Tichu (NL) - Card game

Tichu

Tichu is a legendary partnership climbing card game for four players, combining the feel of trick-taking, poker-style combinations and shedding games. In fixed teams of two you try to get rid of your hand first, cleverly timing powerful combinations, daring Tichu and Grand Tichu calls and the use of the four special cards to push your partnership past 1,000 points before your opponents.

Key Features:

• Classic 4-player partnership game: Best with four players split into two teams, creating intense cooperation, subtle signaling and dramatic momentum swings.

• Climbing and shedding gameplay: Lead a combination and force others to play higher or pass; the first player to empty their hand often swings the entire round.

• Four powerful special cards: The Dragon, Phoenix, Dog and Mahjong twist the usual card hierarchy and give you explosive tactical tools to turn a losing round around.

• Risk-reward Tichu bidding: Announce Tichu or Grand Tichu to bet you’ll go out first; success earns a huge bonus, failure punishes your team just as hard.

• Race to 1,000 team points: Play across multiple hands, collecting positive and negative points until one partnership crosses the 1,000-point finish line.

• Compact, travel-friendly box: Just a deck of cards and a score sheet – perfect to throw into a bag for game nights, conventions, cafés or holidays.

• Enduring modern classic: In print since 1991, widely played at conventions worldwide and frequently cited as one of the best card games ever designed.

Why Choose Tichu?

If you’re looking for a card game that stays interesting for years, Tichu is hard to beat. The rules are straightforward enough to teach in a single sitting, but true mastery comes from reading your partner, judging when to push your luck with bold bids and learning how and when to unleash special cards and bombs. Because you play to 1,000 points, each hand adds to a larger story full of swings, comebacks and unforgettable moments. Tichu fits in any backpack, plays in about an hour and scales perfectly with experience, making it an ideal evergreen title for dedicated gaming groups.