Thirteen Cards - Tien Len

Thirteen Cards, also known as Tien Len, Southern Poker, is a card game popular in many parts of Asia. Thirteen Cards is a game intended and best for four players.

This app is an offline, internet connection and deposite are not needed, it help you practise skill with professional computer players.

INSTRUCTIONS

The objective in playing is to get rid of all the cards before your opponents do. While the game rule is simple, there are many twists and turns that make a unique and challenging game.

At the beginning of a new game, each player is given 13 cards. In first round, the player has a Spade 3 card will start the game. The winner of the previous game starts a round with any valid card set. All players then take turn to play a higher card set or "Pass" to skip the turn. Once a player Pass, he/she is forced to pass at subsequent turns in general. The round ends when 3 of the 4 players pass. The last player of the round then starts a new round with any valid card set. The game ends when one of the player runs out of cards.

1. Legal Card Sets and Values

A card set can be either of the following. Some card sets are considered special.

- Single: one card

- Pair: 2 cards of the same rank

- Triple: 3 cards of the same rank

- Quadruple: 4 cards of the same rank. Quadruple is a special card set.

- Series: 3 or more cards forming a consecutive sequence

- Double Series: 6 or more cards forming a consecutive sequence of pairs. Double Series is a special card set.

The ranks of the cards in increasing value are 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K A 2. A card of higher rank is better than a card of lower rank. Among cards of the same rank, a card of higher suit is better. The suits of the cards in increasing value are Spade, Club, Diamond, Heart.

Card sets of the same type are compared using the highest cards in the sets. Only sets of the same type can be used to cut each others, with exception for special card sets.

2. Special Cutting Rules for Special Card Sets

The deuce (also called Pig) is a highest ranking card in the game. When playing single or double, certain special card sets can be used to beat the deuce set. Here are the list of all special cutting rules:

- Double series of 6 cards (3 consecutive pairs) can cut a single deuce.

- Quadruple can cut double series of 6 cards, single deuce, or pair of deuces.

- Double series of 8 cards can cut quadruple, double series of 6 cards, single deuce, or pair of deuces.

3. Auto Win

Certain hands are recognized as "auto win" hands. Games with these hands are not played. The owner of the special hand wins the game. Following are the special hands:

- Hand containing 6 pairs.

- Hand containing 4 deuces.