Explore strategy guides and practical tips for each game.
Complete guide to the rules and gameplay of Chan, the traditional Vietnamese card game with detailed scoring and winning combinations.
Reviewed by Card Games Academy Editorial Team · Traditional Card Games Researchers
Quick answer: Learn the core rules of Chắn, including setup, turn flow, and win conditions so you can start playing correctly.
You are viewing the rules section for Chắn (Traditional Chan). The content below starts with key takeaways, then goes deeper with examples and common scenarios.
Players
4
Duration
30-60 min
Category
traditional
Chan (also spelled Chắn) is a traditional Vietnamese card game derived from To Tom. It is a sophisticated draw-and-meld game played with 100 cards and 4 players, requiring strategic thinking, memory, and careful observation of opponents' discards. The goal is to form combinations and achieve Ù (winning hand) or have the lowest score.
The deck consists of 100 cards divided into three suits plus special cards:
Cards in deck
100 cards
Players
4 players
Cards per player
19 cards
Cultural significance
UNESCO intangible heritage candidate
Use these links to jump quickly to the game overview, compare pages, glossary, and adjacent sections.
Click any term to see full definitions
Prioritized by same category to compare rules and tactics faster.
| Suit | Name | Symbol | Cards |
|---|
| Vạn | Myriad | 万 | 2-9 (8 cards × 4 copies = 32 cards) |
| Sách | Bamboo | 索 | 2-9 (8 cards × 4 copies = 32 cards) |
| Văn | Coin | 文 | 2-9 (8 cards × 4 copies = 32 cards) |
Each number from 2 to 9 has specific Vietnamese names:
A card marked "Tam Vạn" means: the number 3 (Tam) in the Myriad suit (Vàn). There are 4 identical copies of this card in the deck.
Chan focuses on pair-building rather than long sequence runs. Players aim to form two types of combinations:
| Type | Name | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chắn | Pair | Two identical cards (same suit AND same number) | Tam Vạn + Tam Vàn |
| Cạ | Cross-pair | Two cards with same number but DIFFERENT suits | Tam Vạn + Tam Sách |
On your turn, you may perform ONE of these actions:
You win (called Ù, pronounced "oo") when your 19 cards plus one card (drawn or eaten) form a complete hand of:
When you believe you have a winning hand:
Victory points are calculated based on the complexity and rarity of the winning hand. Higher Cước = more points/money won.
| Name | Vietnamese | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Xuông | Ù Xuông | Basic win with no special combinations |
| Name | Vietnamese | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thiên Ù | Thiên Ù | 3 pts | Win immediately after dealing (dealer only) |
| Địa Ù | Địa Ù | 2 pts | Win on the very first draw from Nọc |
| Tôm | Tôm | 2 pts | Hand contains Tam Vàn, Tam Sách, Thất Văn |
| Lèo | Lèo | 2 pts | Hand contains Cửu Vàn, Bát Sách, Chi Chi |
| Bạch Thủ | Bạch Thủ | 2 pts | Win while waiting for ONE specific card to complete 6th Chắn |
| Bạch Thủ Chi | Bạch Thủ Chi | 3 pts | Bạch Thủ where the waiting card is Chi Chi |
| Name | Vietnamese | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thiên Hoa | Thiên Hoa | 6 pts | Dealer wins with perfect hand + flowers |
| Địa Hoa | Địa Hoa | 5 pts | First draw creates perfect hand + flowers |
| Hoa Rơi | Hoa Rơi | 4 pts | Win with 8+ Chắn (extremely rare) |
Some Cước can combine for higher total points:
| Mistake | Why It's Bad | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Forgetting minimum Chắn | Can't win with only Cạ | Count pairs constantly |
| Ignoring discards | Miss valuable information | Watch every discard |
| Over-valuing rare Cước | Often leads to losing | Win first, style second |
| Poor card organization | Slow decision making | Develop sorting system |
| Tipping your hand | Opponents adjust strategy | Maintain neutral demeanor |
| Vietnamese | English | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ù | Win | Complete valid hand declaration |
| Chắn | Pair | Two identical cards |
| Cạ | Cross-pair | Same number, different suit |
| Nọc | Draw pile | Face-down cards to draw from |
| Bốc | Draw | Take card from Nọc |
| Ăn | Eat | Take opponent's discard |
| Đánh | Discard | Place card face-up |
| Cước | Score | Points awarded for winning |
| Bạch thủ | Waiting | One card away from winning |
Ready to play Chắn? Here are your next steps: