Tien Len: The Vietnamese Card Game That Will Keep You Hooked
Have you ever heard of tien len? If not, you are missing out on one of the most exciting and addictive card games in the world. Tien len, which means "go forward" in Vietnamese, is a shedding-type card game that originated in southern China and Vietnam. It is considered Vietnam's national card game, and is also played in the United States, sometimes under the names "Viet Cong", "VC", "Thirteen", or "Killer".
tien len
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Tien len is a game of skill, strategy, and luck, where the aim is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards by beating the combinations played by the other players. It is easy to learn, but hard to master, as you have to balance between playing aggressively and conservatively, depending on your hand and the situation. Tien len is also a social game, where you can chat, joke, and taunt with your friends or opponents while playing.
In this article, we will explain how to play tien len with a standard 52-card deck and four players, as well as some of the legal combinations, bombs and chops, strategy and tips, and variations that make this game so fun and challenging. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will find something useful and interesting in this article. So let's get started!
Basic Rules of Tien Len
The basic rules of tien len are relatively simple and are taken from the main 4-player rule sets provided by John McLeod and David Parlett . Here are the steps to follow:
Use a 52-card deck without jokers or wild cards. The cards rank from high to low as follows: 2 A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3. Within each rank, the suits rank from high to low as follows: Hearts Diamonds Clubs Spades . So the highest card is the 2 and the lowest card is the 3.
Play the game with four players. Sit around a table so that the cards can be placed in the center, easily visible to all players. If someone is new to playing tien len, it will be helpful to have the rules and a list of legal combinations printed out for them to reference during the game.
Decide who deals by cutting the deck to see who gets the highest card. Cut the deck by setting it on the table, face down. Separate the deck by hand wherever it naturally breaks and look at the number on the bottom card. Have each player do this to see who will shuffle and deal.
Have the dealer shuffle and deal 13 cards face down to each player. Deal one card at a time, going clockwise around the table, until each player has 13 cards (the entire deck for a 4-player game).
In the first game only, the player with the lowest card (usually the 3) begins by playing it singly, starting a face-up discard pile in the center. In subsequent games, the winner of the previous game plays first, and can start with any card or combination.
Each player in turn must now either beat the previously played card or combination by playing a higher card or combination of the same type (single, pair, etc.), or pass and not play any cards. The play goes around the table as many times as necessary until someone plays a card or combination that no one else beats. This player wins that round and starts a new round by playing any card or combination.
The game ends when one player has no more cards left in their hand. This player wins that game and scores one point Continuing the article: Legal Combinations of Tien Len
In tien len, there are six types of cards or groups of cards that can be played legally. They are as follows:
Single: A single card of any rank or suit. For example, 5 or A.
Pair: Two cards of the same rank and different suits. For example, 9 9 or K K.
Triple: Three cards of the same rank and different suits. For example, 4 4 4 or Q Q Q.
Straight: Three or more cards of consecutive ranks and different suits. The ace can be either high or low, but not both. For example, A 2 3 or 10 J Q K.
Flush: Three or more cards of the same suit and not consecutive ranks. For example, 2 5 8 or J Q K.
Full house: A combination of a pair and a triple. The pair must be lower than the triple in rank. For example, 6 6 7 7 7 or A A K K K.
To beat a combination, you must play a higher combination of the same type and the same number of cards. For example, to beat a pair of 9s, you must play a pair of 10s or higher. To beat a straight of five cards, you must play a higher straight of five cards. You cannot beat a combination with a different type or a different number of cards.
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Bombs and Chops of Tien Len
In addition to the legal combinations, there are also two special types of combinations that can beat any other combination in tien len. They are called bombs and chops, and they are as follows:
Bomb: Four cards of the same rank and different suits. For example, 5 5 5 5 or A A A A.
Chop: Four consecutive pairs of different suits. The ace can be either high or low, but not both. For example, A A 2 2 3 3 4 4 or J J Q Q K K A A.
To beat a bomb, you must play a higher bomb or a chop. To beat a chop, you must play a higher chop. You cannot beat a bomb with a chop, or vice versa.
Strategy and Tips for Tien Len
Tien len is not only a game of luck, but also a game of skill and strategy. Here are some tips to help you improve your game and increase your chances of winning:
Play aggressively: Try to get rid of your high cards as soon as possible, especially if you have the lowest card in the first round. This will give you more flexibility and control in later rounds, as well as prevent you from getting stuck with high cards at the end.
