Pusoy & Pusoy Dos
Pusoy is a classic Filipino card game. There are actually two types of Pusoy – Chinese Poker (just “Pusoy”) and the party favorite – Pusoy Dos. Both games are played with 13 cards, but the rules are quite different.
How to Play Pusoy (Chinese Poker)
Each player gets 13 cards. Then you arrange them into three poker hands: back, middle, and front.
The back hand has 5 cards, and this hand must be the strongest. The middle hand also gets 5 cards. The front hand only gets 3 cards, and it must be the weakest. Be careful here. The most common mistake in Pusoy is “foul” or “mis-set”. You need to arrange the cards in this specific order. If you don’t, your whole hand automatically loses!
After everyone arranges their hands, the players compare their hands with each other. If you get the strongest hand – you score a point. If you manage to get 3 points, you also get a bonus.
Chinese Poker is a casual game. Usually you don’t find it in online casinos, but you can play for fun on Facebook or in apps like Pusoy Go.
Pusoy Dos Rules
Pusoy Dos is a more popular variant of the game. You get 13 cards, and your goal is to be the first to get rid of all your cards. You do that by playing a combination of cards. You need to beat the combination played by the player before you.
Pusoy Dos ranking of combinations (weakest to strongest)
First of all, you need to remember that 3 is the lowest card, and 2 is the highest (even higher than the Ace). Also, you need to know the suit ranking (from low to high): Clubs (♣) < Diamonds (♦) < Hearts (♥) < Spades (♠). Suit ranking is used as a tie breaker only.
- Single card (solo)
3♣ is the lowest solo card, and 2♠ is the highest. - Pairs (2 of a kind)
Two cards with the same number (e.g. two 9s or two Queens). Pair of Queens would beat a pair of 9s. If there are two same-number pairs, the one with the higher suit wins (e.g. 8♠ + 8♦ beats 8♥ + 8♣). - Triples (3 of a kind)
Three cards with the same number or rank. Higher ranking triple wins (e.g. three Queens beat three 9s). - Straight
Five-card sequence (e.g., 5-6-7-8-9). Cards can be of any suit. Between two straight combinations, the one with the highest top card wins. - Flush
Five cards of the same suit. Does not have to be in any specific order. Between two Flish combinations, the one with the highest card wins. - Full House
Three of a kind + a pair. Full house combinations are ranked by the value of “3 of a kind”. E.g. 4-4-4-2-2 wins over 3-3-3-5-5. - Quads (4 of a kind)
Four cards of the same value plus any fifth card. Quads are ranked by the value of “4 of a kind”. - Straight Flush
A straight where all cards are also of the same suit.
IMPORTANT! 2s are treated like special cards. 2s are the strongest cards in singles, pairs, and triples, but they are excluded from straights, full houses, and other 5-card combinations.
How the game goes
The game starts with the person with the 3♣. Other players take turns trying to beat the latest hand.
If you can’t play or choose not to play, you can pass. Once everyone has passed, the player who placed the last hand starts a new round.
The game ends when one player empties his hand.
Difference between Pusoy and Pusoy Dos
| Pusoy (Chinese Poker) | Pusoy Dos | |
| Number of cards in a hand | 13 | 13 |
| Goal | Organize 13 cards in 3 hands | Be the first to get rid of all cards |
| Turns | All hands are revealed at once | Players take turns |
| Use of poker hands | Yes, in the back and middle hands | Yes, in 5-card combinations |
| Difficulty | Medium-high | Medium |
| Real-money games | Not common | Online casinos and gaming apps |
Where To Play Pusoy in the Philippines
Real-money Pusoy is not very common. Some off-shore casino platforms have it, but in general, it’s mostly played in apps for fun.
Pusoy Dos, on the other hand, is available in some casinos in Asian card or table game sections.
If you want to play for real money, you should always choose licensed casino sites (PAGCOR casinos are the safest option in the Philippines).
Never download random APKs or join Facebook games with strangers. You will likely end up losing your money.
Pusoy Go app
Pusoy Go is one of the most popular card game apps in the Philippines. There you can play Pusoy Dos, and other popular card games like Tongits and Lucky 9. As in many other mobile games, you play with virtual coins (not real money). You earn coins by playing daily. You can also top up your account if you have no patience to wait till the next day. Pusoy Go is a great app for casual play. The games are quick and have some social features like chat and tournaments.
Pusoy Go doesn’t pay out real money, but we noticed that players join Facebook groups to trade GCash for high-value coin accounts. Remember that these trades are not regulated by PAGCOR. You can do it, but only with the people you trust. Scams are not uncommon here, so be careful.
Our Pusoy Dost Strategy Tips
Winning a Pusoy Dos game is not only about having strong cards, but also about playing them right. An average hand played at the right time can help you win the game.
Tip #1: Don’t play the 2s too early
2s are the strongest single cards. It’s tempting to play them right away, but sometimes it’s better to wait. You want to save your 2s for taking back control when you’re losing rounds.
Tip #2: Play your combinations smartly
Before you start playing, organize your cards into groups:
– Singles you can throw early
– Pairs you can chain together
– Five-card combos (if you have)
If you’re lucky and get a five-card hand, use it early, especially if you lead a new round, so you can force the opponents to pass. This gives you a chance to play more cards and get rid of them faster.
Top #3: Plan your last card
Avoid ending with a single weak card, especially if the 2♠ is still in play or with combos that are hard to drop (e.g. low value pairs).
Common Questions about Pusoy
Pusoy Dos. Arranging the three hands takes a lot of practice. Shedding cards is faster to pick up.
No, as long as you play with the virtual coins.
You can play Pusoy Dos in some online casinos in the Asian table game sections.
13 cards.
It means Big Two.
