you can find someone who knows the game inside and out like they do. Below, you’ll find the rules and some other nuggets of wisdom for four different versions of “Tichu,” depending on how many players you have.

The Main Goal

When it comes to playing the game, you’ll need a partner by your side. You and your teammate will sit across from the other team, working together to earn points and take the lead. The game consists of multiple rounds, and the ultimate goal is to be the first team to reach a total of 1000 points.

The Setup

Before the game begins, the players must decide on a starting player. This person will shuffle the deck of cards for the first round and pass the deck to the player on their left, who has the option to cut the deck. In the following rounds, the winner of the previous round will shuffle the cards and offer them to be cut.

So here’s how the game goes. First, I put the deck of cards face down in the middle of the table. Unlike other card games, the Chinese have a unique way of dealing – they actually take the cards instead of dealing them.

The dealer starts by picking up the top card from the deck. Then, we all take turns, going in a counter-clockwise direction, and everyone takes one card at a time until the entire deck is used up. By the end, each player will have a hand of 14 cards.

Just like in most card games, we have to keep our cards a secret from each other, even our partners.

After that, we each push 3 cards – one card to each of the other players. We do this by placing the cards face down. Once a player has pushed 3 cards, they can pick up the cards that were pushed to them and add them to their hand of cards.

Now let’s talk about how the game is played:

The player who has the Mah Jong starts the game by playing one of the following combinations of cards face up on the table:

I can teach you how to play a fun card game called Tichu! Don’t worry, it’s not too hard. Let’s start with the different types of card combinations you can play:

1. You can play a single card, like this: [img of single card]

2. You can play a pair of cards that have the same rank, like this: [img of pair]

3. You can play a sequence of pairs that have adjacent values, like this: [img of pairs sequence]

4. You can play a trio of cards that have the same rank, like this: [img of trio]

5. You can play a full house, which is a trio and a pair together, like this: [img of full house]

6. You can play a sequence of cards with a length of at least 5, like this: [img of sequence]

After I play my cards, it’s your turn! You can choose one of these options:

1. You can play a higher single card.

2. You can play a higher pair of cards.

3. You can play a higher sequence of pairs.

4. You can play a higher trio of cards.

5. You can play a higher full house.

6. You can play a higher sequence of cards.

Now it’s the next player’s turn, and the game continues. Remember, the player to your right goes next, just like in Chinese card games.

That’s all there is to it! Have fun playing Tichu and enjoy the game!

Passing or playing a similar combination of higher value can beat a single card. For example, if I play a 5, you can beat it with a 6. The same goes for pairs and sequences. If I play two pairs, you can beat it with two higher pairs. And if I play a sequence of eight cards, you can beat it with a higher sequence of exactly eight cards.

There’s an exception to this rule, though. Bombs. Bombs are special cards that can beat any other combination. They’re like supercards that can elevate your chances of winning.

When we’re playing the game, we take turns in a clockwise direction. After three players pass in a row, the player who played the highest combination takes all the cards in that round and leads the next combination. If the player has no more cards, they’re out of the game and the next player to their right takes the lead.

Now, let’s talk about the special cards. One of them is called “Mah Jong.”

The Mah Jong is a truly fascinating card, known for its mixed reputation and intriguing properties. Let me break it down for you:

First of all, if you own the Mah Jong, you have the honor of starting the hand. But here’s the thing—you don’t have to lead with it. You have the power to choose when to play it strategically.

Now, let’s talk about its numerical value. The Mah Jong is a 1, which makes it the lowest card in the entire deck. However, its lowly rank doesn’t mean it’s without potential. You can include it in a sequence, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on.

But here’s what’s really cool about the Mah Jong: when you decide to play it, you can make a wish for a specific rank. For example, you can wish for an 8 or an Ace. The catch is, you can’t wish for a special card. Once you’ve made your wish, it’s up to the next player who has a card of the desired rank to fulfill it. And they have to do it legally, of course. They can play the card in a bomb or, if they’re lucky, even in a sequence. But if a player doesn’t have a card of the desired rank or can’t play it, they have two options: either play any legal card or pass their turn.

Now, here’s the interesting part—the wish stays in effect until someone actually fulfills it. That means you could have the power to influence the game for quite some time.

So there you have it—the ins and outs of the Mah Jong. And if you find this intriguing, you’re in for a treat. All of the other players will be trying to understand and master this double-edged sword of a card. Good luck!

The loyal Hound card is unique because it doesn’t have any special abilities when it comes to trick-taking. Instead, it can only be played by being led as a single card. However, it does have an interesting feature – when the Hound is played, it transfers the right to lead to the player’s partner. This means that if your partner still needs to make a move, they will be the next one to play. On the other hand, if your partner has already finished playing their cards and is out for the round, then the lead will pass to the player sitting to their right. It’s a simple yet strategic card that can change the course of the game.

The Phoenix card in Tichu is a fascinating and powerful card, but it comes with a twist – it actually deducts 25 points! Let me tell you about how this card can be played:

– First, the Phoenix can be used as a joker. This means it can stand in for any regular card in a combination. However, it’s important to note that it cannot be used to create a bomb.

– Second, the Phoenix can be played as a single card. In this case, its value is half a rank higher than the card that comes after it. For example, if the highest card played so far is an eight, the Phoenix will count as 8.5. Keep in mind that the Phoenix can be beaten by a nine or higher, except for the Dragon. It can even beat an ace! When you lead with the Phoenix, it counts as 1.5.

