Thulla and Bhabhi glossary: card game terms explained
New to Thulla, Bhabhi or Bhabi? Here are the words you will hear at the table, in plain English. For the full rules read How to play Thulla (Bhabhi), or follow an example round.
Thulla
The off-suit card you throw when you cannot follow the suit that was led. It ends the trick at once. The game itself is also called Thulla in many homes.
Bhabhi (Bhabi)
The loser: the last player still holding cards when the round ends. Also the name of the game in many regions, spelt Bhabhi or Bhabi.
Trick (haath)
One round of play in which each player puts down a card. In Thulla a trick ends when everyone has followed suit or when someone throws a thulla.
Led suit
The suit of the first card played in a trick. Everyone must follow it if they can.
Follow suit
To play a card of the led suit. You must do this if you hold one.
Void
Having no cards of a suit. A player who is void in the led suit throws a thulla. Tracking who is void is the heart of strategy.
Lead
To play the first card of a trick. The player who wins a trick, or who picks up the pile, leads the next one.
Pick up the pile
After a thulla, the player holding the highest card of the led suit takes every card on the table into their hand.
Highest card of the led suit
The winning card of a trick. Order from high to low: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no trump suit.
Safe (out)
A player who has played their last card and did not have to pick up is out of the round and skipped from then on.
Opening lead
The first card of the round. The holder of the Ace of Spades must play it.
Hand Call
A Thulla Champions move: the player about to lead may ask the next player for their whole hand. If accepted, that player goes out safe and the asker takes their cards.
Give up
When only two players still hold cards, either may give up. They become the Bhabhi and the other goes out safe.
Dead card
On the very first trick, a card played by a player with no spade. It does not count as a thulla and nobody picks up on that trick.
Shedding game
A card game where the goal is to get rid of your cards and the last one holding cards loses. Thulla is one; Durak is another.
Player ID
A short number that identifies you in Thulla Champions, used to add friends.
Prefer Urdu? تھلا کے اصول اردو میں · Roman Urdu
Frequently asked questions
What does thulla mean in cards?
In the card game, a thulla is the off-suit card thrown by a player who cannot follow the suit that was led. It ends the trick at once.
What is a void in Thulla?
A void means having no cards of a particular suit. A void player throws a thulla when that suit is led.
More guides
Bhabhi Thulla card game online
Play Bhabhi (Bhabi) Thulla free in your browser: modes, rules and FAQ.
How to play Thulla (Bhabhi)
The full rules, step by step.
Thulla strategy tips
Habits that keep you from being the Bhabhi.
A Thulla round, trick by trick
A worked example: a clean trick, a thulla, and how a round ends.