10 Tichu Tips to Win More Games
Ten practical Tichu tips: when to call Tichu, how to pass cards, using bombs, protecting your partner and reading the table.
Before the round
1. Call Grand Tichu only with a really strong first 8 — typically the Dragon or Phoenix plus an Ace or a bomb.
2. Pass your partner your best single card if they called Tichu; pass opponents a Dog only when it won't hurt your partner.
3. Plan your hand right after the exchange: count how many leads you need to go out.
During the round
4. Get rid of low single cards early, while opponents still have to spend high cards to beat them.
5. Keep track of the Dragon, Phoenix and Aces — knowing what's left wins rounds.
6. Save bombs to stop an opponent's Tichu or to win a trick full of points.
7. Don't overtake your partner's trick unless you need the lead to go out.
8. Use the Dog to hand the lead to a partner who is close to finishing.
Thinking about points
9. A 1-2 finish (200 points) is worth more than any trick — play for it when your partner is strong.
10. Near 1,000 points, play safe: a failed Tichu at the end can hand the game to the other team.