Tichu

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What is the best hand in Tichu?

While at first glance this question may seem quite subjective or even unanswerable, I beg to differ. From the start of the game, before you even know which cards will compose your hand, your objective is clear. You want to be the first player to get rid of all the cards in your hand. There is only one way in which you can guarantee that this will happen. Your entire hand has to be a straight. You must have 2-A and the Mah-Jong. The Mah-Jong will allow you to start the hand (don’t forget to call Tichu) and then simply lay down your entire hand.

No matter how good you think any other hand may be, there is still a very small chance that someone has something (most likely a Bomb) that can beat it.

What is a Bomb?

Bombs can come in one of two forms. Bombs are either four-of-a-kind or a straight flush (consecutive cards of the same color with a minimum of five cards).

The Phoenix may NOT be used to form a Bomb. Bombs must be “pure”.

How is the strength of a Bomb measured?

When determining the strength of a Bomb, there are two factors to consider. First, you look at the number of cards in the Bomb. Second, you look at the value of the cards in the Bomb.

Below is a list of sample Bombs (from weakest to strongest):

2-2-2-2
5-5-5-5
7-7-7-7
J-J-J-J
A-A-A-A
2-3-4-5-6
10-J-Q-K-A
3-4-5-6-7-8
2-3-4-5-6-7-8
2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A

When can a Bomb be played?

Picture a clock. Not a digital clock, but an old, circular, analog clock that you can probably still find in most schools. Now picture the four players sitting at 12, 3, 6, and 9 on the clock. Each hand begins at the 12 when the player with the lead plays a card. Now we travel along the clock, past the 1 and past the 2 until we hit the 3 where the second player has the option to pass or play. Then we travel again past the 4 and past the 5 until we hit the 6 where the third player has the option to pass or play. Once more we travel onward past the 7 and past the 8 until we hit the 9 where the fourth player has the option to pass or play. Finally we travel one last time past the 10 and past the 11 until we hit the 12.

The rules state that the hand is over once there have been three consecutive players that pass. Using this analogy, in addition to three players passing we must make one complete revolution around the clock since the last card was played.

Example 1:

12: Player 1 starts the trick
1: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
2: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
3: Player 2 passes
4: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
5: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
6: Player 3 passes
7: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
8: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
9: Player 4 passes <– The trick is NOT over here
10: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
11: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
12: The trick has been won by Player 1

Example 2:

12: Player 1 starts the trick
1: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
2: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
3: Player 2 plays a card
4: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
5: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
6: Player 3 passes
7: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
8: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
9: Player 4 passes
10: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
11: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
12: Player 1 passes <– The trick is NOT over here
1: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
2: a Bomb may be played here by ANY player
3: The trick has been won by Player 2

What is the maximum score for a single hand of Tichu?

400

In order to achieve this score either you or your teammate must call Grand Tichu. Then the player that called Grand Tichu must go out first. This will give you your first 200 points. Finally, the teammate of the player that called Grand Tichu must be the second player to go out. This will end the round and give the Grand Tichu team an additional 200 points for a total of 400.

If you have a question that is not answered here please feel free to contact me.