How to Play Cho Han: Rules, Strategy and Tips for Beginners
By Tanuki Games | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to play Cho Han with a clear walkthrough of the odd-or-even bidding, trick-taking rules, and beginner strategy tips for your first game night.
Quick Answer
To play Cho Han, deal out the deck, then each round players bid on whether the total of the trick will be odd or even before playing it out. Win the trick with the correct parity call to collect the wager. The game runs for 3 to 5 players and includes English rules, so you can start playing right out of the box once you grasp the bidding rhythm.
What You Need Before Your First Round
Cho Han is a self-contained trick-taking game for 3 to 5 players, designed by Paix Guid, the designer of Trick of Fixer. The import edition includes English rules, so you do not need to track down a separate translation. Set aside about 30 minutes for your first teach, since the odd-or-even bidding is the one part new players tend to fumble.
- Cho Han Trick Taking Game (Import) with its English rules booklet
- A flat table surface where everyone can see the played cards
- 3 to 5 players, ideally with at least one person who has read the rules once
How the Odd-or-Even Wager Works
In a traditional Cho Han game, players bet on whether the sum of two dice is odd or even. This trick-taking version translates that idea into card play: before a trick resolves, you commit to a parity call, then the cards determine whether your call was right. The objective is to bid on Cho-Han and win money based on your wager, so your score is tied directly to how often you read the trick correctly.
Reading the Table Before You Commit
Because your wager is locked before the trick resolves, the skill in Cho Han is in reading what other players are likely to play. Watch which suits have already been exhausted, note who is leading, and consider whether the remaining high cards make an odd or even total more likely. Beginners often bid on gut feeling alone; slowing down to count what is left in each suit will improve your hit rate faster than any other habit.
Your First Game, Step by Step
- Read the included English rules once before dealing: Skim the full rulebook before anyone picks up a card. The bidding phase is the part most groups get wrong on the first attempt. Checkpoint: if you cannot explain the odd-or-even call in one sentence, reread that page.
- Deal and confirm the player count: Cho Han supports 3 to 5 players. Deal according to the rulebook for your exact count rather than assuming a fixed hand size. Common mistake: dealing a 4-player hand size to a 5-player table.
- Make your odd-or-even call before the trick: Commit to your parity wager out loud or with the game's bidding method. Once the trick starts, your call is locked. Checkpoint: everyone should have called before the first card hits the table.
- Play out the trick and resolve the wager: Follow the trick-taking rules in the rulebook, then check whether the resolved total matches the calls made. Winners collect based on their wager. Common mistake: resolving payouts before confirming the trick is fully complete.
- Track your money across rounds: The objective is to win money based on your wager, so keep a running tally. One bad call is recoverable; three in a row usually is not. Next step: after two rounds, note which calls you got wrong and why.
- Adjust your bidding for the second game: Use what you learned about suit exhaustion and player tendencies to tighten your calls. Most groups see a clear improvement by game two. Checkpoint: if your hit rate has not improved, you are probably bidding on instinct instead of counting.
Product Facts
- Cho Han Trick Taking Game (Import): Cho Han Trick Taking Game (Import) is a must-follow trick-taking game for 3 to 5 players by Paix Guid, designer of Trick of Fixer, and includes English rules. The player count fits most game groups, and the included English rules mean you can teach it without hunting for a translation.
- French Street Food Playing Cards: French Street Food Playing Cards is a standard deck themed around French cuisine, from croissants and macarons to Coq au vin and Crème brûlée. If you want a second deck on hand for casual play or to swap in for variety, this is a straightforward pick.
