Card Game Glossary

In many Tiến Lên Miền Nam rulesets, the player holding the 3 of Spades (3♠) must open the first turn. This small card often sets the tempo for the entire round.

A Northern Vietnamese three-card point game closely related to Bài Cào. Round speed is high, and outcomes are determined by simple point comparison.

Three consecutive pairs (e.g., 33-44-55) in Tiến Lên. This combination can chop a single Two (Heo).

A rare pattern expression indicating three separate three-of-a-kind structures under variant-specific rule handling.

A 3-card hand made entirely of face cards (J, Q, K), commonly treated as a special high hand in Bài Cào-style rulesets.

In Chắn, a waiting state where the hand depends on one precise tile/card type to complete a valid winning declaration.

A meld completed unexpectedly from a late draw after prior discard misdirection.

A planned shift from meld-building to pure risk control when your Phỏm progress stalls by midgame.

A popular Vietnamese 3-card game focused on point totals, often played in social and festive settings. The game is simple to learn but highly variance-driven.

Exposed cards visible to all players, used for range inference and betting-line decisions in Xì Tố formats.

Hidden private cards known only to the player, central to bluff and read dynamics in Xì Tố and related betting games.

The mandatory one-card announcement rule in Sâm Lốc, triggering defensive obligations for the upstream player in many tables.

A call made when a player is down to one card in several Vietnamese shedding games. It warns the table and affects defensive blocking decisions.

The Sâm Lốc one-card warning state signaling imminent finish, forcing opponents to prioritize blocking sequences immediately.

A pre-round declaration in Sâm Lốc where a player claims they can win without being blocked. Success yields bonus rewards, while failure triggers heavy penalties.

The 8-Sách card in Chắn and Tổ Tôm, notably associated with the Lèo scoring set.

In Mậu Binh, arranging the cards incorrectly such that the limbs do not ascend in strength (e.g., front > middle). This results in an automatic loss.

A round-five chưng setup played to conceal exact strength while forcing opponents into uncertain responses.

Unmatched or incomplete pieces in Tứ Sắc that have not yet been organized into legal sets.

In Phỏm, drawing one card from the face-down nọc pile when not taking a discard. This action influences both hidden information and tempo.

Four consecutive pairs (for example 44-55-66-77) in Tiến Lên. In many regional rules, this is a premium combination that can chop powerful cards or combos.

A Phỏm defensive decision to split a cạ and discard part of it to reduce risk in later turns.

In Tiến Lên, splitting a potential straight into singles or pairs to improve defense or finish routes.

A tactical single card used to break table rhythm or force awkward responses in Tiến Lên.

Choosing the exact turn to spend a breaker card so you regain initiative with minimal loss.

A near-run missing one connecting rank that cannot score as a meld yet.

In Liêng point logic, a very weak 0-point hand state often requiring fold discipline unless bluff leverage is exceptional.

A two-card near-meld in Phỏm that can become a full phỏm after drawing the right card. Managing cạ well is a core Phỏm strategy skill.

Decision to break an existing cạ to open a stronger future ù shape.

A Cạ-to-Chắn upgrade happens when a previously flexible Cạ is completed into an identical pair, increasing hand stability for a win path.

A Bài Cào format where one player acts as banker (nhà cái) and others compare directly against the banker instead of winner-takes-all resolution.

A quick Vietnamese 3-card point game variant closely related to Bài Cào/Ba Cây, emphasizing rapid rounds and simple point comparison.

A common alias for Liêng-style 3-card betting play, combining point/hand evaluation with bluffing and raise dynamics.

A betting rule that sets a fixed upper cap on bet or raise size to control table volatility.

A mental record of key ranks and suits already shown to narrow remaining possibilities.

A Phỏm baiting tactic that aims to draw out cards needed to complete a run meld.

A Tiến Lên tactic of baiting an opponent into playing a Two (Heo) so it can be chopped for bonus gain or tempo swing.

A Phỏm baiting tactic focused on inducing same-rank cards to complete a set meld.

In Phỏm, a discard considered safe because it is unlikely or impossible for opponents to use for a meld.

The final critical discard in Phỏm round flow; interactions around the cây chốt frequently determine penalty outcomes.

A traditional Vietnamese trick-and-combination game played with a 100-card deck derived from Tổ Tôm cards. Chắn emphasizes pattern recognition, memory, and tactical discards.

A defensive attempt to stop a Sâm Lốc player who has announced one card from finishing next turn.

A defensive move to prevent an opponent from finishing, usually by keeping control cards or leading blocking combinations at key moments.

A local-table Chắn format where cước multipliers and settlement rules follow table convention.

The active lane in Chắn where players place discards and where reactions are resolved in order.

In Sâm Lốc, the act of stopping a declared Báo Sâm player from going out.

The required structural shape of a Chan hand before a win declaration is legal.

In Tiến Lên, the act of using a special combination (like Four of a Kind or Pine) to beat a high-value card (usually a Two) or a weaker special combination. This often incurs a penalty payment from the beaten player.

A variation rule where a chop can be over-chopped by a stronger valid chop of the same class.

A Xi Dách option allowing a player to forfeit early and lose only part of the bet in unfavorable spots.

A special card type in the Chắn deck, separate from the three main suits Vạn, Văn, and Sách.

A local Chắn variation defining whether Chi Chi is treated strictly as a special card or a bonus-scoring card.

Chi Chi timing is the strategic choice of when to keep or release Chi Chi based on cước potential and opponent pressure.

In Mậu Binh, the final 5-card limb and typically the strongest one. Building a powerful chi cuối is often key to winning overall comparisons.

