How to Play Tien Len: Rules of Vietnamese Thirteen
Four players, 13 cards each, and one goal: get rid of every card before anyone else does. Tien Len is often called the national card game of Vietnam, and its name means “go forward,” which is exactly what every play does. Here’s how the game works, from the deal and the card ranks to runs, passing and the famous bombs that chop down a 2.
Key takeaways
- Tien Len is a shedding game for four players, each dealt 13 cards from a standard 52-card deck, which is why it’s also called Thirteen.
- The 2 is the highest rank and the 3 the lowest, and suits break ties from spades (low) through clubs and diamonds to hearts (high).
- You can play singles, pairs, triples, four of a kind, runs of three or more ranks and double runs of three or more pairs.
- Once you pass, you’re locked out until the pile clears, but a bomb can still chop a 2.
- The first player out of cards wins, and the last player still holding cards loses.
What you need and the deal
The Thirteen card game uses one standard 52-card deck with no jokers. It’s built for four players, and every player gets the whole deck split evenly: 13 cards each. With two or three players, each person usually still gets 13 cards and the rest stay out of play, though some groups deal 17 each to three players.
Wikipedia’s Tiến lên article describes it as a shedding game and lists close relatives such as President and Big Two. Players in different regions add their own house rules, so it’s worth agreeing on the details before the first deal.
Card ranks and suit order
The rank order is the first of the Tien Len rules that surprises new players. From highest to lowest:
2, A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3
Rank always matters more than suit. Suits only decide between cards of the same rank, and the order from lowest to highest is:
| Suit | Strength |
|---|---|
| Spades | Lowest |
| Clubs | Second |
| Diamonds | Third |
| Hearts | Highest |
That makes the 3 of spades the lowest card in the deck and the 2 of hearts the highest. A 7 of hearts beats a 7 of diamonds, but any 8 beats any 7.
How to play Tien Len: the start
In the very first deal, the player holding the 3 of spades makes the first play, and that play must include the 3 of spades. It can go down alone or as part of a combination, such as a pair of 3s or a run of 3-4-5.
In later deals, the winner of the previous deal leads and can start with any combination. Under the rules described on pagat.com, the loser of each deal shuffles and deals the next one.
The combinations
Everything in Tien Len is played as one of six combinations:
- Single: any one card.
- Pair: two cards of the same rank, such as two 9s.
- Triple: three cards of the same rank.
- Four of a kind: all four cards of one rank.
- Run (sequence): three or more cards in consecutive ranks, in any suits, such as 6-7-8 or 10-J-Q-K.
- Double run (double sequence): three or more consecutive pairs, such as 4-4-5-5-6-6.
Runs can’t turn the corner, so A-2-3 and K-A-2 are not runs. Under the core rules on Wikipedia, a 2 can’t be part of any run at all, which means the highest run ends at the Ace. Some groups allow a 2 at the top of a run, such as J-Q-K-A-2, so check before you play.
Beating a play
The player who leads puts down any combination. Each player after that must either beat it or pass. To beat a play, you need:
- the same kind of combination,
- the same number of cards,
- and a higher top card.
So a pair only beats a pair, and a run of four only beats another run of four. You compare the highest card in each combination, rank first and then suit. A pair of 9s that includes the 9 of hearts beats a pair of 9s that includes the 9 of diamonds. A run 8-9-10 ending in the 10 of diamonds beats an 8-9-10 ending in the 10 of clubs.
The main exception is the bomb, covered below.
Passing and clearing the pile
Passing is where Tien Len differs most from its cousins. If you pass, you’re out of that round. You can’t come back in, even if the play comes around to you again and you could beat it.
The round goes on until someone makes a play that nobody else beats. Then the cards are cleared away, and the player who made that last play leads a new combination of any kind. Everyone who passed is back in for the new round.
If the player who made the last play has just gone out, the lead passes to the next player who still has cards.