Play conservatively: If you don't have the lowest card in the first round, or if you have a lot of low cards in your hand, try to pass as much as possible and save your cards for later rounds. This will allow you to avoid playing into your opponents' bombs and chops, as well as build up your own combinations.
Play smartly: Pay attention to what cards have been played and what cards are left in the deck. This will help you plan your moves and anticipate your opponents' moves. For example, if you know that there are no more 2s left in the deck, you can safely play your highest card without fear of being beaten by a bomb.
Play socially: Tien len is not only a game of cards, but also a game of people. Use your communication skills to chat, joke, and taunt with your friends or opponents while playing. This will make the game more fun and enjoyable, as well as influence your opponents' decisions and emotions.
Variations of Tien LenVariations of Tien Len
Like many card games, tien len has many variations and house rules that can change the way the game is played and scored. Here are some of the common variations that you may encounter or want to try:
Number of players: Tien len can be played with two, three, or four players. With two players, each player is dealt 13 cards. With three players, each player is dealt 17 cards and one card is left face down on the table. With four players, each player is dealt 13 cards as usual.
Number of decks: Tien len can be played with one or two decks. With two decks, the cards rank from high to low as follows: Red 2 Black 2 Red A Black A Red K Black K and so on. The suits rank from high to low as follows: Hearts Diamonds Clubs Spades .
Passing cards: Before the game starts, each player can pass a certain number of cards to another player. For example, with four players, each player can pass one card to the player on their left, two cards to the player opposite them, and three cards to the player on their right. This can help players improve their hands or sabotage their opponents' hands.
Scoring system: Instead of scoring one point for winning a game, players can score points based on the number of cards left in their opponents' hands when they win. For example, each card left in an opponent's hand is worth one point, except for 2s which are worth two points and bombs which are worth four points. The winner of the game is the first player to reach a certain number of points, such as 100 or 200.
Penalty cards: Some cards can have special effects or penalties when played or held. For example, playing a 4 can reverse the direction of play, playing a 6 can skip the next player's turn, playing a 10 can clear the discard pile and allow the player to play again, holding a J at the end of the game can deduct 10 points from the player's score, and so on.
Conclusion
Tien len is a fascinating and thrilling card game that can provide hours of entertainment and challenge for anyone who loves card games. It is easy to learn, but hard to master, as it requires skill, strategy, and luck. It is also a social game, where you can interact with your friends or opponents while playing.
If you want to play tien len online or offline, you can find many websites and apps that offer this game for free or for a small fee. You can also buy a standard 52-card deck and play with your family or friends at home or anywhere else. Just remember to follow the rules and have fun!
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about tien len. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about tien len:
Q: How do you pronounce tien len?
A: Tien len is pronounced as "tee-en len" or "tyen len". The first syllable rhymes with "see" or "eye", and the second syllable rhymes with "pen" or "hen".
Q: What does tien len mean?
A: Tien len means "go forward" or "advance" in Vietnamese. It refers to the goal of the game, which is to be the first player to get rid of all your cards by playing higher combinations than your opponents.
Q: Is tien len popular in Vietnam?
A: Yes, tien len is very popular in Vietnam, especially in southern Vietnam where it originated. It is considered Vietnam's national card game, and is played by people of all ages and backgrounds. It is also a common pastime for Vietnamese immigrants and refugees in other countries.
Q: Is tien len similar to other card games?
A: Yes, tien len is similar to other shedding-type card games, such as Big Two (also known as Chinese Poker), President (also known as Asshole), Rummy (also known as Gin Rummy), and Uno (also known as Crazy Eights). However, tien len has its own unique features and rules that make Continuing the article: it different and challenging.
Q: How can I learn more about tien len?
A: If you want to learn more about tien len, you can check out some of the following resources:
[Tien Len Rules]: A detailed and comprehensive guide to the rules of tien len, written by John McLeod, a card game expert and author.
[Tien Len Strategy]: A useful and informative article on the strategy and tips of tien len, written by David Parlett, a card game historian and designer.
[Tien Len Online]: A popular and user-friendly website where you can play tien len online for free or for real money with other players from around the world.
[Tien Len App]: A fun and easy-to-use app where you can play tien len offline or online with your friends or random opponents on your smartphone or tablet.
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