In Mậu Binh, the first 3-card limb. Chi đầu is usually the weakest limb and must not outrank chi giữa or chi cuối.

Managing entry options to a target chi so opponents cannot safely feed it.

In Mậu Binh, the second 5-card limb. Chi giữa must be stronger than chi đầu and weaker than chi cuối in a valid arrangement.

Distributing cards to players. In many Vietnamese games, the winner of the previous round deals or plays first.

In Xì Dách/Blackjack-style play, splitting a starting pair into two separate hands under allowed rules to maximize expected value.

A special declaration in traditional Vietnamese tile-card games like Chắn when a specific exposed card allows an immediate high-priority capture under table rules.

The precedence rule in Chắn where a valid chíu claim interrupts normal turn flow.

Keeping track of potential chíu interruptions in Chắn before committing a discard.

A Chan win where a prior chiu declaration directly forms the final winning structure.

In Chắn, a single-tile waiting state where the player can win only by drawing or taking one exact tile.

A core Tu Sac piece rank that appears frequently in pair, triple, and quad set construction.

In the final discard phase, showing a tempting line then switching to a safer throw.

A strict Phỏm closing strategy focused on blocking likely waits and preventing opponents from eating the final discard.

The critical final discard/round card in Phỏm; interactions around this card can trigger heavy penalties such as ăn chốt multipliers.

An endgame Phỏm approach focused on preventing dangerous final-discard feeds.

The fifth Catte phase where survivors set a key card to determine final-round control.

Choosing the Chưng card in Cát Tê based on both immediate strength and final-round control.

Choosing a chưng suit tests opponent weakness while preserving your final-round winner.

A discarded card that can legally be taken because it immediately completes a valid pattern.

A pass that closes your response right for the current trick cycle.

A turn sequence where actions pass to the next player on the right around the table.

A discard that cannot be taken by rule and only advances turn flow.

A hand transition where a player stops exposing new meld information and plays concealed.

A Chan winning condition where the player completes ù from a tight internal wait rather than broad waiting options.

Color balance in Tứ Sắc is maintaining workable distribution across four colors to preserve multiple legal meld options.

In Tứ Sắc, preserving color distribution to keep more legal grouping paths open.

A color-critical piece that determines whether the hand favors run or set routes.

A valid Tứ Sắc sequence formed by the required piece progression and color constraints.

Core To Tom play focuses on assembling valid card combinations efficiently from a complex hand.

Combination planning in Tổ Tôm means sequencing card usage so key groups complete in order without collapsing hand balance.

A complete-meld state in Tứ Sắc is when every card belongs to a legal group and no unresolved odd card remains.

A valid identical pair in Chắn kept in hand and not yet exposed on the table.

A situation in Tiến Lên where a player has not been able to play a single card before another player finishes the game. This usually results in a heavy penalty.

A Chan scoring pattern where a player wins multiple rounds in a row, typically granting an additional cước bonus.

Deliberately yielding one trick lets you retake control later with a stronger pattern type.

Keeping a matching pair in Tứ Sắc to answer likely future group completions.

Passing despite having a valid response to preserve control cards for a stronger reclaim later.

A turn sequence where actions pass to the next player on the left around the table.

A Cạ is a two-card group with the same rank but different suits.

A hand made of one three-of-a-kind plus one pair. Cù lũ is a high-value Mậu Binh hand that typically beats flush and straight.

A Chắn positional concept related to key waiting lane/entry logic for completing the final winning structure.

Tracking repeated return windows in turn order to time calls efficiently.

The player immediately before a threatened finisher (for example after Báo 1) who carries primary blocking responsibility under table rules.

Named scoring combinations in Chắn/Tổ Tôm contexts. Correct identification of cước determines bonus multipliers and final payout.

In Xì Dách-style rules, doubling the stake after receiving initial cards to optimize value in strong expectation spots.

Cước pathing is planning a Chắn hand toward one realistic scoring pattern instead of chasing too many incompatible bonuses.

Named bonus-scoring patterns in Chắn that increase payout beyond a standard Xuông win.

A tactical or rule-based shift in banker control where a non-banker challenges or takes the banker role in subsequent rounds.

The rank-9 card in Chắn and Tổ Tôm suit families, commonly involved in named scoring patterns.

The 9-Vạn card in Chắn and Tổ Tôm, relevant to hand structure and the Lèo cước pattern.

A tactical choice to delay playing certain strong cards or combos in order to control turn order, bait opponents, or preserve a finishing path.

A conservative Xi Dach timing choice: stand early on medium totals to avoid overdraw risk against dealer pressure.

A discard considered low risk because opponents are unlikely to use it for any meld.

A lone card with no realistic path to combine before hand end.

Cards not included in any Phỏm meld, counted for points at the end if no one ù.

A Phỏm approach focused on lowering unmatched card points when a full win is unlikely.

A Xì Dách house rule where equal point totals are awarded to the dealer.

Discard denial in Chắn means avoiding throws that match opponents’ exposed patterns, reducing their chance to complete key pairs.

Discard discipline in Tổ Tôm means prioritizing safe releases over greedy progression when opponents show strong convergence.

A discard that pressures opponents in two possible rank directions at once.

A mental map of ranks and suits that are becoming dangerous to throw.

The directional path where discarded cards are passed and become available by seat order.

Inferring opponents' waiting cards by tracking what ranks and suits they discard or refuse to eat.

Tracking who takes which discard in Phỏm to infer hidden waits and meld direction.

In Xì Tố, the first face-up card dealt to each player, used to determine early initiative and visible strength.

Maintaining two live wait cards to increase the chance that one feed remains available.

