Playing card games like pusoy is part of the Filipino social culture.
In fact, studies revealed that betting has become a way to mourn with families during wakes. Card tables are set up at Filipino wakes to help the mourning family maintain the round-the-clock vigil over the dead before they are buried.
Beyond that, Filipinos just love the social thrill of card games. Even when the National Police banned gambling during wakes, Filipinos continue to play table games during family gatherings, community fiestas, or any milestone celebrations.
So if you tell Filipino players that pusoy games are available online, they won’t hesitate to try them. There are several versions of this card game in popular online casinos, such as Nustargame; they’re all listed in the game library.
If you’re looking for a new game to play, this article explains the pusoy card game and how it differs from other card games. You’ll learn about its game mechanics, how hands are ranked, and the different ways you can play it online.
History of Pusoy Card Game
There’s no clear record of this card game’s history. However, one thing is clear: Pusoy, also known as Chinese Poker, is believed to have originated in China. This aligns with what we know of poker’s history, where one of the “origins” is the domino card game that a 10th-century Chinese emperor loved to play.
How did the pusoy card game land in the Philippines?
Well, the Chinese and Filipinos have long been trade partners. It could be that the Chinese traders brought more than their goods. They also shared their culture and their love for card games.
Over time, Filipinos have come to see it as their go-to card game during social events, alongside tong-its and pusoy dos. Pusoy evolved over time as Filipinos added their own game rules and betting strategies.
Pusoy vs Other Card Games
Unlike Poker, where you can bluff your way to win, a pusoy card game requires a combination of luck and skill. You’ll be given 13 cards at random, and it’s up to you to rearrange them to get the highest hand.
The 13 cards are divided into the Front (3 cards), Middle (5 cards), and Back (5 cards) hands. You have to arrange all three into the strongest hand possible.
Once all the players are ready, you will reveal the 3 hands one at a time.
First, the front, then the middle, and then the back. Each hand revealed will declare a winner. Points will be awarded to the winner. The one with the biggest points wins the round.
Traditional vs Online Pusoy vs Live Dealer
The traditional version is the one played at home, in social gatherings, or at casino tables. It’s a game that may or may not involve money. This is played with physical cards and has flexible house rules.
The online game is played in online casinos. These are automated and played with instant comparisons and clear scores. This is great for solo players who want to play at their own pace.
The last one is with a live dealer. You play online, but you have a real dealer, and you get to play with other online players.
All these versions use the same pusoy meaning and game rules. It’s just that others are more social and fun, while some are more convenient.
Pusoy Game: Basic Facts And Game Rules
This card game deals from a 52-card deck. This means all 4 suits (Diamond, Club, Heart, Spade) and cards 2 to 10, J, Q, K, and Ace. Joker cards are not included in this game.
Each player is given 13 cards. This means on a 52-card deck, there can only be 4 players per round.
The core of a pusoy game is how you will arrange the 13 cards that will be given to you. The cards dealt to you will be based on pure luck. But how you arrange it will determine whether you win the game.
You have to arrange the best hand for the:
- Front with 3 cards
- Middle with 5 cards
- Back with 5 cards
Once all the players have arranged their cards, all the Front hands will be revealed first. Whoever has the highest hand wins (e.g., 3 Aces wins over a Pair of Jacks).
Then the Middle hand will be revealed. The 5 cards could be a Royal Flush, Straight, etc.
Finally, the Back hand will be revealed, which should have the highest of all the other hands.
The player who wins the most hands will be declared the round winner.
How Are Hands Ranked?
There are different ways to rank hands in a game of pusoy. The hands, suit, and card value matter.
Hands from highest to lowest:
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pairs
- One Pair
- High Card
Card rankings from highest to lowest:
- Ace (A)
- King (K)
- Queen (Q)
- Jack (J)
- 10
- 9
- 8
- 7
- 6
- 5
- 4
- 3
- 2
Suit ranking from highest to lowest (typically used to break ties):
- Diamond
- Club
- Heart
- Spade
Depending on the pusoy game you’re playing, there are also special hands called Naturals. These are considered instant wins even before looking at other player cards. These include the following:
- Three Straight Flush
- Three Straights
- Three Flushes
- Six Pairs
- Dragon (no two cards are alike: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2)
- Four 3-of-a-kind
- Three 4-of-a-kind
There are also special cards that are rare and thus awarded as a win:
- All number cards (Including Ace cards)
- All picture cards (including Ace cards)
- 6 and higher (including Ace cards)
- 12 or 13 have the same color
What Are the Rules in a Pusoy Card Game
Usually, the rules of the game are the same for the traditional, online, and live dealer games.
- A 52-card deck is used to play.
- Every player gets 13 cards each.
- Players arrange their cards to create 3 hands of varying strengths:
- The Front (3 hands, weakest hand)
- The Middle (5 cards, medium hand)
- The Back (5 cards, strongest hand)
- Hands should follow the order of strength: Back > Middle > Front. E.g., Front (a Pair of Aces), Middle (Straight), and Back (Full House)
- Putting the higher hand in the Middle and a lower hand in the Back is called a “Creak” and will make players lose the round.
- Hands are compared with corresponding hands, e.g., front vs front, middle vs middle, back vs back
- Winning hands will get 1 point, and losing hands will lose 1 point. So if you won the Front (+1) and Back (+1) hands, but you lose the Middle (-1), your final score is 1.
- Special hands get more than 1 point.
- A player who wins all 3 hands is given double the payout.
Online Pusoy Games
The online version of pusoy games is the same as playing it face to face. You will see different variants in trusted online casinos like Nustar game.
The game rules may slightly differ depending on the game developer. Once you’ve chosen a game to play, make sure you read the game mechanics. Pay attention to how points are calculated and what Natural variants are honored.
What’s great about online card games is that you can enjoy your favorite without having to go outside. You can also practice your skills in arranging hands.
Before playing, check out the promo page of the online casino. You might get freebies that can increase your funds while playing pusoy.
Play Pusoy, A Favorite Card Game Among Filipinos
Pusoy is a card game that people of all ages can play with their family and friends. With the increasing popularity of online casinos, you can also find a lot of digital versions of the game.
It’s actually easy to learn. However, mastering the game is another story.With practice, you can improve your skill in arranging the best hands to win a game. Check out online casinos like Nustar game for versions of the card game you can practice on. When you review their Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, you’ll learn how the casino makes the gaming experience fair and secure for Filipino players.