Now, let’s move on to another special card called the Dragon.

When it comes to Tichu, the Dragon card takes the crown as the highest card. It’s like the king of the deck, worth a whopping 25 points.

Let me tell you about the Dragon. It’s so mighty that it outshines even the ace or the ace and a half (which is the Phoenix over an ace). The Dragon can only be defeated by one thing: a bomb. But here’s the twist – the Dragon can’t be part of a sequence. It stands alone, ruling the skies.

Now, here’s something interesting. If you’re lucky enough to have the Dragon in your hand and you win a trick, you have the power to give that trick to anyone you choose. The trick comes complete with the Dragon’s 25 points, so use this power wisely.

But what exactly is a bomb?

Well, a bomb is either a sequence of at least five consecutive cards in the same suit or all four cards of the same rank. It’s like an explosion of power in the game. Just look at these examples:

• Five, six, seven, eight, nine of hearts – that’s a bomb!
  #image.jpg
• Four kings – that’s another bomb right there!
  #image.jpg

When it comes to playing the game, bombs are the ultimate power move. They can be played at any time, even out of turn, and have the ability to beat anything – a single card or a combination. The best part? A bomb can even be played on another bomb to assert dominance.

The rank of a bomb is determined by two factors: the number of cards it contains and the rank of those cards. This means that a bomb with more cards and higher-ranked cards will always beat a bomb with fewer cards or lower-ranked cards. It’s a simple rule, but it adds an exciting element to the game.

End of a round

When only one player has cards left in their hand, the round comes to an end. This player, known as the “tailender,” must then hand over their remaining cards to their opponents, as well as any tricks they have won, to the winner of the round – the player who has successfully gotten rid of all their cards first. Once this is done, it’s time to score the round.

Scoring a round

Scoring a round is straightforward. Each player turns over their tricks and tallies up their scores. The winner of the round receives points for the tricks they have won, while the tailender receives points for the cards they still had in their hand. It’s a fair way to reward skill and strategy, while also taking into account the unlucky players who got stuck with cards at the end.

I’ve got a fun little game to share with you today – Tichu! It’s a card game played with a standard deck, but with a twist. Let me break it down for you.

The goal of Tichu is to be the first team to reach 100 points. Now, here’s how you can score points:

• +10 points for every ten card
• +5 points for every five card
• +10 points for every king card
• +25 points for the Dragon card
• -25 points for the Phoenix card

That adds up to a total of 100 points for the whole hand. These points are then divided between the two teams. Exciting, right?

So, grab a deck of cards and gather your friends for a game of Tichu. It’s a great way to have some fun and test your strategic skills. Get ready for a thrilling battle!

If the two players on one team manage to be the first and second to finish their cards, they achieve a double victory, and the round ends immediately. The counting is skipped, and their team scores 200 points. This is a quick and exciting way to win the game.

But there’s a way to score even more points, and it comes with a risk. It’s called a Tichu.

Before playing their first card in a hand, each player has the option to call “small Tichu”. If they win the round by going out first, their team earns an additional 100 points. However, if they don’t go out first, their team loses 100 points.

Calling Tichu is a personal decision. Players can’t discuss it or plan it beforehand. Once called, the partner can play cards to help, but they can’t strategize together.

It adds an element of uncertainty and excitement to the game. Do you have the courage to call Tichu and take the risk?

When playing Tichu, the Tichant, which is me, has to go out first. If my partner goes out first, we lose 100 points! It’s important to note that the 100 points for Tichu are scored separately and on top of the normal scoring for the hand. And you know what? I can call “Tichu” even before playing my first card. This can be a strategic move, a way of asking my partner to play their best card.

Now let’s talk about Grand Tichu

Oh boy, if there’s a small Tichu, there must be a grand Tichu as well. You see, a player can be really brave or desperate and call “Grand Tichu” before they even pick their ninth card at the start of the game. If this player happens to go out first in the hand, their team gets a whopping 200 extra points! But, if they fail to do so, they lose 200 points, just like in the rules for the smaller version.

Now what happens at the end of the game?

In the game, the objective is for a team to reach or exceed a total score of 1000 points by the end of a round in order to win. However, if both teams have over 1000 points, the team with the highest score is declared the winner.

In the event of a tie, the game continues until one team reaches 1000 or more points at the end of a round, thus breaking the tie.

Now, let’s talk about some tactical tips to improve your gameplay:

1. First, focus on getting rid of your low-value cards, such as singletons and pairs. It’s also wise to hold back on using your aces, Dragons, and Bombs early on in the game. If a player only has a single low-value card left after playing a powerful combination, it means they either fell victim to an unexpected Bomb or haven’t quite grasped the game yet.

2. Pay attention to the score. If the current score is, for example, 630 to 970, it’s a perfect opportunity to call for a grand tichu. This strategic move can greatly increase your chances of winning the round.

By following these tips, you can enhance your gameplay and increase your chances of achieving victory in the game. Good luck!

Let me share some tips with you for playing the Mah Jong game with your partner. When it comes to supporting your partner’s “tichu,” it’s important to do so unreservedly. Avoid demanding a card that may ruin your partner’s bomb and refrain from taking their trick. While it may be legal, it can be risky unless there are very low ranks involved.

In addition, you can try to thwart your opponent’s “tichu” when the tichant is the player to their left. Make them take their tricks in a costly manner. This strategic move can put them at a disadvantage.

These pointers will surely elevate your Mah Jong game and help you regenerate a strong response. Good luck and enjoy the game!