Tichu, explained
The rules, the four special cards, scoring and strategy — everything you need to sit down at a table with confidence. The game itself is free to play on dod.gr, live, against real people.
The table is waiting
Go to dod.gr, pick Tichu and take a seat. On a phone, get the dod Games app.
What Tichu is
Tichu is a partnership card game for four players in two teams. Your partner sits opposite you; the two opponents sit on either side. It is played with 56 cards: the 52 of a regular deck in four suits (star, sword, pagoda, jade) plus four special cards — the Dragon, the Phoenix, the Mah Jong and the Dog.
In each round the goal is to get rid of all your cards before the others, by playing combinations that beat the previous one. Points come from the tricks you win and from the Tichu and Grand Tichu bets, and the game is won at 1000.
Tichu was created in Switzerland in 1991 by Urs Hostettler and builds on Chinese "climbing" games, where each player must beat the previous play or pass. That is where the names of the special cards come from.
The four special cards
Most rounds are decided here. Each one has its own rule, and its own beginner's mistake.
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Dragon
The highest single and 25 points — but the trick it wins goes to an opponent.
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Phoenix
A wild card in combinations, half a point above whatever it covers. Costs 25 points.
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Mah Jong
The "1": whoever holds it opens the round and may demand a card from the others.
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Dog
Hands the lead to your partner. Can only be played on an empty table.
How a round goes, in five steps
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You get 8 cards and decide on Grand Tichu
If you believe you will finish first with what you see, call Grand Tichu: 200 points if you make it, −200 if you don't.
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You get the other 6 and may call Tichu
With 14 cards in hand, a plain Tichu is worth 100 points. You can call it any time before you play your first card.
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You pass one card to each player
A good one to your partner, your worst to the opponents. You receive three in return.
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You play combinations or pass
Singles, pairs, triples, full houses, straights, runs of pairs. Each play must beat the previous one and be of the same kind — except bombs, which beat everything.
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You count the points
The round ends when one player is left with cards. Fives, tens, kings, the Dragon and the Phoenix count — plus any Tichu calls. First team to 1000 wins.
Why play Tichu on dod.gr
dod.gr is Greece's largest community for online Tichu. Tables fill in seconds, whatever the hour — and the game plays in English too.
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Real opponents, live
You play against people, not a computer. You see who is sitting, talk in the chat, and run into the same players again.
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Elo rating
Every game moves your rating up or down. It is shown next to your name at the table.
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35 achievements just for Tichu
From "bomb on a Dragon" to two Grand Tichus in one game — every hard play is recorded on your profile.
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The rules as at a real table
Mah Jong wishes, the Dragon's trick given to an opponent, bombs out of turn, a 200-point 1-2. Nothing simplified.
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Free, nothing to install
Open dod.gr in the browser and play. One account for every game in the community.
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Also an app on your phone
dod Games is on Android, iPhone and Huawei, with the same account and the same players.
Frequently asked questions
How many players does Tichu need?
Exactly four, in two teams of two. Partners sit opposite each other. On dod.gr a table starts as soon as all four seats are taken.
How many points are there in a round?
The cards always add up to 100: each five is worth 5, each ten and king 10, the Dragon +25 and the Phoenix −25. On top of that come the 100 of a Tichu and the 200 of a Grand Tichu. Details on the Scoring page.
What is a "1-2"?
When both players of one team finish first and second, the team scores 200 points and the tricks are not counted at all. Any Tichu or Grand Tichu calls still count.
What is the difference between Grand Tichu and Tichu?
Grand Tichu is called after seeing only your first 8 cards and is worth 200 points. Tichu is called with all 14 cards in hand, any time before your first play, and is worth 100. In both cases you lose the points if you do not finish first.
How long is a game?
A game is played to 1000 points. On dod.gr it ends as soon as a team passes 1000 at the end of a round.
Can I play Tichu online for free?
Yes. Tichu on dod.gr is free, in the browser or in the dod Games app on Android, iPhone and Huawei. All you need is an account.