Tiến lên – Rules
Play Tiến lên against the computer
1. Overview
| Name | Tiến lên (“Go forward!”; also Thirteen) |
| Type | Climbing and shedding game with bombs |
| Players | 2 to 4, best with 4 |
| Recommended age | 10 and up |
| Playing time | one round 3–6 minutes |
| Material | 52 cards, pen and paper |
| Goal | Be first to get rid of all 13 cards. |
| Difficulty | easy to medium |
What is it about? Tiến lên is Vietnam's national card game. As in Big Two, players lay combinations that must keep getting higher. The special feature is the “bombs”: four of a kind and double sequences that can even beat the mighty twos. Once you pass, you're out until the next lead.
2. Cards and material
- Pack: 52 French cards without jokers.
- Ranking (low → high): 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A, 2.
- Suit ranking (low → high): spades ♠ < clubs ♣ < diamonds ♦ < hearts ♥.
- Highest card: 2 of hearts. Lowest: 3 of spades.
- Face up and face down: Hands concealed, played cards face up.
3. Preparation and start
- Shuffle.
- Deal: Everyone gets 13 cards (with fewer than four players some cards are left over).
- Start: In the first round whoever holds the 3 of spades starts (and must play it). After that the winner of the last round starts.
Start example: Player 2 holds the 3 of spades and plays it in a sequence 3-4-5.
4. Goal and winning
- Round: The first player with no cards left wins. Often the others play on for the remaining places.
- Game: After an agreed number of rounds, the player with the most placing points wins.
- Instant win (variant): A player holding all four twos wins the round at once.
5. Play in detail
Combinations.
| Combination | Example |
|---|---|
| Single | 9 |
| Pair | 7-7 |
| Triple | K-K-K |
| Four of a kind | 5-5-5-5 |
| Sequence (3+, any suits, no 2) | 8-9-10-J |
| Double sequence (3+ consecutive pairs) | 4-4-5-5-6-6 |
A round of play.
- The starter plays a combination.
- In turn, each plays a higher combination of the same type and length – or passes.
- A player who passes is out until this round ends.
- When everyone else has passed, the last player starts a new round.
- Comparison is by the highest card – with equal rank the suit decides.
Bombs (against twos).
- Four of a kind or a double sequence of 3 pairs beats a single 2.
- A double sequence of 4 pairs beats a pair of twos.
Example with Players 1 to 4. Order: Player 2, 1, 4, 3.
- Player 2 plays 3 of spades, 4 of clubs, 5 of diamonds (sequence). Player 1 plays 6-7-8. Player 4 plays 9-10-J. Player 3 passes.
- Player 2 passes. Player 1 plays Q-K-A – the highest possible three-card sequence. Player 4 passes.
- Player 1 starts anew and plays the 2 of hearts as a single.
- In the new round Player 4 is back in. He plays 4-4-5-5-6-6 (double sequence of 3 pairs) – a bomb that beats Player 1's 2.
6. Scoring
| Place | Points (example) |
|---|---|
| 1st place | 3 |
| 2nd place | 2 |
| 3rd place | 1 |
| 4th place | 0 |
- Variant: Losers pay per card left; twos in hand count extra.
- Recording: One column per player.
7. Special rules and situations
- 3 of spades first: Only in the first round.
- Sequences: May not contain a 2; the ace is always high.
- Passing is final: You can't rejoin until a new round starts.
- Going out with a 2: Forbidden in some groups.
- Common mistakes: passing too early; wasting bombs; building sequences with a 2.
8. Variants
Standard in this description: 13 cards, 3 of spades starts, bombs against twos.
| Variant | What changes | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Four twos win at once | Instant win with all twos. | a change |
| Tiến lên miền Nam | Southern standard rules with penalties for leftover twos. | experts |
| Two players | 13 cards each, the rest stays aside. | couples |
| More rounds | 10 instead of 6 rounds. | long evenings |
When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with two to four players over 3, 6 or 10 rounds; the instant win with four twos can be switched on.
9. Tips for beginners
- Save twos: They win almost any round.
- Hold back bombs: Four of a kind is the answer to an opponent's 2.
- Long sequences: They shed many cards at once.
- Don't pass too early: Once you pass, you're out.
- Hide low singles: Put them into sequences rather than playing them alone.
- Keep count: Remember which twos have gone.
- Plan the end: Keep a hard-to-beat combination for last.
10. Summary in 10 steps
- 52 cards, 13 each.
- Ranking: 3 low … A, 2 high.
- Suits: spades < clubs < diamonds < hearts.
- First round: the 3 of spades starts.
- Single, pair, triple, four of a kind, sequence, double sequence.
- Next: higher, same type and length – or pass.
- Passing puts you out until the next round.
- Everyone passes: the last player starts anew.
- Bombs beat twos.
- First without cards wins.
11. Frequently asked questions
What is the highest card?
The 2 of hearts.
What beats a 2?
A higher 2 – or a bomb (four of a kind or a double sequence of 3 pairs).
May I rejoin after passing?
Only in the next round.
May sequences mix suits?
Yes. Only the 2 may not be part of a sequence.
What's the difference to Big Two?
Tiến lên has no five-card hands, but sequences of any length, double sequences and bombs.
How long does a round take?
Three to six minutes.
Origin & history
Tiến lên ('forward') is the most popular card game in Vietnam and closely related to the Chinese Big Two. Special are the 'bombs' with which you can beat the powerful twos.