Quick Rules
Thirteen, called Tiến Lên ("go forward") in Vietnam, is a fast, friendly race to get rid of all 13 of your cards. It is played at kitchen tables and family parties all over Vietnam and wherever Vietnamese families have settled. Once you get used to the card order, it is one of the liveliest games there is.
- The card order. 3 is the lowest card, then 4, 5 and so on up to King, then Ace, and 2 is the highest. Between cards of the same rank, the suit decides: spades lowest, then clubs, diamonds, and hearts highest.
- The deal. Everyone gets 13 cards. Whoever holds the 3 of spades starts, and that first play must include it.
- What you can play. One card, a pair, three or four of a kind, a run of three or more ranks in a row, or three or more pairs in a row (a double run). 2s are never part of a run.
- Beating a play. The next player must play the same kind with the same number of cards and a higher top card, or pass. Once you pass, you sit out until the round ends.
- New rounds. When everyone else has passed, the last player to play starts a new round with anything they like.
- Bombs. Four of a kind, or three pairs in a row, beats a single 2. Four pairs in a row beats a pair of 2s.
- Winning. The first player to play all their cards wins the hand. Play goes on for 2nd, 3rd and last place, and points for each place add up over the game.
How to Play on This Page
Your hand is always sorted in true Thirteen order, lowest card on the left and 2s on the right, and the key at the top of the table shows the order of ranks and suits the whole time. Tap cards to pick them; they rise up and show a check mark. The message box then tells you what you picked, for example a run of 5, 7 to J, and whether it beats the play on the table. If it does not, it says what you would need.
The big Play button appears only when your cards may be played. Pass sits beside it. Not sure what you can play? Tap Suggest a Play and it picks a combination for you; tap again to see the next one. Hint at the top suggests the play a sensible player would make, and the Why? button beside each computer play explains what it was thinking.
Tips for Winning
- Sort your hand into plays. Before you play a card, look for your runs, pairs and triples. Thirteen cards in five plays will beat thirteen cards in nine plays almost every time.
- Get rid of low cards early. A lonely 4 or 5 is hard to play late in the hand. Lead it while others are still happy to play over it.
- Keep your 2s. A 2 almost always wins the round. Save it for when you need to take the lead near the end.
- Watch the card counts. When someone is down to one or two cards, don't lead a single or a pair they can follow. Lead a run or a triple instead.
- Remember the big cards. If the 2 of hearts and the other high cards are gone, your Ace may be the highest card left, and that wins rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thirteen free to play here?
Yes. Play as many games as you like for free, with no account, no download and no ads over the game.
Why is the 2 the highest card?
That is simply how Thirteen is played. The order runs 3, 4, 5 up to King, then Ace, and the 2 sits on top. When two cards have the same rank, the suit decides: spades are lowest, then clubs, then diamonds, and hearts are highest. The key at the top of the table shows this order the whole time, and your hand is always sorted the same way.
What can I play?
One card, a pair, three of a kind, four of a kind, a run of three or more ranks in a row (2s cannot be in a run), or a double run of three or more pairs in a row. To beat a play you need the same kind and the same number of cards, with a higher top card. Tap your cards and the message box tells you what you picked and whether it beats the table.
What does Pass mean?
Passing means you do not play this time. Once you pass, you sit out until that round ends. When everyone else has passed, the last player who played clears the table and starts a new round with anything they like. You never have to play, even when you could.
What is a bomb?
A bomb is a special play that can beat 2s. Four of a kind, or three pairs in a row, beats a single 2. Four pairs in a row beats a pair of 2s. Bombs are on unless you turn them off in Settings.
Does the computer cheat?
No. A computer player sees only its own cards, the cards already played face up, who has passed and how many cards everyone holds. It never sees your hand. On Hard it remembers every card that has been played, just as a sharp player at a real table would, so it knows when nothing higher is left. After every hand you can open Show All Hands, and every game has a deal number you can replay to check that the deal was fair. Tap Why? beside any computer play to read its reason.
How is Thirteen scored here?
A game is five hands unless you choose another length. With four players, 1st place scores 3 points, 2nd scores 2, 3rd scores 1 and last scores nothing. The highest total at the end wins. If the lead is tied, one more hand is played. Settings also offers counting wins only.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your game is saved in your browser after every move, so you can close the page and continue later on the same device.
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