Bombs: chopping the 2s
The 2 is so strong that the game gives you special combinations to fight it. Players call this “chopping” the 2, and the combinations are often called bombs. Under the main rules on pagat.com, which match the core rules on Wikipedia for single 2s:
- Four of a kind beats a single 2.
- A double run of three pairs (such as 7-7-8-8-9-9) beats a single 2.
- A double run of four pairs beats a pair of 2s.
- A double run of five pairs beats three 2s.
A bomb can be beaten by a higher bomb of the same kind, so a four of a kind can be topped by a higher four of a kind. Bombs are also the one way back in after a pass: a player who has already passed can still chop a 2.
These special powers apply only against 2s. A four of a kind doesn’t beat an Ace, and a double run of three pairs only beats another double run of three pairs when no 2 is involved. Wikipedia also lists four of a kind as beating a pair of 2s, and some house rules let it beat any single or pair, so agree on the version before you start.
Winning and losing
The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the deal. The rest keep playing until only one player still holds cards. That player is the loser.
Many groups play for a fixed stake, where the loser pays each of the other players. Other groups count places, or pay the winner per card left in each hand. Some variants also give an instant win to a player dealt all four 2s, though that isn’t part of the core rules.
Strategy tips
Plan your hand in groups. Before the first play, sort your cards into pairs, runs and leftovers. A low run sheds three or more cards at once, including cards that would be hard to get rid of as singles.
Don’t spend 2s early. A 2 wins most single rounds and gives you the lead, but beating a 6 with it is usually a waste. Save it for a moment when taking the lead lets you play out your hand.
Hold bombs for 2s. A four of a kind can be played as an ordinary combination, but it’s often worth more as a bomb. Opponents who know you might have one get nervous about leading 2s.
Pass with care. Because passing locks you out, an early pass can let an opponent run through several plays in a row. If beating the play costs you little, it’s often better to stay in.
Watch the card counts. When an opponent is down to one card, don’t lead a single unless it’s your highest. Lead a pair or a run instead, so the last card can’t follow.
Tien Len vs Big Two
Tien Len and Big Two share the same core idea: climb over the last play and empty your hand first. The differences are easy to spot once you’ve played both:
- Tien Len uses runs and double runs of any length. Big Two uses five-card poker hands.
- In Tien Len, hearts are the top suit. In the most common Big Two order, spades are.
- In Tien Len, passing locks you out of the round. In Big Two, you can pass and still play later in the same round.
- Tien Len has bombs that chop 2s. Big Two doesn’t.
If you know one, you’ll pick up the other in a deal or two. You can try the poker-hand version in our Big Two game.
Play Tien Len online
The quickest way to learn how to play Tien Len is to deal a few hands. Our free Tien Len game runs in your browser against three computer players and follows the rules above: 2s high, hearts as the top suit, the 3 of spades leading the first deal, no 2s in runs, passing locks you out, and bombs that chop 2s. Cards you can play glow, and the Hint button cycles through your legal plays.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest card in Tien Len?
The 2 of hearts. The 2 is the highest rank and hearts are the highest suit. The lowest card is the 3 of spades.
Can you play a 2 in a run in Tien Len?
Not under the core rules. Runs go from 3 up to the Ace, and 2s can only be played as singles, pairs, triples or four of a kind. Some groups allow a 2 at the top of a run, so check the house rules.
What beats a 2 in Tien Len?
Only a higher 2 or a bomb. A single 2 can be chopped by four of a kind or a double run of three pairs. A pair of 2s needs a double run of four pairs, and three 2s need a double run of five pairs.
Can you play again after passing in Tien Len?
No, not in the same round. Once you pass, you wait until the pile clears. The one exception is a bomb, which you can still use to chop a 2.
Why is Tien Len called Thirteen?
Because each of the four players gets 13 cards. Tien Len itself means “go forward” in Vietnamese.
Conclusion
Tien Len is simple to learn and hard to master: beat the last play, keep your 2s for the right moment and watch for bombs. Once you know the suit order, the lockout on passing and the chopping rules, you can play a full game tonight. Need a quick break between deals? The Chrome Dino game is waiting on our homepage.
