DownloadTichu is a multi-genre shedding game that blends elements of Bridge, Daihinmin, and Poker.
This is a partnership card game played by two teams of two, with teammates sitting opposite each other. Partners work together to score points and gain the lead. The game is played over multiple rounds, with the objective of being the first team to reach a predetermined point total.
The Tichu deck has 56 cards across four suits: Jade, Swords, Pagodas, and Stars. Each suit contains 13 cards ranked from 2 to 10, then Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. Additionally, there are four special cards: the Dragon, the Phoenix, the Hound, and the Mah Jong.
Each player starts with eight cards and may declare a "Grand Tichu"—a 200-point bet that the caller will be the first to empty their hand. After players decide on this call, six more cards are dealt, and "Grand Tichu" can no longer be declared. At any time before playing their first card, a player may call "Tichu," a 100-point bet that they (not their partner) will go out first. The key differences between Grand Tichu and Tichu are the timing of the call, the number of cards seen, and the points wagered.
After all 56 cards are dealt (14 per player), the exchange phase begins. Every player must pass one card face down to each of the other three players. This means each player gives away three cards and receives three in return.
Following the card exchange, the player holding the Mah Jong leads the first trick. They can play any valid combination, and other players may either pass or play a higher combination of the same type (the exception being "Bombs," covered later). A single card can only be beaten by a higher single card, a sequence of pairs by a higher sequence of pairs, and so on. When all other players pass, the one who played the last high combination collects the trick and leads the next play. If that player has no cards left, they have "gone out," and the lead passes to the player on their right. The round ends when both teammates have emptied their hands, meaning at least two (and possibly three) players must go out. If one player remains with cards, they receive a penalty and must give their hand to the opponents' trick pile and their own tricks to the first player who went out.
The game concludes when a team reaches or surpasses the predefined total points.
More support in English: https://support.lazyland.com/196428-Tichu
