Vietnam's national card game, also called Thirteen: shed your cards by beating each play with a higher combination, and save your bombs for the 2s.
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How to play
Four players each play for themselves, with a standard 52-card deck and 13 cards each. Play goes clockwise.
Cards rank from 3, the lowest, up through ace, with the 2 highest of all. Within a rank the suits run spades, clubs, diamonds, hearts, from low to high. So the 3 of spades is the lowest card in the pack and the 2 of hearts the highest.
In the first deal, the player holding the 3 of spades leads a combination that includes it; in later deals, the previous winner leads anything. Each player in turn must beat the last play with a higher combination of the same kind and size, or pass. Once you pass, you're out until the pile clears. When a play goes unbeaten, its player clears the pile and leads again.
Combinations: single, pair, triple, four of a kind, sequence (three or more ranks in a row, suits mixed, up to 2 but never wrapping from 2 to 3), and double sequence (three or more pairs in a row).
Compare the highest card to decide which combination wins: 7♥ 7♣ beats 7♦ 7♠.
Bombs are the exception: four of a kind or three pairs in a row beat a single 2, four pairs in a row beat a pair of 2s, and five pairs in a row beat three 2s. A bomb can be played even after you've passed.
Players drop out as they empty their hands, and the deal ends when one player is left with cards. This version scores places: 3, 2, 1 and 0 points per deal, over five deals.
Controls
Tap cards in your hand to select them, then press Play. Press Pass to sit out until the pile clears.
The selection line shows what your cards make (pair, sequence of 4…), and Play is only enabled when they beat the pile.
Each seat shows its cards left, whether it has passed, and its finishing place.
Game modes
Daily: everyone gets the same five deals each day.
New Game: a fresh five-deal game against three CPU players.
Tips & strategy
Lead your low cards early, especially as sequences. Getting rid of several in one play is how you empty a hand quickly.
Don't break up a bomb to beat an ordinary card. Four of a kind and runs of pairs are your only answer to the opponents' 2s.
Hold your 2s until late. They win control of the pile, and control lets you lead the combinations you want to shed.
Watch the other players' card counts. When someone is down to one or two cards, spend your high cards to stop them going out.
Origins
Tiến lên is a shedding card game from Vietnam, and it may be considered Vietnam's national card game. Its name means 'go forward': tiến is 'advance' and lên is 'to go up'.
The game is common wherever Vietnamese communities have settled, and it is also played in the United States, where it is sometimes called Thirteen or Killer. It belongs to the same family of climbing games as the Chinese Big Two. The rules here follow pagat.com, with a simple points-per-place score in place of stakes.
About Tiến Lên
Tiến Lên is a free browser version of the traditional Vietnamese card game, with CPU opponents, a new daily deal every day and online leaderboards. There's nothing to download and no sign-up.
A free, original browser game on PlayPendium. No download, no install.