A full straight from 3 to Ace recognized in many Tiến Lên tables as an instant-win pattern.

The active position in Chắn where a player draws from the Nọc and resolves immediate reactions.

Observing the draw gate sequence in Chắn to anticipate likely captures and waits.

The state when the stock pile runs out and triggers the end procedure.

Switching from meld chase to point defense when your hand loses viable wait lines.

Maintaining two possible Phỏm completions from one hand segment to improve draw flexibility.

In Cát Tê, prioritizing one early trick win to guarantee survival into later phases.

Taking a discard or drawn card to form a valid chắn or cạ set.

The capture window in Chắn where a valid discard can be taken to form a Chắn or Cạ.

The eat window is the brief turn moment in Chắn when a discard can be taken only if it immediately forms a valid Chắn or Cạ.

Turn pressure exists because each player can only eat the immediate discard from their left.

The minimum performance condition that determines whether a player is knocked out.

A reserved card pattern used only at the end to break a stalled table state.

A preserved strong card reserved solely to secure initiative in late turns.

A preserved high-impact card kept specifically to block a likely finishing move.

A reserved top single kept to block an opponent who is down to one or two cards.

Holding a finishing pair for one extra cycle to avoid being overrun and secure a cleaner exit.

Regaining the right to open by winning the current trick in Tiến Lên.

A chosen pattern line used to prevent the next player from going out.

Defensive pressure applied when an opponent is low on cards, forcing them to spend key combinations before finishing.

A late-game defensive block used to stop an opponent from finishing in Tiến Lên.

A Chắn pair that has been laid open after taking a card according to table rules.

Counting revealed Tứ Sắc pieces to estimate remaining completion chances.

Pressure created when many copies of one rank are already visible on table.

Using a low-value face-down fold preserves key same-suit cards for later control.

Playing a card face down to stay in sequence without contesting the active trick.

In Catte, placing a card face down when you cannot or choose not to beat the lead suit card.

In Tổ Tôm, holding a near-complete frame while waiting for one decisive draw card.

The last-round discard chosen only from cards already exposed or provably hard to eat.

Entering round six with a planned suit advantage limits opponents’ ability to overtake.

Narrowing opponent options on the last active turn before final comparison.

Final-card release in Tứ Sắc is choosing the safest last odd card to discard before declaring a completed hand.

A committed Catte line aimed at converting advantage in the deciding final phase.

Last-turn discard choice focused on minimizing deadwood point exposure.

A late-game Tiến Lên tactic that blocks an opponent's most likely final pattern.

Opening tactic that spends medium cards early to reduce hand load before control cards are needed.

A traditional Chan cước name for a specific valid winning pattern in classical rule sets.

A rare Tiến Lên hand of five consecutive pairs, commonly treated as an instant-win condition.

Five-seat rotation in Tổ Tôm tracks action order among five players, which strongly affects discard safety and reaction timing.

A standard Tổ Tôm table is arranged for five players.

A betting structure where raise sizes are capped by fixed increments, reducing variance and emphasizing hand-reading discipline.

A Tứ Sắc hand segment that cannot currently merge into any legal set without exact draws.

A named Chan cước associated with a specific elegant winning composition recognized by traditional tables.

Choosing a controlled face-down fold early to protect one guaranteed surviving tùng line.

Playing a high enough pattern to make opponents skip their turns and lose tempo in shedding games.

A Phỏm turn where you cannot or choose not to eat the discard, so you must draw from the nọc.

A discard that must be made despite revealing useful information to opponents.

In Catte open rounds, players must follow the lead suit when they still hold that suit.

A hand state where your practical options are narrowed to drawing from nọc and minimizing loss.

Each Chan card type appears in four identical copies in the deck.

A special Tiến Lên opening hand of four Threes, often treated as instant-win in first-round rules.

A Tiến Lên hand containing all four Twos, typically recognized as a premium instant-win combination.

Tứ Sắc cards are divided into four colors: red, green, yellow, and white.

A losing hand state where you fail to win any face-up trick in the first four rounds.

A defensive late-round approach focused on discarding only proven safe cards to avoid chốt penalties.

A stable hold card saved to secure position at the critical fourth trick.

In Sâm Lốc Bao 1 situations, the player to the left of the one-card player who must attempt a strong block.

In Tiến Lên or Sâm, maintaining lead control to choose the next pattern and pressure opponents.

A defensive tempo strategy to preserve turn control and block likely finishing paths of opponents in shedding games.

A Phỏm endgame defense tactic that prioritizes safe discards on the closing turn to avoid feeding opponents.

The equal pre-round contribution each player puts into the pot in Liêng or Bài Cào side-money formats.

One of the four Tứ Sắc color groups that determines valid grouping logic for piece sets.

In Phỏm, playing unmatched cards onto another player's completed set during the final reveal phase to reduce one's point total.

In Phỏm, attaching your leftover cards to exposed melds after players have laid down, reducing deadwood points.

The end-of-round phase in Phỏm when players lay down melds, optionally send cards to other melds, and count unmatched points to determine ranking.

Hand compression in Tứ Sắc means reducing the number of unresolved groups so each draw has clearer strategic impact.

Balancing strong and weak cards in Tiến Lên to avoid running out of legal replies mid-game.

Systematically discarding low-value connectors to keep only realistic winning structures.

The amount of reliable information opponents can infer from your revealed actions.

In Tiến Lên table slang, 'hàng' refers to special high-impact combinations like tứ quý or đôi thông used for chopping and control.

The Two card (2), which is the highest-ranking card in Tiến Lên. It can beat any single card but can be 'chopped' (beaten) by special combinations like Four of a Kind or three consecutive pairs.

