Tien Len Cards

Goal

Tiến lên (“go forward”) is Vietnam’s favourite card game. You sit at the table with 3 computer players; the 52-card deck is dealt 13 cards each. The first to get rid of all their cards comes 1st, the others keep playing for 2nd and 3rd, and the last player still holding cards comes last. Everyone starts with 1000 coins (play money for scoring only) — if you run out, you get a refill.

Card order

• Ranks: 3 < 4 < 5 < … < 10 < J < Q < K < A < 2. The 2 is the highest card.
• Suits (for equal ranks): ♠ < ♣ < ♦ < ♥. So 3♠ is the lowest card and 2♥ the highest.

Sets you can play

• Single: any one card.
• Pair: 2 of the same rank. Triple: 3 of a rank. Four of a kind: all 4 of a rank.
• Straight: 3 or more consecutive ranks, any suits, e.g. 5-6-7 or 9-10-J-Q-K-A. A straight can’t contain a 2.
• Consecutive pairs: 3 or more pairs in a row, e.g. 44-55-66. No 2s.

How to play

• In the first deal, whoever holds 3♠ leads and the first set must include 3♠. In later deals the previous winner leads with any set.
• Play goes counter-clockwise: you → right CPU → top CPU → left CPU.
• Each next player must beat the table with a set of the same kind, same number of cards and higher. Sets are compared by their highest card; on equal rank, by suit. E.g. 9♣9♥ beats 9♠9♦.
• If you can’t or don’t want to beat it, Pass. Once you pass, you can’t play again in that round.
• When everyone else has passed, the player of the last set leads a new round with anything. If that player has just gone out, the next player leads.

Cutting 2s (bombs)

• 3 consecutive pairs cut a single 2.
• Four of a kind cuts a single 2, a pair of 2s and 3 consecutive pairs.
• 4 consecutive pairs cut a single 2, a pair of 2s, 3 consecutive pairs and four of a kind.
• A higher bomb of the same kind also cuts a lower one. Cuts can stack: the last player cut pays for the earlier cut too.
• Cut payments (paid at once to the cutter): black 2 (♠♣) 10 coins, red 2 (♦♥) 20, 3 consecutive pairs 30, four of a kind 40, 4 consecutive pairs 50.

Coins at the end of a deal

• 1st +20, 2nd +10, 3rd −10, last −20.
• Stuck 2s and bombs: if the last player still holds 2s, four of a kind or consecutive pairs, they also pay the winner the cut values above.
• Frozen: if someone goes out before you have played a single card, you are frozen: ranked last and pay the winner 40 coins (20 as last place + a 20-coin freeze fine); stuck cards are charged too.
• Instant win right after the deal: four 2s, a dragon straight (3 to A), any six pairs, or five consecutive pairs. That player wins at once and everyone else pays 30 coins.

Controls

• Phone: tap a card to lift it (select), tap again to lower it. Then press Play. On narrow screens your hand is shown in 2 rows so the cards stay big and easy to tap.
• Computer: click cards to select them. Shortcuts: Enter play, B pass, G hint, X sort, Esc clear selection.
• Hint selects a valid set for you; press again for another one. Sort switches between sorting by rank and grouping by sets (straights, pairs…).
• Choose Easy / Medium / Hard for the CPUs, toggle sound with 🔊, and press New deal to re-deal at any time.

Tips

• Get rid of low single cards early; keep your 2s and bombs to win the lead near the end.
• Don’t break a long straight or consecutive pairs just to beat a single card.
• When a CPU has only 1–2 cards left, block with your highest card.
• Finishing last with 2s in hand costs extra — try to play them before it’s too late.