How to play Thirteen

Thirteen — also called Tiến lên or XIII — is a climbing game. Beat the cards on the table, or pass. First player to empty their hand wins.

These are the rules as they work on game.xiii.cards. Other tables use different bomb ladders and house rules; this page matches this site.

Objective

Each player is dealt 13 cards. Play combinations that beat the previous play. The first player to get rid of every card takes 1st place. Remaining players keep going for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

Setup

2 to 4 players (friends, matchmaking, or computer opponents).
One standard 52-card deck. Jokers are not used.
Each player receives 13 cards. In 2- and 3-player games the leftover cards stay undealt.
The player holding the lowest card at the table goes first. That is usually the 3 of spades; if nobody was dealt it, the next-lowest card starts (3 of clubs, then 3 of diamonds, and so on).

Opening play The first combination of the game must include that lowest card. You may play it as a single, or bury it in a pair, triple, or straight that contains it.

Card ranking

Rank is compared first. If ranks tie, suit breaks the tie.

Ranks (low → high)

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K A 2

3 is the weakest rank. 2 is the strongest — stronger than Ace.

Suits (low → high)

♠ Spades ♣ Clubs ♦ Diamonds ♥ Hearts

Example: Ace of hearts beats Ace of diamonds. A pair of kings that includes the king of hearts beats a pair of kings whose highest suit is diamonds.

Legal combinations

Every play is one of these shapes. To follow a play, you must usually play the same shape and the same number of cards, with a higher top card.

Play	What it is
Single	One card.
Pair	Two cards of the same rank (any suits).
Triple	Three cards of the same rank.
Straight	Three or more consecutive ranks, one card each. Suits do not have to match. 2s cannot appear in a straight. Ace is allowed at the top (…Q–K–A). There is no wrap-around (A–3–4 is illegal).
Bomb	A special combination that can beat a single, contest another bomb, or lead an open table. See Bombs.

Straight examples: 5–6–7 · 9–10–J–Q · J–Q–K–A
Not a straight: 2–3–4 (2s are never in straights) · A–3–4 (does not wrap)

How a trick works

On an open table (nothing to beat), lead any legal combination — a single, pair, triple, straight, or bomb.
Each following player, in turn, must either beat that play or pass.
To beat a normal play, match the type and length and play a higher top card (rank first, then suit).
When every other active player has passed, the table clears. The player who last played then leads any combination they like.

You may pass even if you have a legal beat. Passing does not remove you from later tricks.

If the table is already open, you may pass your lead. The next player then gets to lead instead. Until the first cards of the round hit the table, every lead still has to include the lowest card — so passing the opening only helps if you do not hold it.

Singles are special A higher single beats a single. A bomb also beats a single. Bombs do not beat pairs, triples, or straights — except the 3→Ace dragon, which beats anything.

Bombs

Bombs are the power combinations. They can:

Beat any single
Beat a weaker bomb already on the table
Be led on an open table

Once a bomb is on the table, only a higher bomb can contest it. Regular pairs, triples, and straights cannot answer a bomb.

Pair of 2s and three 2s are dual-nature: they still count as a pair or triple when following those shapes, but after they hit the table they are treated as bombs.

Bomb ladder (low → high)

Level	Bomb	Cards
1	Pair of 2s	Two 2s
2	3-straight bomb	Three consecutive pairs, no 2s (six cards)
3	Quad or three 2s	Four of a kind, or three 2s. Same level — neither beats the other
4	4-straight bomb	Four consecutive pairs (eight cards)
5	5-straight bomb	Five consecutive pairs (ten cards)
6	6-straight bomb	Six consecutive pairs (twelve cards)
7	Dragon (3→Ace)	One card of every rank from 3 through Ace (twelve cards, no 2s)

A higher level always wins. Same level, same kind: the higher top card (rank, then suit) wins. A quad beats a lower quad (four 8s beat four 5s). A quad and three 2s tie in level and cannot beat each other.

3-straight bomb: 4♠ 4♥ 5♣ 5♦ 6♠ 6♥
Quad bomb: 9♠ 9♣ 9♦ 9♥
Dragon: 3–4–5–6–7–8–9–10–J–Q–K–A (any suits)

The dragon The 3-through-Ace run may be played on any combination at any time. It is the strongest bomb. Another dragon can only be beaten by a dragon with a higher Ace (suit of the Ace is the tie-break).

Finishing, folding, and places

Emptying your hand assigns the next finish place: 1st, then 2nd, and so on.
Play continues among whoever still has cards.
When only one player is left with cards, they take the remaining place and the round ends.
Fold means you quit the round. You receive the worst remaining place (4th in a four-player game if you fold first, then 3rd, and so on). Other players keep playing.

After a round you can rematch with the same seats, or return to the lobby.

Playing on this site

Sign in at game.xiii.cards.
Create a game with friends, add beginner or intermediate bots, or use Quick Play matchmaking.
On your turn, select cards in your hand and press Play, or press Pass.
The table tells you what you must beat (or “Open Play” when you may lead anything).
The opening required card is shown until the first play of the round is down.

Want stronger computer opponents later? See bot training to opt in.

Quick reference

Low to high: 3 … Ace, then 2. Suits: spades < clubs < diamonds < hearts.
Follow the same combination unless you are bombing a single or playing the dragon.
2s cannot be in straights or straight bombs.
Four of a kind is a quad bomb, not a “follow any four cards” play.
First play of the round must include the lowest card dealt to the table.
First to empty the hand wins; folding takes the worst remaining place.

Play Thirteen Cards Bot training