In Chắn, retaining cạ in hand without exposing it to preserve declaration flexibility.

Unseen cards and intentions that shape risk decisions in every turn.

Applying pressure by concealing preserved winning cards until opponents overcommit.

Keeping a high pair in Tiến Lên for defense against sudden endgame pair plays.

Breaking a high pair to unload points before endgame penalties outweigh meld potential.

Saving one top single for late-game interruption is stronger than spending it in early exchanges.

In Phỏm, keeping a two-card setup (cạ) instead of discarding it, waiting for the exact completing card.

A Tiến Lên timing tactic where players delay using consecutive pairs to preserve a late-game chopping threat.

Using honor tiles to fill structure gaps without weakening core combinations.

In Tổ Tôm, protecting special honor-card structures for higher-value winning declarations.

Honor-card preservation in Tổ Tôm is holding special cards until their combination value is clear rather than discarding them early.

A Chắn is formed by two completely identical cards, matching both suit and rank.

A basic Tứ Sắc meld can be formed by two identical cards.

Four identical cards in Tứ Sắc create a complete quad meld.

Three identical cards in Tứ Sắc form a valid triplet meld.

A Tu Sac grouping that is one piece short and cannot be scored as a complete set.

A side wager used to hedge against the dealer having a natural top hand.

A grouped set concept in Tứ Sắc used in practical play talk for valid same-type cluster formation and hand reduction.

A Sâm Lốc fault where a player reaches one card but fails to announce báo một as required.

In Tứ Sắc, a valid grouping pattern used to organize hand pieces toward a complete winning structure.

A Chan cước recognized when the hand includes all four Chi Chi cards in the winning structure.

The final comparison phase where remaining players reveal and compare their last cards.

The structural relationship of your final two cards that determines finish options.

Choosing the order of your final two plays maximizes guaranteed exit probability.

A planned switch in card tempo near the endgame to keep lead control while preparing a safe finish.

Late-game tightening is narrowing Chắn hand choices near the end to protect a concrete winning shape and avoid risky flexibility.

Holding the lead near endgame and forcing opponents to pass through narrow playable lines.

A Catte control pattern that preserves lead initiative across key rounds.

Regaining the right to open the next trick or round after beating current play.

When all opponents pass, the current winner clears the table and starts a new unrestricted lead.

In Tiến Lên, a response play that retakes turn control so the player can open the next pattern.

Remembering opened suits in Cát Tê to estimate who can still contest key rounds.

Folding face down by design in one round protects a stronger lead setup for the next round.

A timing window where you spend the minimum card needed to win lead and start the next pattern.

In Chắn, a player may eat only the discard from the immediately previous player to form a valid group.

Tracking discard behavior from the left seat to predict which ranks are being built.

A Chắn cước achieved when the winning hand includes the specific set Cửu Vạn, Bát Sách, and Chi Chi.

A fast Vietnamese betting card game where players receive 3 cards and compare hand strength through betting rounds. Bluffing and pot-odds awareness are central to Liêng strategy.

The named straight-ranking hand in Liêng. It outranks point-only holdings and sits below sáp in many rule sets.

A house-rule Liêng hand where all three cards are consecutive and of the same suit; it usually ranks above a regular Liêng.

A discard that still has high chance to be eaten because it connects with likely melds.

Releasing a long-held pair at endgame to unlock the final completion path.

A To Tom card that currently does not connect to any valid set pattern in hand.

A Tổ Tôm hand-management strategy focused on steadily reducing isolated cards.

A Tứ Sắc piece not currently integrated into any legal pair, triple, quad, or sequence group.

A Catte elimination state where a player wins no trick in the first four rounds.

A regional Mậu Binh special-pattern name appearing in some house-rule circles, associated with premium arrangement bonuses.

A Tứ Sắc piece rank commonly involved in interchangeable set paths depending on available colors and discard flow.

A forced pass state when a player cannot or chooses not to beat the current play. Repeated mất lượt can lead to position collapse.

Also known as 'Pusoy' or 'Chinese Poker', this game involves arranging 13 cards into three limbs (hands) of increasing strength: front, middle, and back. It emphasizes logical thinking and hand arrangement strategy.

A rare instant-win style pattern in some Mậu Binh house rules, usually involving an exceptional full-sequence structure across 13 cards.

In Mậu Binh, a hand with no pair, no straight, and no flush. Mậu thầu is the weakest basic hand rank and is often placed in the front limb.

A two-card core kept as a foundation for completing a set or run.

Adding a fitting card onto an existing meld to reduce dead cards.

Delaying a useful meld reveal for one cycle to preserve flexibility in discard choices.

Deliberately holding a near-complete Phỏm structure to conceal intentions and improve timing.

The planned sequence that upgrades a weak partial set into a scoring meld.

A visible sign that an opponent is close to completing a phỏm, affecting discard safety.

A point-control tactic of shedding J-Q-K in round three when they are judged relatively safe.

Choosing the shortest valid grouping route in Tứ Sắc to complete a win efficiently.

Core Chan winning condition requiring at least six chắn pairs in a valid ù hand.

A baiting move where you discard the same rank in another suit to suggest that rank is safe.

In Phỏm, a state where a player fails to form any valid set (phỏm) by the end of the game. Being 'Móm' usually results in being ranked last automatically.

A Phỏm state where a player ends the hand without forming any Phỏm and is ranked last.

A Chắn waiting shape that can complete a win from only a small set of exact cards.

A new Tiến Lên round that starts after all others pass, allowing the trick winner to lead any valid pattern.

