Thirteen (13)
The Vietnamese shedding card game, also called Tiến Lên (Tien Len) or simply 13. Beat three computer players with singles, pairs, sequences and bombs — be the first to empty your hand. No ads, no sign-in.
Dealing…
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How to play Thirteen (Tiến Lên)
Thirteen — known in Vietnam as Tiến Lên, written Tien Len without accents, meaning "go forward" — is a shedding-type card game for four players using a standard 52-card deck. Everyone is dealt 13 cards, and the goal is simple: be the first to get rid of them all. The ranking runs 3 (lowest) up to King, then Ace, then 2 (highest), so the humble 2 is the most powerful card in the game. The player holding the 3 of spades leads the very first play and must include it.
Combinations
- Single — one card.
- Pair — two cards of the same rank.
- Triple — three of a kind.
- Sequence — three or more cards in a run (e.g. 5-6-7). Twos can't be used in runs in Standard rules.
- Double sequence — three or more consecutive pairs.
- Bomb (Standard rules) — four of a kind, or three or more consecutive pairs, can "chop" a single 2; four consecutive pairs chop a pair of 2s.
On your turn you must beat the current play with a higher combination of the same shape and length, or pass. Once three players pass, the last to play wins the round and leads a fresh one with anything they like.
Rule sets
| Rule | Standard | Classic (our circular-sequence house variant) |
|---|---|---|
| Highest card | 2 (then Ace, King…) | Ace; the 2 is the lowest |
| 2s in runs | Never | Allowed |
| Runs wrap round (Q-K-A-2-3) | No | Yes |
| Bombs chop 2s | Yes | No, because no card needs an answer |
| Who opens | Whoever holds the 3♠; the first play must include it | |
How to win more often
- Count the dangerous cards. In Standard there are only four 2s. Once two or three have gone, an Ace becomes a strong single.
- Don't break a run to win a small round. A 5-6-7-8 sheds four cards in one go; splitting it to beat a single usually leaves you two awkward leftovers.
- Lead your weak shapes. When you win a round, lead the combination you could never use to answer someone else, such as a stray low pair.
- Hold a bomb for a 2. Four 8s look like a lot of cards to keep, but they're the only answer when an opponent drops a 2 to take the lead late in the game.
- Watch the card counts. When an opponent is down to one or two cards, lead pairs or runs they're unlikely to be able to match, not singles.
Worked example (Standard): CPU 2 is down to three cards and leads the 2♥, hoping to take the lead and play out its last two. No single can beat a 2, but your 6♠ 6♣ 7♦ 7♥ 8♠ 8♣, three pairs in a row, is a bomb. It chops the 2, the round is yours, and you lead next instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thirteen free here?
Yes — it plays free in your browser with no ads, no sign-in, and nothing to install.
Who do I play against?
Three computer players at the difficulty you choose. Easy plays its lowest legal cards and spends 2s early, Normal leads carefully but follows like Easy, and Sharp holds back its 2s and bombs. Each difficulty keeps its own win–loss record on this device. Whoever holds the 3 of spades opens.
Why is the 2 so strong?
In Standard rules the rank order ends King, Ace, 2, so a 2 beats every other single card and only a bomb can answer it. Save them for when you really need them. Classic rules turn this round: the 2 is the lowest card and the Ace is highest.
What's the Daily deal?
Toggle Daily and everyone gets the same hand on the same day, so you can compare how you played it against anyone else. Starting a New game drops you out of Daily mode — a daily is one hand, so re-dealing it while still calling it today's would be misleading.
Can I play offline?
This web version needs a browser. For fully offline play and more games, try the free Snackpack Brain Games Vol 2 app.
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