crokocat

Thirteen (Tiến lên): rules and how to win

Published October 2, 2026 · Updated October 10, 2026

ThirteenTiến lên — beat the play, shed your cardsPlay now

Tiến lên, called Thirteen on crokocat, is a climbing card game for four players where the goal is to empty your hand before the others do. You lead a play, such as a single card, a pair or a run, and everyone after you must beat it with the same kind of play and a higher top card, or pass. In our Thirteen the 3 is the lowest rank, the 2 is the highest, and the 3 of spades starts every game. The short strategy: get rid of your awkward low cards early, keep your 2s and bombs for the moment you need to take control.

The cards and what beats what

Thirteen follows the Southern rules of Tiến lên. Ranks run from the 3 as the lowest up to the 2 as the highest, so a 2 beats an Ace and an Ace beats a King. Suits matter too: spades are the lowest suit and hearts the highest, which means a single 7 of hearts beats a single 7 of spades.

That suit order decides ties. When two plays have the same rank, the one whose top card has the higher suit wins, so you always have a clear answer to the question of whether your card is good enough.

What you can play

A play is a set of cards you put down together. In Thirteen you can lead a single card, a pair, a triple, a four of a kind, a run (a sequence of cards in a row) or a pair run (pairs in a row, such as three pairs of consecutive ranks).

The rule for answering is the same every time: match the kind and the size of the play on the table, and beat it with a higher top card. A pair answers a pair, a run of four answers a run of four. You cannot mix them. Runs and pair runs stop at the Ace, so a 2 can never be part of one. The first game starts with the 3 of spades, and the first game is coached, so you will see what the rules mean as you play.

Passing, leading and finishing

If you cannot beat the play on the table, or would rather not, you pass. The catch is that a pass keeps you out until the next round: you do not get back in until everyone has passed and a new round begins. That round is led by the last player to play, who can lead anything they like.

Each game ends as players empty their hands. To pass a level you need to finish in the top two, and finishing first earns three stars. That scoring changes how you play, because second place is already good enough to move on.

Chopping 2s with bombs

The 2 is the strongest single card, which makes it a big threat in an opponent's hand. The way to beat it is to chop it. A four of a kind or three pairs in a row chops a single 2. A four or four pairs in a row chops a pair of 2s.

Because of this, a 2 is strong but not safe. If someone is holding on to a four of a kind, your lone 2 can be chopped and its owner loses the lead right when they needed it. The computer players in Thirteen hold their 2s and bombs more cleverly as you climb the levels, so expect the later opponents to save their chops for your best card.

Strategy: how to empty your hand first

Lead your low runs and pairs early. They are the hardest cards to get rid of later, because nobody will let you lead a weak play when the table is full of strong ones. Early in a round the low cards are cheap and likely to hold.

Keep 2s for taking control. A 2 is how you win a round and get to lead again, so spend it when you want to choose what comes next, not on a play you could have won with something lower.

Save a four of a kind to chop an opponent's 2. It is worth more as an answer than as a lead. And watch players with few cards left. When someone is down to one or two cards, do not let them lead: beat their play, even with a good card, so they keep having to answer instead of getting out.

Finally, remember that passing is fine. It keeps your strong cards for later, and since second place is enough to pass a level, you do not need to fight for every round.

A short checklist for every hand

Before your first play, look at the whole hand and sort it in your head into runs, pairs and loose singles. Plan to lead the group that is hardest to place. During the round, count what is missing from the table: if the high cards have not shown up, someone still holds them. Near the end, the player with the fewest cards decides how you play, so stop playing for style and start playing to block them.

Frequently asked questions

Is Thirteen the Vietnamese card game Tiến lên?

Yes. Thirteen is Tiến lên: beat the play on the table with a higher combination of the same kind, chop 2s with four of a kind, and empty your hand first.

What is the highest card in Thirteen?

The 2 of hearts. 2s are the highest rank and hearts the highest suit.

What does chopping mean?

Beating a 2 with a bomb. A four of a kind or three pairs in a row chops a single 2, and a four or four pairs in a row chops a pair of 2s.

Can a run include a 2?

No. Runs and pair runs stop at the Ace.

What happens when I pass?

You sit out until the next round. When everyone else has passed, the last player to play leads anything.

How do I pass a level?

Finish first or second in the four-player game. Finishing first earns three stars.

Guides & tips

Play it here