In Xì Dách, a special winning hand consisting of 5 cards with a total score of 21 or less. It is a very strong hand, second only to Xì Bàng and Xì Dách.

A special Xi Dach hand of five cards totaling 21 or less. This condition usually defeats regular totals and is ranked among top winning hands.

The dealer or banker role in games such as Xì Dách and Bài Cào variants. Nhà cái may follow distinct dealing, drawing, or settlement rules.

The dealer draw phase in Xi Dach where the banker decides to draw or stand according to table rule thresholds.

In banker-versus-players formats (for example some Bài Cào tables), each non-banker participant is called a nhà con.

A settlement style where only the top hand wins the entire pot. Common in fast social formats of Bài Cào/Cào Rùa.

The rank-2 card in Chắn and Tổ Tôm suit families, used to form valid pairs and melds.

In Chắn, each player starts with 19 cards, which defines the baseline hand structure before drawing and discarding begin.

A betting structure allowing players to wager any amount up to full stack. Common in aggressive Vietnamese Xì Tố/Liêng tables.

The face-down draw pile in Phỏm. Players draw from the nọc when they do not take the previous discard.

A standard Chắn turn includes drawing one card from the Nọc before finalizing hand adjustments.

Nọc endgame in Tổ Tôm is the late phase where remaining draw cards become scarce and each discard carries higher risk.

Blocking likely draw lanes from the nọc by timing discards against visible structure.

Nọc probability read in Chắn estimates remaining live cards from discards to decide whether a waiting line is still viable.

The unit-digit point value used in 3-card point games like Bài Cào/Cào Rùa. For example, total 17 is counted as 7 nút.

Odd-card clearance is the Tứ Sắc process of systematically removing isolated cards so the hand approaches a zero-odd finish.

A discard left face up for possible claims by eligible players.

The practice of avoiding discard ranks that sit in visible gaps likely to complete opponents’ runs.

Open-info memory in Chắn is the skill of retaining eaten and discarded cards to infer hidden pair and cạ structures.

Intentionally spending a strong opener to drain opponent responses and shape later rounds.

The player designated by rule or card condition to make the first play of a round.

The first play of a fresh Tiến Lên round, usually chosen by the player who just won the previous trick.

A sequence where multiple players successively overcut in the same suit to seize lead priority.

A pair keeper in Tứ Sắc is a deliberately retained pair that serves as a stable anchor for later meld completion.

A valid Tu Sac meld made from two identical pieces.

Starting a fresh Tiến Lên round by leading with a pair to shape opponents' reply options.

Intentionally splitting a pair to maintain flexible singles and disrupt predictable combo timing.

Keeping consecutive pairs unbroken so they remain a future control sequence.

Holding medium pairs creates a defensive shield against opponents nearing one-card finishes.

Turning a held pair into a complete rank set through controlled pickups.

A sequence of consecutive passes in a Tiến Lên trick before the lead resets.

A consecutive chain of passes that often confirms control for the current leader.

Intentionally passing with a playable response preserves stronger cards for the next reset lead.

You lock opponents by repeatedly leading combination types they have already shown weakness against.

Pattern depth in Tổ Tôm refers to building hands with multiple valid completion routes to avoid dead-end waits.

The rule that replies must match the current combination type and card count (single, pair, straight length, etc.).

A principal Tứ Sắc piece type used in same-rank grouping logic. Board tracking of Pháo helps infer opponents' hidden structure.

A Rummy-style card game popular in Northern Vietnam, also known as 'Tá Lả'. Players try to form sets (phỏm) and minimize the value of unmatched cards. It requires high strategic skill and memory.

A Phỏm meld made from consecutive ranks of the same suit, such as 7♣-8♣-9♣. Sequence melds are one of the two core Phỏm structures.

A Phỏm meld made from same-rank cards across different suits, such as 9♣-9♦-9♥. Building balanced ngang and dọc melds improves flexibility.

Piece-family control in Tứ Sắc means managing key ranks like Tướng, Sĩ, and Pháo to prevent bottlenecks in meld building.

A betting format where the maximum raise cannot exceed the current pot size.

A betting structure where the maximum raise cannot exceed the current pot size.

The mathematical ratio between call cost and current pot size, used to evaluate whether calling is profitable.

The fixed seat precedence used to resolve simultaneous claims on one card.

A deliberate face-down play in Cát Tê to preserve stronger cards for Chưng or final resolution.

In Tiến Lên, a powerful bomb combination used to beat a high-priority card, typically a Two.

In Xì Dách, a hand with a total score exceeding 21. This is an automatic loss unless other players also bust or have weaker hands.

A four-of-a-kind Tu Sac meld formed by four identical pieces.

Quad secure is the Tứ Sắc state where a completed four-of-a-kind is protected from being broken for short-term convenience.

A Tứ Sắc piece type such as Tướng, Sĩ, Tượng, Xe, Pháo, Mã, or Chốt used to form valid groups.

Single cards that do not form any pair or sequence. In Tiến Lên, getting rid of 'rác' is a key early-game strategy.

A meld made of cards sharing the same rank across different suits.

Keeping close ranks together to maximize conversion into sets over multiple turns.

A reserved single card used to re-enter lead control after a pass chain.

Discarding in Phỏm to reduce useful connections for the player acting immediately after you.

A planned card path to retake initiative through a thiep response window.

A plan to win one trick, open the next freely, and keep control across consecutive rounds.

One of the four Tứ Sắc color groups, used to classify pieces for legal combination checks.

A defensive play that prevents an opponent from rejoining active trick control.

Winning the current trick to earn the right to open the next pattern freely.

