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Tichu

4-4 players 60-60 min 7.6 Board Game Geek Rating

Tichu is a partnership climbing game where players empty their hands by beating card combinations. On your turn, play higher-ranking cards matching the current pattern or pass. Special cards add strategic depth. Players can declare "Tichu" or "Grand Tichu" for bonus points if they finish first. First team reaching 1,000 points wins.

Published 1991

Tichu

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Form teams
Players diagonally opposite are on the same team, with each player having an opponent to their left and right
2
Deal first cards
Deal 8 cards to each player from the 56-card deck
3
Deal remaining cards
Deal 6 more cards to each player, giving everyone 14 total cards
4
Call Grand Tichu (optional)
Before drawing the 9th card, a player may call Grand Tichu to bet 200 points on going out first
5
Push cards
After all cards are dealt, before any cards are played, each player gives one card from their hand to each other player (3 cards total)
6
Determine first player
The player holding the Mah Jong card leads the first trick

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Lead a combination
If you have the lead, play any legal combination of one or more cards to start a trick
2
Follow or pass
On your turn, either play a combination of the same type and size but higher value, or pass
3
Call Small Tichu (optional)
Before playing your first card of the hand, declare Small Tichu to bet 100 points on going out first
4
Play a bomb
At any time, even out of turn, play either four-of-a-kind or a same-suit straight of 5+ cards to beat any combination
5
Use the Dragon
Play as a single card only; it is the highest single card but if it wins the trick, you must give that trick to an opponent
6
Use the Phoenix
Play alone as previous card's value +0.5 (cannot beat Dragon), or use as a wild in combinations (not in bombs)
7
Use the Hound
Play only when you have the lead; transfers lead to your partner
8
Use Mah Jong
Play as value 1 alone or in a run; you may name a rank that opponents must play when legally possible
9
Win the trick
When three consecutive players pass, collect the trick into your score pile and lead the next trick
10
Go out
When you play your last card, you are out and must pass all remaining turns

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
End the hand normally
When the third player goes out, the hand ends immediately
2
Score a one-two finish
If teammates go out first and second, the hand ends immediately and that team scores 200 points instead of card points
3
Add Tichu bonuses
Add or subtract 100 points for Small Tichu success or failure; add or subtract 200 points for Grand Tichu success or failure
4
End the game
Play continues until a team reaches 1000 or more points at the end of a hand
5
Determine the winner
The team with the highest score wins; if tied, play another hand

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

Conheça Tichu - Anúncio no Brasil + Como jogar

Conheça Tichu - Anúncio no Brasil + Como jogar

Instructional

Tichu - Como Jogar

Tichu - Como Jogar

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FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

PDF RULEBOOK

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