Why does the 3 of spades go first in Tien Len?

In the first game of a session, the player dealt the 3 of spades must lead, because it is the single lowest card in the deck. They have to include it in their opening play, either alone or inside a combination. In later games, the previous winner leads with anything they want.

Can a 2 be used in a run in Tien Len?

No. Runs must be three or more cards of consecutive rank, and they stop at the Ace. The 2 is the highest single card but it cannot turn the corner into a sequence, so it is never part of a run.

What is a chop in Tien Len?

A chop, sometimes called a double sequence, is three or more consecutive pairs such as 5-5-6-6-7-7. Chops act as bombs: a three-pair chop beats a single 2, a four-pair chop beats a pair of 2s, and a five-pair chop beats three 2s. A longer chop beats a shorter one.

Can four of a kind beat a pair of 2s?

In standard Tien Len, no. A four of a kind can bomb a single 2, but to beat a pair of 2s you need a four-pair chop (four consecutive pairs). Some house rules are more generous, so confirm before you play.

How do suits matter in Tien Len?

Suits break ties between cards of equal rank. From highest to lowest the suits are hearts, diamonds, clubs, then spades. So the 8 of hearts beats the 8 of spades, and two singles of the same rank are decided by the higher suit.

How many players can play Tien Len?

Tien Len is best with four players, each dealt 13 cards. It also works fine with two or three players using one deck, and five or more players using two decks combined.

How to Play Tien Len (Vietnamese 13)

Tien Len, also called Vietnamese 13 or simply Thirteen, is the most popular card game in Vietnam and a favorite across Vietnamese communities worldwide. It is a shedding game: the goal is to be the first to get rid of all your cards by playing higher combinations than your opponents. This guide covers the rank order, the suit order that makes Tien Len unique, every legal combination, the all-powerful chops and bombs, and the famous rule that the 3 of spades must lead the very first game.

What is Tien Len?

Tien Len (pronounced roughly "tee-en len," meaning "go forward") is a climbing or shedding game for four players, using a standard 52-card deck with no jokers and no wild cards. Two or three players can also play with 13 cards each; five or more needs a second deck. Each player is dealt 13 cards, which is where the English name "Thirteen" comes from. There are no teams. The first player to empty their hand wins, and the player left holding cards is the loser.

Card rank order

This is the first thing newcomers must memorize, because the 2 is the most powerful card, not the lowest. From highest to lowest, the ranks are:

2 (highest), A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 (lowest).

Unlike most Western games, Tien Len also ranks the suits, which breaks ties between equal cards. From highest to lowest the suits are: Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades. This means the 3 of spades is the single lowest card in the deck, and the 2 of hearts is the single highest. So an 8 of hearts beats an 8 of clubs, and when two players each play a single 5, the higher suit wins.

The 3-of-spades lead

In the very first game, play does not start with a chosen dealer or a random player. Instead, whoever holds the 3 of spades leads first, and they must include that exact card in their opening play, either as a single 3 of spades or as part of a larger combination such as a pair, a run, or a triple that contains it. Play then proceeds counter-clockwise. In later games, the winner of the previous round leads and may open with any legal combination they like.

The legal combinations

Every play in Tien Len is one of these shapes, and you can only beat a play with a higher play of the same shape and the same number of cards (the exceptions are bombs, covered below).

Single: one card. Beaten by any higher single.
Pair: two cards of the same rank, for example two 9s. The higher pair wins; ties are broken by the highest suit in the pair.
Triple: three cards of the same rank.
Run (sequence): three or more cards of consecutive rank in mixed suits, for example 4-5-6 or 9-10-J-Q. Runs are compared by their highest card. Important: runs cannot "turn the corner," and the 2 can never be part of a run. The lowest a run goes is 3, the highest it reaches is the Ace.
Chop (double sequence): three or more consecutive pairs, for example 5-5-6-6-7-7. Chops are special and double as bombs.

Chops and bombs

Because a single 2 is unbeatable by any normal single, Tien Len gives weaker hands a way to fight back: bombs. These can be played even out of the normal type-matching rules, and a player may drop a bomb even on cards they could not otherwise beat.

Four of a kind: four cards of the same rank. It beats a single 2 (but no other single), and is beaten by a higher four of a kind or by a chop.
Chop of three pairs (such as 7-7-8-8-9-9): beats a single 2.
Chop of four pairs (such as 5-5-6-6-7-7-8-8): beats a pair of 2s.
Chop of five pairs: beats three 2s.

A bigger chop beats a smaller chop, and a chop beats a four of a kind, so the longer your run of consecutive pairs, the more devastating it is. Note that a plain four of a kind cannot beat a pair of 2s in standard rules; you need a four-pair chop for that.

How play and passing work

The leader puts down any legal combination. Each player in turn must either beat it with a higher play of the same type and size, or pass. Once you pass, you are locked out for the rest of that round, even if you later hold a card that could have beaten the table. The round continues until everyone else passes after a play that nobody beats. Those cards are then cleared away, and the player whose unbeaten play ended the round leads the next one with anything they choose.

Winning and instant wins

As players empty their hands they drop out. The last player still holding cards is the loser, and traditionally pays a stake to each opponent. Many house rules add "instant win" hands dealt on the first deal that win the whole game immediately, such as four 2s, six consecutive pairs (a "dragon" of pairs), or a complete run from 3 all the way up. Always agree on which instant-win hands count before you start.

Quick strategy tips

Hold your 2s and bombs for when an opponent is close to going out.
Lead your weakest singles early so you are not stuck with low cards at the end.
Break up cards into runs and pairs when you can; they shed faster than singles.
Count passes. If everyone before you has passed, you can safely lead your strongest combination next round.

If you enjoy Tien Len, you will likely also enjoy its cousins. Try Big Two and Pusoy Dos, which share the climbing structure, or the Japanese Daifugo and the related President. For more classic card play, our Spades, Hearts, and Indian Rummy tables are all free as well.

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