After dealing in Tổ Tôm, the undealt cards are kept as the Nọc for later draws.

The step in Chắn when turn priority passes back into normal order after a capture or interruption.

Tracking turn return order in Tổ Tôm to plan safer discards and capture timing.

Leading a lower threat pattern to bait high replies, then counter-controlling the next turn.

A defensive Phỏm approach that prioritizes discards your immediate right opponent cannot eat on their next action.

A connector card that links two fragments into one valid sequence.

Run-formation timing is choosing when to commit to a color run in Tứ Sắc instead of holding flexible same-rank groups.

The action of taking one card from deck or pile according to game rules. In draw-based Vietnamese games, rút bài affects both probabilities and tactical lines.

Choosing a Chắn discard lane that minimizes immediate capture risk from opponents.

A Phỏm timing window where discard risk is relatively low based on shown information.

A timing interval where a discard is least likely to be captured.

In Phỏm, selecting a low-risk last discard that is unlikely to complete the next player's meld.

Discard selection designed to deny opponents an easy safe pick from the table.

Another regional naming usage for three-of-a-kind in Liêng contexts. It overlaps conceptually with 'sáp' depending on table vocabulary.

Three cards of the same rank, such as 8-8-8. In Mậu Binh, sám cô is a key building block for strong middle or back limbs.

Three-of-a-kind ranking in Xì Tố hand ordering. This hand usually outranks two pair and below in standard comparison logic.

A fast Northern Vietnamese shedding game where each player receives 10 cards and aims to go out first. It is related to Tiến Lên but has distinct declaration and penalty mechanics.

A sequence of consecutive card ranks. Sảnh is a foundational ranking concept in Tiến Lên, Mậu Binh, and many Vietnamese poker-like games.

A named Mậu Binh arrangement approach centered on building a straight-oriented lead limb and preserving pair equity in remaining limbs.

A sequence of cards from 3 to Ace (or 2 depending on game). This is typically an Instant Win (Tới Trắng) hand.

In Liêng, sáp means three cards of the same rank, such as 7-7-7. This is one of the strongest possible 3-card holdings.

In Mậu Binh, losing all three limbs (hands) to another player. This results in a multiplied penalty payment, often referred to as being 'swept'.

In Catte, holding back a strong suit card to control the Chưng setup or final showdown.

A Tiến Lên straight of three or more consecutive ranks, typically not wrapping through Two.

A same-suit straight in Tiến Lên, treated as a stronger special sequence in rulesets that recognize it.

Applying pressure specifically on the next seat with high responses to stop their exit sequence.

In Catte, winning at least one of the first four rounds to stay eligible for the final phases.

You force opponents into pass chains by leading a straight length they struggle to match.

Set efficiency is maximizing useful grouped cards in Tổ Tôm while minimizing isolated cards that block hand development.

The Tứ Sắc deck is built from seven piece families: General, Advisor, Elephant, Chariot, Cannon, Horse, and Soldier.

A core Tứ Sắc piece rank that participates in valid triplets/quads depending on color and current board state.

Planned order for shedding single cards to avoid opening a stronger reply window.

A Chan hand state that can win only with one exact incoming card.

Securing at least one Phỏm prevents automatic last place even when winning is unlikely.

A vulnerable hand state where overreliance on one suit leaves you exposed after that suit is exhausted.

A Chan winning state where the hand waits on exactly one Chi Chi tile to complete ù.

A Tiến Lên opening pattern with six pairs, often listed under instant-win hands in house rules.

A legal Ù hand in Chắn must include at least six Chắn groups.

In Tiến Lên, when a player cannot or chooses not to beat the current play and temporarily exits that trick round.

A Ba Cây/Bài Cào variant rule using suit order to break ties when players have equal points.

A 17 total containing an Ace counted as 11 (such as A-6); some tables require the dealer to hit this hand.

A high single card kept for late rounds to block an opponent's finishing single.

Inference that a suit is likely exhausted in opponents’ hands based on repeated failures to follow.

Reading near-empty suits from earlier rounds to predict who cannot contest the final lead suit.

A key card used to switch from survival play to control play within the same suit.

Attacking an opponent who has run out of a suit by forcing costly responses.

In Cát Tê, the state of having no card in the led suit, forcing alternative responses.

Keeping one reliable high card in a target suit acts as an anchor for end-round contests.

Suit-ladder reading in Tổ Tôm means tracking rank progression in Vạn, Văn, and Sách to detect likely waits.

Retaining a stronger suit of the same rank helps win tight single-card tie situations.

A meld made of consecutive ranks in one suit.

An early-round line that values securing any tùng over chasing maximum-card wins.

An early phase where players must secure at least one win to remain eligible later.

Winning at least one of the first four Catte rounds to stay eligible for rounds five and six.

A player position that remains active into Catte's late phases by securing at least one early trick.

A common Northern Vietnamese name for Phỏm. In many regions, Tá Lả and Phỏm refer to the same draw-and-meld card game format.

Table pace in Tổ Tôm is controlling action speed to gather information before committing to a narrow finishing line.

Clearing completed cards and starting a fresh contest after everyone else yields.

Tracking who last claimed, passed, or drew by seat rotation to predict next threats.

In advanced Phỏm variants, tái grants an additional action window after specific late-round events, reshaping both risk and scoring potential.

A table-information concept in Phỏm indicating visibly cycled/disclosed card flow that changes safe-discard decisions.

Discarding harmless tail cards to hide the true meld target in hand.

A prioritized order for shedding deadwood tails that minimizes point exposure each round.

