Thirteen (Tiến Lên) Rules: How to Play, Bombs and Chops
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Thirteen, known in Vietnam as Tiến Lên Miền Nam (Southern Tiến Lên), is a four-player shedding card game. Everyone gets 13 cards, and the aim is to get rid of all your cards before anyone else by beating the combination on the table. What makes it exciting are the bombs that can chop even the mighty 2s.
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Card ranking
Thirteen uses a 52-card deck with an unusual ranking:
- Ranks: 3 is lowest, then 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A, and 2 is the highest.
- Suits: suits break ties between equal ranks: spades < clubs < diamonds < hearts. The 3 of spades is the lowest card in the game and the 2 of hearts the highest.
A combination's strength is set by its highest card, with suit deciding between equal ranks.
Dealing and the first play
Each of the four players receives 13 cards, using the whole deck. In the first hand of a match, the holder of the 3 of spades starts, and their first play must include the 3 of spades, on its own or in a combination. In later hands the winner of the previous hand starts with any combination.
Valid combinations
| Combination | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single | Any one card | 9♦ |
| Pair | Two cards of the same rank | 7♠ 7♥ |
| Triple | Three cards of the same rank | Q♣ Q♦ Q♥ |
| Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank (a bomb) | 5♠ 5♣ 5♦ 5♥ |
| Straight | Three or more consecutive cards, any suits | 8 9 10 J |
| Pair sequence | Three or more consecutive pairs | 44 55 66 |
2s cannot be part of a straight or a pair sequence. The longest straight runs from 3 to A.
Playing a round: beating and passing
The leader puts any valid combination on the table. The next player either plays the same type and the same number of cards with a higher top card, or passes. On 5-6-7 you could play 6-7-8, or another 5-6-7 topped by a higher-suited 7, but not a four-card straight or a pair.
- A player who passes cannot play again in that round.
- When everyone else has passed, the player who made the last play starts a new round with any combination.
- If that player has already gone out, the next player starts the new round.
Bombs: chopping the 2s
2s are the strongest cards, but some combinations chop them outside the normal rule:
| On the table | Can be beaten by |
|---|---|
| A single 2 | Four of a kind, or three (or more) consecutive pairs |
| A pair of 2s | Four (or more) consecutive pairs |
| Four of a kind | Four or more consecutive pairs, or a higher four of a kind |
| Three consecutive pairs | Four of a kind, four or more consecutive pairs, or a higher three-pair sequence |
Nothing chops a triple of 2s; it can only be answered under the normal same-type rule, which in practice means it cannot be beaten.
Instant wins and scoring
With the instant win rule, which you can switch on or off in the menu, a player dealt any of these hands wins immediately: four 2s, a dragon (all twelve ranks from 3 to A), six pairs or five consecutive pairs. In Zipi this rule is on by default.
| Finishing place | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 3 |
| 2nd | 2 |
| 3rd | 1 |
| 4th | 0 |
An instant winner scores 3 and everyone else 0. A set lasts 3 hands. Zipi variant: some Vietnamese tables add penalties for 2s and bombs left in the loser's hand; in Zipi only the finishing order is scored.
Common mistakes
- Spending 2s early: a 2 lets you take control of a round; wasting it on small singles leaves you helpless later.
- Breaking straights needlessly: splitting a straight into singles leaves scattered low cards.
- Forgetting the pass rule: once you pass you are out of that round, so be sure.
- Wasting a bomb: opening a four of a kind on an ordinary play leaves you defenceless against an opponent's 2.
Thirteen strategy tips for beginners
- Plan your hand: sort it into straights, pairs and triples and count how many plays you need to go out.
- Shed weak cards: when you lead, play your weakest combination.
- Save 2s and bombs: use them near the end to seize control and finish.
- Watch card counts: if someone has one or two cards left, play high singles and pairs to block them.
- Long straights are strong: a six- or seven-card straight is hard to beat and sheds many cards at once.
- Remember who passed: they cannot come back into the round, so plan your next play around that.
Play Thirteen online on Zipi
Thirteen is free in your browser on Zipi with no sign-up. You play three bots; finish in the top two over a three-hand set to level up, and the bots get better at saving 2s and bombs and splitting straights. Select cards by tapping or sliding across them, an indicator tells you instantly whether the selection is valid, and a hint button suggests the best play when you are stuck. You can also play friends at a four-player online table, with bots in empty seats.
FAQ
What is the highest card in Thirteen?
The 2 of hearts. 2s are the highest rank and hearts the highest suit; the lowest card is the 3 of spades.
What is a bomb in Thirteen?
A four of a kind or a sequence of three or more consecutive pairs. A four of a kind or three-pair sequence chops a single 2, and a four-pair sequence chops a pair of 2s.
Can a straight include a 2?
No. 2s cannot be used in straights or pair sequences, so the longest straight is 3 to A.
Can I play again after passing?
Not in the same round. You wait until a new round starts.
Who starts in Thirteen?
In the first hand the holder of the 3 of spades starts and must include it in their first play. In later hands the previous winner starts.
What is an instant win?
Being dealt four 2s, a 3-to-A dragon, six pairs or five consecutive pairs wins the hand immediately. The rule can be switched off in Zipi's menu.
How is Thirteen scored?
By finishing order: 1st gets 3 points, 2nd 2, 3rd 1 and 4th 0. A set lasts three hands.
