Filipinos love quick, social card games that are easy to learn and rewarding to master. This guide covers six favorites you can play at home or online: Pusoy Dos, Tong-its, Pusoy (Chinese Poker), Lucky 9, Blackjack, and Texas Hold’em Poker. For each one, you’ll find the core rules, ideal player counts, and practical tips so you can start playing right away.
Each section starts with a rules summary, then moves to the usual number of players and a few table-tested tips. A comparison table near the end puts the six games side-by-side so you can pick the right one for your group or game night.
1) Pusoy Dos (Philippine Big Two)
What it is: A fast “shedding” game where you try to be the first to empty your hand. If you’re searching for Pusoy rules, this is the Filipino take on East Asia’s Big Two.
Rules in one minute: A standard 52-card deck is used. Rank goes from 3 (lowest) up to 2 (highest); suits break ties in the order ♣ < ♦ < ♥ < ♠. Players lay down combinations that others must beat with the same type: single, pair, triple, or five-card poker-style hands (straight, flush, full house, four-of-a-kind + kicker, straight flush). The lowest club (3♣) usually starts the first trick. When no one beats the current play, the last winner leads any legal combo. First to run out of cards wins the round.
Players: Best with 4.
Table tips that help beginners win:
- Lead small to feel out the table. Early cheap leads force information: who can beat your pairs or your middling five-card hands.
- Don’t hoard all your 2s. Use a high 2♠/2♥ to seize the lead at key moments, but try to keep one end-game hammer.
- Keep a straight flush threat alive when possible. Breaking it too early often gives away outsized control for little gain.
2) Tong-its
What it is: A three-player rummy-style Filipino classic built around drawing, discarding, and melding sets or runs. Victory can come from going out (“Tong-its”), winning a point count after a draw is called, or ending with the lowest deadwood when the stock runs out.
Rules in one minute: Each turn, draw from stock or (under conditions) from the discard; lay down melds (sets of three-of-a-kind or straight flushes) and connect to exposed melds. You can call a draw if you have at least one exposed meld and a low point count; opponents may fold or challenge. If someone goes out first with all cards arranged, that’s Tong-its. Players who never exposed a meld by the end are burned (sunóg) and lose. If the stock empties, lowest total points among eligible hands wins.
Players: Optimized for 3.
Table tips:
- Expose early if it lets you connect later. Early melds enable “sapaw” opportunities to shed deadwood across multiple turns.
- Track discards to spot live draws. Seeing which ranks and suits are dead informs safer discards and better draw decisions.
- Press a draw if your count is clearly lower and your board is safe from easy connections.
3) Pusoy (Chinese Poker)
What it is: Unlike Pusoy Dos, Pusoy (often called Chinese Poker) is an arrangement game. You receive 13 cards and split them into three poker hands: back (5 cards), middle (5), front (3). Back ≥ middle ≥ front in strength, or you foul and usually lose.
Rules in one minute: Deal 13 to each player. Arrange three hands with standard poker rankings. Compare your three hands against each opponent’s corresponding hands; score points for each win, with bonuses for very strong sets or scoops depending on house scoring. Many Filipino tables adopt simple per-hand scoring to keep the pace brisk.
Players: 2–4, best at 4 for head-to-head comparisons across the table.
Table tips:
- Build from the bottom. Lock a solid back hand first (e.g., a flush or full house) so your middle and front don’t accidentally out-rank it.
- Respect the front. A weak three-card front (no pair) often costs more across comparisons than slightly downgrading a splashy back.
- Use “balance” over greed. Two medium-strong hands plus a sturdy front usually score better than one monster and two fouls.
4) Lucky 9 (Pinoy baccarat-style)
What it is: A casino and home-table staple with baccarat-like scoring and blackjack-like dealing decisions. Aim for a total closest to 9 using the last digit of the sum (tens/face = 0, ace = 1). Some tables include side bets.
Rules in one minute: Everyone gets two cards; you may hit or stand depending on house rules. The dealer draws or stands by a fixed rule set (e.g., draw on totals of 0–4, stand on 5+). A natural Lucky 9 (two cards totaling nine without a ten-value card) may pay a bonus at some casinos. Local casino implementations and published rules confirm the baccarat-style scoring and common side bets.
Players: Works well from 2 up to a full table.
Table tips:
- Treat it like simplified baccarat. You’re targeting 7–9 totals; tens and face cards are neutral, so drawing into small cards matters most.
- Know the table’s draw/stand rules and any “Lucky 9” bonus terms before you sit. Edges swing on those small details.
5) Blackjack
What it is: A house-banked comparing game to beat the dealer without going over 21. In the Philippines, you’ll see it in casino floors and in many social tables at home.
Rules in one minute: Start with two cards; draw to improve or stand to hold. Face cards are 10; aces are 1 or 11. Dealer follows fixed rules (commonly hits to 16, stands on 17+). Payouts and side bets vary across casinos.
Players: 1–7 against the dealer.