The 3-Sách card in Chắn and Tổ Tôm, used in meld building and in the Tôm cước set.

The 3-Vạn card in Chắn and Tổ Tôm, including its role in the Tôm scoring combination.

Committing all remaining chips or stake into a single bet. Tất tay creates high-risk, high-reward situations in Liêng and Xì Tố.

A planned discard used to control when opponents can eat and to shape the round’s timing.

A turn used to control pacing by forcing opponents to react before developing their plan.

The final phase where players compete to complete their last valid meld first.

A special Tổ Tôm honor card outside the regular suit-number families, important in traditional pattern recognition.

A Tổ Tôm named scoring pattern recognized when the hand meets the full ten-set completion condition.

The 7-Văn card in Chắn and Tổ Tôm, a key component of the Tôm scoring pattern.

In Vietnamese betting games like Liêng and Xì Tố, theo means matching the current bet to stay in the hand.

A Chắn winning cước where the dealer wins immediately after the deal, before normal play begins.

In Catte, playing a higher card of the same suit to beat the current face-up lead card.

Saving a thiep-eligible card for the exact round where it secures survival priority.

The To Tom deck is structured around 30 distinct card types.

The To Tom deck structure is defined by 30 distinct card types that players must recognize quickly.

A Sâm Lốc rule where finishing by playing a Two as the last card is invalid or penalized under common house rules.

A penalty in Tiến Lên when a player still holds a Two (Heo) after another player goes out. House rules may apply different penalty values for black Two and red Two.

A Sâm Lốc penalty applied when a player reaches one card but fails to announce it in time.

The three core Chan suits are Vạn, Sách, and Văn.

Besides numbered suit cards, Tổ Tôm includes a special group of three General-type cards.

The trio of special cards in Tổ Tôm that are treated separately from Vạn, Văn, and Sách during hand reading.

A dangerous state where feeding one opponent three eats can trigger full-table compensation.

In Chắn, all numbered cards are organized into three suits: Vạn, Sách, and Văn.

A two-pair hand ranking used in Mậu Binh and Xì Tố ranking discussions. Strength depends on the higher pair then lower pair.

A five-card hand where all cards share the same suit. In Mậu Binh ranking order, a flush beats a straight but loses to stronger made hands.

A practical Mậu Binh arrangement pattern discussed in Vietnamese strategy circles, balancing one strong flush limb with supportive pair structures.

Five consecutive cards of the same suit. This is one of the strongest hand rankings in Mậu Binh and many poker-style Vietnamese card games.

A popular Vietnamese shedding-type card game using a standard 52-card deck, often translated as 'Killer 13' or 'Vietnamese Poker'. The objective is to be the first to discard all cards. It is culturally significant during Tet (Lunar New Year) gatherings.

The northern ruleset of Tiến Lên with stricter suit and rank constraints in some combinations. Compared to Miền Nam rules, it rewards tighter card-structure planning.

The southern ruleset of Tiến Lên, known for flexible opening combinations and fast tactical play. It is the most widely played Tiến Lên format online in Vietnam.

A mandatory starting contribution each player puts into the pot before cards are dealt in games like Liêng and Xì Tố.

Increasing the current wager during a betting round. Tố cược applies pressure on opponents and reshapes pot odds and decision ranges.

A large raise intended to force folds or commit opponents under heavy pressure.

Raising again after another player has already raised in the same betting round.

A deliberate aggressive bet with weak or marginal holdings to force folds in Liêng/Xì Tố dynamics.

A bet made before checking one’s cards, used to apply pressure or set up a bluff in Liêng and Xì Tố.

The first aggressive raise made when no one has raised yet in a Liêng or Xì Tố round.

A small informational bet used to test opponent strength before committing more chips.

A classic Vietnamese card game played with a 120-card Chinese-character deck. It is culturally significant and known for its deep, terminology-rich gameplay.

A five-player Tổ Tôm table format where each player receives 20 cards and the rest form the draw pile.

The clockwise progression of deal and action priority positions across consecutive To Tom rounds.

A Tứ Sắc win declaration made when all tiles are fully arranged into valid groups.

A special condition in Tiến Lên where a player wins immediately after dealing due to a rare hand, such as a Dragon Hall (straight from 3 to Ace) or four 2s. No gameplay occurs.

A named scoring pattern in Chắn/Tổ Tôm-derived play, used in regional cước counting and winning declarations.

The final Catte showdown phase where remaining players resolve the winner after Chưng.

Protecting a sequence of surviving rounds to carry control into the reveal phase.

The soldier-ranked piece family in Tứ Sắc. Efficient Tốt management often decides hand speed and endgame stability.

In Tiến Lên, the tactic of releasing isolated low singles early to keep stronger combinations for control later.

A move that beats the current face-up lead with a higher valid card, usually in the same suit.

The required response of playing in line with the lead pattern when rules demand it.

The first card played in a trick that defines the suit or pressure others respond to.

After passing in a trick, a player cannot re-enter that trick until a new lead starts.

A Tu Sac meld of three identical pieces used to reduce hand load.

Triplet conversion in Tứ Sắc is upgrading scattered matching pieces into a secure triple to reduce hand volatility.

The completed hand state in Tứ Sắc where all pieces are grouped legally with no loose leftovers.

Four cards of the same rank (e.g., 5-5-5-5). In Tiến Lên, this is a powerful combination that can chop a Two or a pair of Twos (depending on regional rules).

A traditional Vietnamese game using a custom colored-character deck, where players form valid sets and sequences. Tứ Sắc rewards careful hand management and turn planning.

The practice of preserving useful color balance in Tu Sac to keep more legal grouping options.

