STEKIUS
Tichu online at STEKIUS: call Tichu and go out first
Play nowTichu is a card game for four, in two teams, with combinations like in poker, bombs that turn everything upside down and four special cards with powers of their own. The aim is to get rid of your cards first and for your team to collect the most points.
At STEKIUS you play Tichu online for free, with the official rules, with friends or with AI players in the empty seats. Below you will find all the rules: the cards, the Tichu calls, the combinations, the bombs, the special cards and the counting.
The teams and the cards
Four players play in two teams, with partners opposite each other. The deck has 56 cards: four suits, Jade, Swords, Pagodas and Stars, from the 2 to the Ace, and four special cards: the Mah Jong, the Dog, the Phoenix and the Dragon.
The deal, Grand Tichu and the exchange
First each player gets eight cards. Whoever is sure they will go out first can call “Grand Tichu”, which is worth 200 points. Then another six cards are dealt.
Then each player gives one card to each of the other three: you tap a card and then where it will go. The exchange is the chance to help your partner and to make life hard for the opponents.
The Tichu call
Before you play your first card you can call “Tichu”, which is worth 100 points. The call wins the points if you go out first, otherwise it loses them. The same goes for Grand Tichu, with double the points.
Combinations and tricks
Whoever has the Mah Jong leads. You can play a single card, a pair, pairs in a row, three of a kind, a full house or a straight of five cards or more: you choose the cards and tap play. The next player must play the same kind, with the same number of cards, but higher, or pass.
When all the others pass, whoever played last takes the trick and leads again with whatever they like.
The bombs
A bomb is four cards of the same rank, or a straight of five cards or more in the same suit. Bombs beat everything and can be played at any time, even when it is not your turn. A well-timed bomb can turn the whole round around.
The four special cards
- Mah Jong: counts 1. Whoever plays it can ask for a card, the wish, and the next player who can play that card must play it.
- Dog: when you lead with it alone, it gives the lead to your partner.
- Phoenix: takes the place of any card in a combination, not in a bomb. On its own it is half a step above the last card.
- Dragon: the highest single card. You give the trick it wins to an opponent of your choice.
Counting and winning
The round ends when only one player still has cards. Their cards go to the opponents, and their tricks to whoever went out first. Kings and Tens count 10, Fives 5, the Dragon 25 and the Phoenix minus 25. If the two partners go out first and second, their team gets 200 points without counting.
The first team to reach the table’s points, 500 or 1000, wins. Both of its players win virtual chips and the others lose; with bots, the win pays according to their level. After the first moves, whoever leaves pays a leave penalty.
Questions
How many cards does Tichu have?
56: four suits from the 2 to the Ace, and four special cards.
What is the difference between Tichu and Grand Tichu?
Grand Tichu is called with the first eight cards and is worth 200; Tichu is called before you play your first card and is worth 100.
When can a bomb be played?
At any time, even when it is not your turn, and it beats everything.
To how many points is it played?
The table chooses: 500 or 1000 points. The first team to reach them wins.
