Tichu Strategy for Beginners: 7 Core Principles

1. Don't call Tichu on a mediocre hand

Tichu pays +100 points, but costs -100 if you fail. Call it only when your hand has real strength: high cards, a bomb or the Dragon, and a good distribution.

A hand full of mid-range cards with no control of the trick rarely finishes first — save the call for when you're almost certain.

2. Play for your partner, not just yourself

Tichu is a team game. If your partner called Tichu, your job is to help them go out first — keep your bombs to cover them and don't steal their tricks for no reason.

The Dog is the most underrated card: it passes the lead to your partner and can completely change the flow of a round.

3. Count the high cards

Track how many Aces, Dragons and bombs have been played. If you know there's no answer left to your Ace, you can play far more aggressively.

You don't need a perfect memory — just know whether the round's 'big guns' have already fallen.

4. The card exchange is half the game

In the exchange, give your partner the best card you don't need — usually a high single or something that completes a combination for them.

Give your opponents cards that cause trouble: isolated low cards that break up straights and pairs.

5. Get rid of small cards early

Low single cards are your biggest danger at the end of a round. Try to play them while the round is still open, before your opponents start controlling the table.

6. Respect the Mahjong wish

If an opponent played the Mahjong and made a wish, remember you're obliged to play that card if you can. Plan your hand around it — don't get trapped holding a card that forces you to break a combination.

7. The double win is worth 200 points

When you and your partner finish 1st and 2nd, you score 200 points without counting any cards. It's often worth sacrificing personal points to help your partner finish second — it's the most efficient move in the game.