Keeping a reliable trick-taking option in Catte to secure survival through early rounds.

One of the seven core Tu Sac piece ranks, used in legal set formation by color and type.

One of the seven core piece types in Tứ Sắc decks. Correct grouping of Tướng by color and set rules is essential to valid meld construction.

A short sequence where a player can regain initiative before the table resets.

In standard To Tom dealing, each of five players receives twenty cards.

The twenty-card setup is the standard Tổ Tôm deal where each player starts with 20 cards before the nọc phase drives decisions.

Each player in Tổ Tôm starts with exactly 20 cards before open play begins.

Chắn uses ranked number cards from Nhị (2) up to Cửu (9) in each suit.

A bet made expecting weaker hands to call frequently enough to generate positive long-term value.

The three major suit families in traditional Vietnamese character-card games such as Chắn and Tổ Tôm. Understanding these suits is fundamental for reading tiles and building combinations.

An extra deciding hand played among tied top players in Bài Cào or Ba Cây settlement.

One of the four core color groups in Tứ Sắc used to validate legal set formation.

The required structural pattern a Tổ Tôm hand must satisfy before a win declaration is valid.

Winning-shape control is maintaining a legal Chắn hand frame while improving cước value without breaking the minimum winning structure.

The act of mixing the cards before dealing. In Vietnamese culture, thorough shuffling is sometimes superstitious.

A common Vietnamese name for Mậu Binh (Chinese Poker). Players arrange 13 cards into three limbs and compare each limb against opponents.

One of the standard Tứ Sắc piece identities. Xe combinations are frequently part of mid-strength set-building paths.

A tactical Phỏm decision to split a potential pair setup (cạ) for defense, bait, or tempo control rather than waiting passively.

The defensive act of breaking your own Phỏm to discard a safer card and avoid costly late-round penalties.

In betting games like Liêng and Xì Tố, xem means passing action without adding chips when no prior bet is active.

In Xì Dách, the dealer’s settlement step of checking each player hand after draw actions end.

In Xì Dách, a hand consisting of two Aces. This is the strongest possible hand and wins immediately.

A Vietnamese version of Blackjack where players try to get a total score as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. It features unique winning conditions like 'Ngũ Linh' or 'Xì Bàng'.

A natural opening top hand (typically Ace + 10-point card) in Xi Dach-style rules, often receiving priority payout treatment.

The Vietnamese poker betting style game derived from Stud poker variants, known for partial card exposure and aggressive betting decisions.

A structured Xì Tố format with capped betting intervals, prioritizing technical decision quality over shove pressure.

A high-variance Xì Tố format where uncapped betting magnifies pressure, bluff leverage, and bankroll swing.

A table-level declaration flow in Sâm Lốc linked to immediate win attempts and group penalties. Exact handling varies by local rule set.

The formal declaration phase in Chắn when a player announces a valid winning hand and its scoring patterns. Correct xướng is essential for score legitimacy.

A standard Chan win with no bonus cước pattern declared.

One of the four Tứ Sắc color groups, required for reading piece identity and forming legal sets.

A player wins in Tứ Sắc only when all cards are melded and no odd card remains.

A Tiến Lên pressure tactic that forces opponents to break combinations or spend control cards early.

One of the three special honor cards in the full Tổ Tôm deck, used in specific high-value hand structures.

In Phỏm, winning by having all 9 cards arranged into valid sets (phỏm) with no unmatched cards remaining. This is the highest form of winning in Phỏm.

A punitive Phỏm outcome where one player's mistake causes them to cover payouts for the entire table when an opponent wins under specific conditions.

A variation outcome where a Phỏm player uses sending mechanics (gửi) to offload all remaining cards and reach an effective full-win state.

A special Phỏm winning condition in some house rules where the dealt hand has no usable pair structure and is declared an instant win condition by agreement.

Intentionally freezing a near-winning shape and refusing risky conversions.

A complete Phỏm win where all cards are fully melded with no deadwood left. This is one of the highest-value Phỏm finishes.

A complete Phỏm win where all cards are fully arranged into melds with no deadwood remaining.

In Vietnamese betting games, úp bỏ means folding your cards and giving up the current hand instead of matching or raising the bet.

In Phỏm, the action of taking the opponent's just-discarded card to complete or improve a meld. Good ăn bài timing is central to point control.

In Phỏm, eating the 'chốt' card (the last card discarded by the previous player in the final round). This incurs a severe penalty if the next player wins.

A defensive Phỏm playstyle emphasizing cautious discards and hand disruption to reduce opponents’ meld opportunities.

The normal clockwise or counter-clockwise turn progression at the table. Mastering turn rhythm helps timing of traps, raises, and exits.

A rule where a player who makes a critical error (like allowing the next player to win by feeding them a card) must pay the winnings for the entire table.

A severe Sâm Lốc penalty where one player must compensate all opponents after a failed high-risk declaration or critical mistake.

A heavy Sâm Lốc penalty paid by a player who declares Báo Sâm but gets blocked before going out.

A Chắn scoring pattern where a player wins from an early qualifying draw/sequence state under local rule definitions.

A pair of rank-2 cards in Tiến Lên. Đôi Heo is a premium high-value pair but can be chopped by stronger special combinations depending on table rules.

A sequence of consecutive pairs in Tiến Lên, such as 44-55 or 77-88-99. Larger consecutive-pair sets are key tactical combinations for chopping high cards.

A common Xì Dách threshold rule where players below 16 points must draw and 16+ may stand.

In many Vietnamese card games, 'ảnh' refers to face cards (J, Q, K). Their scoring value and ranking impact depend on each game's rules.