Online card games (game bai): tien len, phom, baccarat, poker
Game bai doi thuong is the Vietnamese name for online card games whose winnings can be cashed out. There are two very different kinds: games against other players (tien len, phom, poker), where the organiser takes a fee from each round, and games against the house (baccarat, blackjack), where the paytable has the house edge built in.
Tien len mien nam
- Four players, 13 cards each from a 52-card deck.
- Rank from low to high: 3, 4, 5 … K, A, 2. Suits from low to high: spades, clubs, diamonds, hearts.
- In the first game, whoever holds the 3 of spades starts.
- You can play singles, pairs, triples or straights (three or more in a row). The next player must play the same type and higher, or pass.
- A 2 can be beaten by three consecutive pairs or four of a kind.
- The first player to run out of cards wins.
House rules such as instant wins differ between rooms; read the room’s rules first.
Phom (ta la)
Each player gets 9 cards, the first player 10. Players draw or take the card just thrown to build sets: three or more of the same rank, or three or more in a row in one suit. At the end, the lowest total of unmatched cards wins; a hand made entirely of sets wins outright.
Baccarat
You bet on Player, Banker or Tie. Each side gets two or three cards under fixed rules, so you make no drawing decisions. Points are the last digit of the total (10, J, Q, K count as 0). Banker wins usually pay a 5% commission.
Blackjack and poker
Blackjack: get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. Poker (for example Texas Hold’em): you play other people, each with 2 private cards and 5 shared cards on the table.
When looking for card games online
- Card game apps that make you install an APK from an unknown source can carry malware. Joker Vin does not recommend any download.
- No “tool” can see other players’ cards or the next card.
- Card games for real money are for adults 18+ only and may be banned where you live.
Baccarat and blackjack also run with live dealers: see live casino. Another traditional Vietnamese game is xoc dia.
Frequently asked questions
Do you play online card games against people or the house?
It depends. Tien len, phom and poker are usually played against other players; baccarat and blackjack are against the house, on a machine table or with a real dealer.
In tien len, what beats a 2?
Under the common rules, three consecutive pairs or four of a kind can beat a single 2. Detailed rules can differ between rooms.
Should I bet Player or Banker in baccarat?
Neither wins for sure. Banker wins slightly more often, which is why it usually pays a commission; Tie pays most but carries the biggest house edge.
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