Table tips:
- Use a basic strategy chart for the number of decks and the dealer’s soft-17 rule. Even a simplified chart cuts the house edge sharply.
- Track table rules that matter most to outcomes: blackjack payout (3:2 vs 6:5), dealer hits soft 17, double after split, and number of decks.
6) Texas Hold’em Poker
What it is: The most famous poker variant, seen in tournaments and home games across the country. You make the best five-card hand using two hole cards and five community cards.
Rules in one minute: Pre-flop, flop, turn, river with betting rounds in between. Hands rank by standard poker order. Games can be cash (play-as-you-go chips) or tournament (fixed buy-in, rising blinds).
Players: 2–10, ideal 6–9.
Table tips:
- Position is power. Play more hands in late position where you act after others; tighten up early.
- Choose stakes that let you play your A-game. A comfortable bankroll leads to better decisions and less tilt.
Side-by-side comparison
| Game | Goal | Typical Players | Deck & Key Ranks | Decision Focus | Round Length | Where it shines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pusoy Dos | Empty your hand first | 4 | 52-card; 3 low → 2 high, suits break ties | Timing leads; preserving high finishers | Short | Fast, social, easy table entry |
| Tong-its | Go out or win low points | 3 | 52-card; melds and “draw/challenge” | Draw/discard; when to expose; when to call draw | Medium | Three-hand rhythm; deep local meta |
| Pusoy (Chinese Poker) | Win 2–3 hand comparisons | 4 | 52-card; arrange back ≥ middle ≥ front | Balancing three hands; avoiding fouls | Medium | Strategy without betting complexity |
| Lucky 9 | Get closest to 9 | 2–7 | Baccarat-style scoring; dealer rules | Hit/stand against fixed dealer logic | Short | Quick casino or home action |
| Blackjack | Beat dealer ≤21 | 1–7 | 52-card; aces 1/11; face 10 | Math-driven hit/stand/split/double | Short | Low barrier, high replay |
| Texas Hold’em | Best 5-card hand | 6–9 ideal | 52-card; standard ranks | Starting ranges, position, bet sizing | Long | Deeper strategy nights & tournaments |
Choosing the right game for your group
Start with Pusoy Dos if your group wants instant action and table banter. The rules are quick, games are short, and everyone gets turns to lead. Move to Tong-its if you prefer a little more hand management and the thrill of draws, challenges, and clever connections. Try Pusoy (Chinese Poker) when you want strategy without complex betting: it rewards good card sense and disciplined arrangement.
If you’re in a casino mood, Lucky 9 offers quick decisions and baccarat-style scoring, while Blackjack gives the most control through basic strategy. A crew that enjoys deeper strategy, reads, and longer sessions will have the most fun with Texas Hold’em.
House rules and etiquette that keep games fun
Filipino tables often use house rules that adjust small details: what starts the first lead in Pusoy Dos, scoring tweaks in Pusoy/Chinese Poker, whether jokers appear in casual Tong-its, or what bonus bets apply in Lucky 9. Before the first deal, align on:
- Deck, scoring, and special options. For example, confirm the suit tie-break order in Pusoy Dos, whether a “Lucky 9” bonus is paid, or how Pusoy scoops and royalties are scored.
Keep the table moving, keep discards clear, and announce actions (draw, stand, call draw, challenge) crisply. A quick rules recap for new players goes a long way toward avoiding disputes mid-hand.
Practical examples to lock in the rules
Pusoy Dos end-game: You hold 2♣, 2♥, K♠, K♦ and a spare 7♠. An opponent just won a trick and leads a pair of Queens. Beat it with K♦-K♠, hoping another opponent wastes a pair of Aces to take lead, saving your 2♥-2♣ as a final hammer. If no one can beat your Kings, you retain the lead and can escape with a high five-card combo or a single 2.
Tong-its draw math: You’ve exposed 7-8-9♣ and hold 6♣ and 10♣ in hand. Keeping both increases your sapaw flexibility, but it raises deadwood if you can’t connect elsewhere. If the stock is thinning, prefer keeping the 6♣ to extend your run in either direction after a favorable draw, and discard a high-point picture card instead.
Pusoy (Chinese Poker) balance check: You’re tempted to put A-A-A up front for a flashy trip-aces. That often fouls the middle or back unless both are monsters. Split to A-A in the middle, build a steady back (e.g., a straight or flush), and keep a small front pair—this scores more consistently across three comparisons.
Lucky 9 edge cases: Holding 9-K is a total of 9 because the K counts as zero; 4-5 is also 9. Check the table’s “natural Lucky 9” bonus policy; some pay extra for two-card nines made without any ten-value card.
Key takeaways
- Pick by pace and feel: Pusoy Dos for instant action, Tong-its for rummy-style depth, Pusoy (Chinese Poker) for arrangement strategy, Lucky 9/Blackjack for casino-style speed, and Hold’em for long sessions.
- Confirm house rules first: Suit order and starting lead in Pusoy Dos, scoring in Pusoy, draw/stand rules or bonuses in Lucky 9—all change table dynamics.
