Tichu F.A.Q.

What is Tichu?

Tichu is a strategic card game that I’d love to tell you more about. The goal of the game is to play all of the cards in your hand before anyone else does. It’s a game that requires careful thinking and planning, as well as a bit of luck.

How do I play Tichu?

Playing Tichu is quite simple, actually! At the start of the game, each player is dealt a hand of cards. The player with the Mah Jong card goes first, and the game proceeds in a clockwise direction. The objective is to play a higher-ranking card or combination of cards than the previous player. For example, if the last player played a pair of sevens, you could play a pair of eights or a higher-ranked combination.

What are the special cards in Tichu?

Tichu has several special cards that add excitement and unpredictability to the game. These cards include the Phoenix, the Dog, and the Dragon. The Phoenix is particularly interesting because it can be played as any card, allowing you to manipulate the game in your favor. The Dog card is like a wild card, and the Dragon card is the most powerful card in the game.

Can I play Tichu with a large group of people?

Absolutely! Tichu can be played with anywhere from three to six players. The game works best with four players, but it can still be enjoyable with more or fewer players. You might need to adjust the number of cards each player receives, depending on the number of players in the game, but the basic rules remain the same.

Is Tichu suitable for children?

Tichu is suitable for children aged 10 and above. The game requires some basic math skills and strategic thinking, so it may be too challenging for younger children. However, older children and adults can have a lot of fun playing Tichu together.

Is Tichu a competitive game?

Tichu is indeed a competitive game. It’s a game that requires you to think critically, make strategic decisions, and outsmart your opponents. But it’s also a game that can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels. Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned pro, Tichu offers a fun and challenging experience for everyone.

I hope this FAQ has answered some of your questions about Tichu. If you’re looking for a game that combines strategy, luck, and excitement, then Tichu might be just what you’re looking for. Give it a try and see for yourself!

No, you can’t use bombs to take control of the hound and the lead. Bombs can only be played on a card or a combination of cards that are already on the table. You can even bomb your own trick if you want to. When all three players pass in turn order, any player can use a bomb before the trick is considered over.

When can you play a bomb on a Mah Jong?

The best way to explain is with an example. Let’s say Player 1 leads the Mah Jong and wishes for an 8. Between Player 1 and Player 2 (even if it’s not their turn), all players, including Player 1 and Player 2, have the option to play a bomb without fulfilling the wish.

Hey there! Let me explain something fascinating to you about a special move in a game called Mah Jong. Picture this: Player 2 is holding a hand with a sequence of cards like 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, K, K, K. Now, just before it’s even Player 2’s turn, they can play something called a K-bomb. What happens next is pretty cool. Once all the other players pass, Player 2 has to lead the next trick by playing a card from their sequence and making a wish. It’s like they get to decide how the game goes for a moment! If there was another player who had a sequence bomb with an 8, they would have to play it over the K-bomb during their turn. It’s all about timing and strategy!

Now, here’s a rule about fulfilling wishes in Mah Jong.

You see, a player can only fulfill a wish of the Mah Jong during their ordinary turn. It’s not necessary to fulfill a wish if a player plays a bomb out of turn. However, if they manage to win the trick with the bomb, things change. In that case, they have to lead the next trick and fulfill the wish at that moment. It’s like a way of making things fair and keeping the game exciting. Pretty clever, right?!

Now, let’s talk about the Dragon in Mah Jong.

Here’s the thing: the Dragon doesn’t give away a bombed trick. Why? Well, because the Dragon didn’t actually win the trick, so it doesn’t have any control over it. It’s like the Dragon keeps its secrets to itself and lets the other players figure out what to do.

Here’s something interesting about the Phoenix in Mah Jong.

If I don’t have a card that matches the rank you wish for, I don’t have to fulfill your wish, even if I have the Phoenix card. The Phoenix doesn’t count as a card of the desired rank, even though it can be a joker.

The next player who has a card that matches the rank you wish for and can legally play it, must play it. They have to play it, even if they have to play a bomb or a sequence with the Phoenix card.

What happens to the last trick of the hand (when the 3rd player plays his last card(s)?

The trick ends immediately, but if the Dragon card wins it, it is still given away.

What happens if two players want to play a bomb at the same time?

This situation rarely happens, and most of the time, the solution is obvious.

But here’s the thing (and this is important to know): Tichu is not a game about being the fastest player. Being quick doesn’t give you an advantage. In fact, bombs can be played before regular combinations, and multiple bombs can be played in the order they were played.

However, there’s an exception to this rule: if a player takes a few seconds to think and then decides to play the Dragon card, no other player can claim to play a bomb at the same time. They have to wait until the player is done thinking. And this rule applies whether it’s the player’s turn or not.

Now, what happens if two players on the same team call “Tichu” at the same time?

This is a rare situation, especially in normal games but sometimes happens in online games. In a tournament, I would suggest that the second player in turn order can choose to withdraw their Tichu if they want to.

But here’s the thing, you can’t have two players claiming they both called Tichu at the exact same moment. That’s just not fair. If there’s a delay, then the team that called Tichu first gets the glory.

Now, let’s talk about something strange. Is a hand with three 3’s, a Phoenix, and another 3 considered a valid full house?

No, it’s not. Our rules don’t cover this special case. We expect the player with a bomb and a Phoenix to play their hand without this unusual combination of cards.

Oh, and another thing. Can you play a sequence-bomb as a regular sequence?

No, you can’t. The rules don’t account for this either. We don’t want to give an advantage to those fortunate players who always end up with bombs in their hands.

Lastly, I have a question. Instead of playing in a counter-clockwise order, can we play in a clockwise order?