Tichu

Description

"Tichu is a partnership climbing card game derived from Zheng Fen, where teams race to empty hands first and reach 1,000 points via tricks, card values, and bonus calls." Key mechanics include: - *Climbing trick-taking* Players beat the top card combination (single, pair, sequence of pairs, full house, etc.) with a higher version of the same type or pass; leader wins trick if all pass and leads next. - *Special cards* One or two standard decks plus dog, phoenix, dragon, and Mah Jong cards integrated into play. - *Partnership scoring* Fives (5 pts), tens/Kings (10 pts); each hand worth 100 pts; last player out transfers won cards to first-out player and unplayed cards to opponents. - *Tichu calls* "Tichu" before playing (team +100/-100 pts if caller finishes first); "Grand Tichu" after seeing first 8 cards (+200/-200 pts). - *Double victory* Both teammates exit before opponents for 200 pts bonus (plus Tichu bonuses). Tichu is a partnership climbing card game inspired by Zheng Fen, played with one or two 52-card decks plus four special cards (dog, phoenix, dragon, Mah Jong). Players aim to empty their hands first to score points from captured cards (fives=5, tens/Kings=10) and hand values (100 pts base), with the first team to 1,000 points winning. Turns involve beating the current top combination—such as singles, pairs, sequences of pairs, or full houses—with a higher equivalent or passing; the combination type is fixed by the lead, and if all pass around to the leader, they win the trick and lead next. Rounds start with 8+6 cards dealt; players may call "Tichu" pre-play for ±100 team points if they finish first, or "Grand Tichu" after the first 8 cards for ±200. A double team victory—both partners out before opponents—awards 200 points atop card and call bonuses. At round end, the last player transfers won tricks to the first-out player and unplayed cards to the opposing team, emphasizing strategic passing, bold calls, and coordinated exits.