What Is Tichu?
Tichu is a partnership card game from Switzerland, based on Chinese card games, and one of the most strategically deep shedding games ever designed. Two teams of two race to be the first to empty their hands. Before play, each player passes three cards to teammates and opponents. Players can call Tichu — a promise to be the first player out — for a big bonus or penalty. The four special cards (Joker-like) create unique tactical moments. First team to 1,000 points wins.
What You Need
- A standard 52-card deck plus four special cards: the Dragon, the Phoenix, the Dog, and the Mahjong (also called the One card)
- Four players in two partnerships — partners sit across from each other
- Score pad
The Four Special Cards
- Dragon: The highest single card in the game — it beats everything. However, winning a trick with the Dragon means you must give that entire trick to an opponent of your choice.
- Phoenix: A wild card that can substitute for any card in a combination. When played as a single card, it counts as half a point above whatever single card was last played. Worth negative 25 points in end-of-hand scoring.
- Dog: Can only be played as a lead card. Playing the Dog passes the lead directly to your partner without playing any other cards.
- Mahjong (One): The lowest card in the game — whoever holds it MUST lead the first trick of the hand. When led, the Mahjong player may request a specific card rank that must be played the next time that rank is legally playable.
Card Rankings
From highest to lowest: Dragon, Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Mahjong. Phoenix is wild (fits anywhere). The Dog has no rank.
Setting Up Each Hand
- Deal 8 cards to each player.
- Each player may call Grand Tichu before seeing their remaining cards — a promise to be the first player out worth plus or minus 200 points.
- Deal the remaining 6 cards to complete each player’s 14-card hand.
- Each player passes exactly 1 card to their partner, 1 card to the opponent on their left, and 1 card to the opponent on their right — simultaneously.
Calling Tichu
Before playing your first card, you may call Tichu — a promise to be the first player out this hand. Success = +100 points for your team. Failure = −100 points.
How to Play
The player holding the Mahjong leads first. Players take turns clockwise, playing combinations that beat the previous play — the same type of combination at a higher rank. Combinations include singles, pairs, triples, straights of five or more, full houses, and more.
When all other players pass after someone’s play, that player wins the trick and leads next. The hand ends when three players have gone out — the fourth player’s remaining cards go to the opposing team.
Scoring
- 5s in tricks won: 5 points each
- 10s and Kings: 10 points each
- Dragon: 25 points
- Phoenix: −25 points
- Tichu made: +100 / failed: −100
- Grand Tichu made: +200 / failed: −200
- Both partners go out first and second (double victory): +200 points
Winning
First team to 1,000 points wins.
Tips for New Players
- The partner card pass is the most important strategic decision — give your partner a card that fills a gap in their hand, or pass them the Dog if they have a strong hand and need the lead.
- Call Tichu only with a genuinely dominant hand — Phoenix and Dragon together, or four Aces plus Dragon, are examples of hands worthy of a Tichu call.
- The Dog is most valuable when passed to a partner who has called Tichu — play it immediately to hand them the lead.