Tichu

About Tichu

Tichu is a partnership card game for exactly four players developed by Swiss designer Urs Hostetler in 1991, inspired by Chinese card games such as Zheng Shangyou. Played in teams of two, players work to shed their hand by playing combinations — singles, pairs, sequences, full houses, and more — in a climbing-card format where each play must beat the previous one. Calling "Tichu" before playing your first card wagers 100 points that you will be the first to empty your hand; the riskier "Grand Tichu" call (made sight unseen before receiving your full hand) wagers 200 points. The first team to accumulate 1000 points wins. GameNight.pro offers a complete browser-based Tichu implementation with a computer opponent, all card combinations, the full Tichu call system, and the four special cards: Dragon, Phoenix, Dog, and Mahjong.

How to Play on GameNight.pro

Each player receives 14 cards. Before play begins, each player passes three cards — one to each of the other three players. The player holding the Mahjong (1) leads the first trick of each hand. On your turn, play a valid combination that beats the current highest play on the table, or pass. Play continues clockwise until all other players pass in succession — the last active player wins the trick and leads next. Special cards have unique effects: the Dragon beats any single card but must be gifted to an opponent; the Phoenix acts as a wild card at a half-point penalty; the Dog transfers the lead directly to your partner; the Mahjong can demand a specific rank be played. Cards remaining in opponents' hands when play ends score for the opposing team.

Strategy & Tips

Five strategic principles that separate strong Tichu play from beginner hand-shedding:

• Use the three-card pass to communicate: Passing a high-value card such as an Ace to your partner signals strength and sets up future coordination. The pass is your most powerful pre-game communication tool — use it deliberately.
• Call Tichu only with strong hands: The call is most valuable when you hold the Dragon, Phoenix, and a long running sequence. Calling Tichu speculatively with a borderline hand is a costly gamble that drains team points.
• Manage the Dragon and Phoenix carefully: The Dragon wins any single-card trick but forces you to gift the trick — and its points — to an opponent of your choice. The Phoenix is usually more valuable in a combination than as a standalone single-card play.
• Support your partner's Tichu call: If your partner has called Tichu, your objective changes entirely — help them go out first rather than scoring personally. Pass them winning combinations and bomb any opponent who threatens their lead.
• Hold bombs in reserve: Four-of-a-kind and same-suit four-card sequences are bombs that beat any trick regardless of the current combination type. Save them to neutralise opponent Tichu calls or to break a critical long run of play.

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