How to Play Pusoy: 13-Card Rules, Hands and Scoring

Pusoy is the name used in the Philippines for Chinese Poker, a four-player game where each player splits 13 cards into three poker hands: a 5-card back hand, a 5-card middle hand and a 3-card front hand. The back must beat the middle, and the middle must beat the front. Everyone then reveals, and you score against each opponent, hand by hand.

Pusoy rules at a glance (November 2026)

Rule	Pusoy
Players	4, each playing alone
Deck	52 cards, no wild cards
Deal	13 cards each, the whole deck
Back hand	5 cards, your strongest
Middle hand	5 cards, weaker than the back
Front hand	3 cards, weaker than the middle
Basic score	1 point for each hand you beat, per opponent

Is Pusoy the same as Pusoy Dos?

No. Pusoy arranges 13 cards into three poker hands and compares them once. Some players also say "Pusoy" when they mean Pusoy Dos. That game, also called Big Two, is a shedding game where players take turns beating each other's cards until someone runs out. If you came for that one, read how to play Pusoy Dos.

How do you arrange your 13 cards?

Split your cards into three hands and place them face down: the front hand nearest the centre of the table and the back hand nearest you. They have to get stronger from front to back. If they do not, the arrangement is not legal, so check the order before you reveal.

Think of the three hands like this:

Back, 5 cards: your best poker hand.
Middle, 5 cards: your second best, and it must lose to the back.
Front, 3 cards: the smallest, and it must lose to the middle.

Which poker hands count in Pusoy?

The back and middle use the standard poker ranking. 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

The front hand has only three cards, so just three types are possible there: three of a kind, one pair or high card. Three cards in a row or three of one suit count for nothing in the front.

How does scoring work in Pusoy?

Everyone reveals at once, and each pair of players compares back with back, middle with middle and front with front. In the simplest scoring you win 1 point from an opponent for each of their hands you beat and lose 1 for each that beats you. An equal hand scores nothing. With four players, that makes three comparisons against each opponent.

The strongest back hand does not guarantee a win. A player with a huge back and a weak middle and front can still lose overall, which is what makes the split interesting.

What are the bonus payments in Pusoy?

Many tables pay more for winning with a strong hand in a hard position. A typical scale, from Pagat:

You win with	Where	Points instead of 1
Three of a kind	Front	3
Full house	Middle	2
Four of a kind	Back or middle	4
Straight flush or royal flush	Back or middle	5

What special 13-card hands win automatically?

If your table plays special hands, declare one before the reveal and it beats any ordinary arrangement. If two special hands meet, the higher one wins. You can also choose not to declare and arrange the cards normally. A typical list, lowest to highest:

Special hand	What it is	Points
Six pairs	Six pairs and one odd card	3
Three straights	Straights in the back and middle, three in a row in front	3
Three flushes	Flushes in the back and middle, three of a suit in front	3
Complete straight	One card of every rank, ace to king	13

Pagat also records a Philippine version with a single winner each deal: you must beat every other player on at least two of the three hands. Payments and special hands vary widely, so agree on them before the deal.

How do you split your cards well?

Start by finding your best back hand, then see what it leaves for the middle.
Aim to win two of three hands against each opponent, not to build one monster hand.
Do not waste a strong pair on the front if it wrecks the middle.
Check the order last. A misarranged hand is the easiest way to throw away a good deal.

More card and table games to learn

Another Filipino classic is here: how to play Tongits. For a game you can start right now in your browser, try our free Snakes and Ladders game.

Pusoy rules: common questions

How many cards do you get in Pusoy?

Thirteen. Four players share the full 52-card deck, and each splits their cards into hands of 5, 5 and 3.

What happens if your hands are in the wrong order?

The arrangement is not legal: the back must beat the middle and the middle must beat the front. Agree before you play how your table penalises a mistake.

Do straights and flushes count in the front hand?

No. Only three of a kind, a pair or high card count in the 3-card front hand.

What is another name for Pusoy?

Chinese Poker, and it is also known as Sap Sam Cheung in Cantonese and Pepito in Hawaii. Some people use the name Chinese Poker for Big Two, which is a different game.