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[GendoIkari]

Who here plays Tichu? I know from BGG posts that Theory does.

I first learned it a couple years ago at bgg.con. Finally bought my own set recently and we've started playing it some at my game nights. I really like it; though I'm terrible at it.

I've played probably only about 5 times, not counting the fact that I recently got the app for iPhone. And also none of those 5 games actually were completely finished. Games with beginners take a lot longer, both because of the normal teaching and new-player play times, but also because new players tend to call Tichu a lot less often, so scores tend to go up way slower.

Anyway, there's some helpful strategy tips on BGG, but not as much as you'd think. So what's the secret to winning Tichu?

[Accatitippi]

I played a lot of Tichu during one summer holiday back in high school. I love it, but I have never since found 3 other invested people to teach it to, and teaching newbies and then never playing again is so frustrating that I hardly ever bring it up any more nowadays (similar to Dominion: it was great with the friend I learnt it with, but then teaching to newbies doesn't always get them as invested as we were back then - I must be a bad tutor).
I think we got pretty good at team play (we played with fixed teams, mostly), but I don't think I can offer good advice since I've never played with other experienced players other than that group.
There's the basic: track at least the aces, kings, and specials. Learn to smell bombs (i.e. If you don't see threes, there might be a bomb and so on). About team play, it really depends on the group. Playing with fixed teams is really good because you learn what to expect from your mate. Otoh, it can lead to chronically unbalanced games.

[A Drowned Kernel]

I used to play a lot of Tichu back in college. The only strategy tip that sticks out in my mind is that even though you can wait until you play your first card to call Tichu, there are situations where calling it earlier can be helpful- i.e. calling it before cards are passed so your partner can use that information to choose their card pass better.

[theory]

We've been organizing a few Duplicate Tichu games in NYC which have been really great at improving our play.

The two BGG posts I made about Tichu strategy:

General strategy (following up on Aaron Fuegi's Tichu guide): https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/799194/advanced-strategy-tichu
When to call GT: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/21478549#21478549

[GendoIkari]

We've been organizing a few Duplicate Tichu games in NYC which have been really great at improving our play.

The two BGG posts I made about Tichu strategy:

General strategy (following up on Aaron Fuegi's Tichu guide): https://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/799194/advanced-strategy-tichu
When to call GT: https://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/21478549#21478549

Great articles.

Is it safe to say that having 4-of-a-kind Aces is rarely counted as a bomb, because you are going to get much more use out of using them individually or in pairs?

[Mic Qsenoch]

One of the worst/greatest moment I've ever witnessed in Tichu was someone playing an Ace bomb to beat a pair of Queens.

[ConMan]

I've never played, but I listened to the "How to Play" podcast explaining the rules, and it sounds quite interesting, like a partners variant of Big 2. I wouldn't mind giving it a try at some point.