How to Play Pusoy Dos Card Game

Download Article

Rules, ranking, combinations, and strategy

Co-authored by Marcus Pruitt, BS Reviewed by Ashton Wu

Last Updated: June 16, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Gameplay & Rules
|
• Card Combinations
|
• Strategies
|
• Winning
|
• Pusoy Dos vs. Poker
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

Pusoy dos (also known as Big Two or Filipino Poker) is a Filipino card game where you try to empty your hand faster than other players. It's an exciting, fast-paced game, and we're here to teach you everything you need to know about how to play—and win! Read on for our complete game guide.

Pusoy Dos Rules

On your turn, play a card or combo that ranks higher than the previous card. The first player to run out of cards wins. Numbers are ranked: 2 > Ace > King > Queen > Jack > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3. Suits are ranked: Diamonds > Hearts > Spades > Clubs. The strongest card is a 2 of diamonds.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

How to Play Pusoy Dos

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Split the cards evenly between players so that everyone gets 13. You can play with 2 or 4 players using a standard 52-card deck.

   • Numbers are ranked 2 > Ace > King > Queen > Jack > 10 > 9 > 8 > 7 > 6 > 5 > 4 > 3.
   • Suits are ranked Diamonds > Hearts > Spades > Clubs.
   • The 2 of diamonds is the strongest card and the 3 of clubs is the weakest card.
2. 
   2
   Have the person with the lowest ranking card deal that card. The person who has the 3 of clubs (or the next lowest ranking card) starts the game by dealing that card or a valid card combination that includes that card. Place the card in the center of the table facing up.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Play a card or combination that ranks higher than the previous card. On your turn, play a card or combination of higher value than the previous play. If the last player only played a single card, play a single card or combination. If they played a combination, you must play a combination using the same number of cards.

   • Learn all about the possible combinations in the next section.
4. 
   4
   Take turns and continue playing until someone runs out of cards. Once the first player has dealt their card or card combination, rotate clockwise to the next person. Once the next person plays their card, continue to rotate through the players. The first person to empty their hand wins.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 5:

Pusoy Dos Card Cominations

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Single: one card This is the most common play in pusoy dos, but it is also the lowest ranking. If two players play a card of the same rank, the one with the higher suit wins. Remember, suits are ranked: Diamonds > Hearts > Spades > Clubs. For example, if two players played 5s but one had clubs and the other had hearts, the person who played Hearts would win.
2. 
   2
   Pair: two cards of the same rank For example, to get rid of two cards that are both 8, play them as a pair. The card with the higher suit is ranked. So, if you played two 6s, one being a 6 of diamonds, against a 4 of clubs, you would be able to get rid of both cards.
3. 
   3
   Triple: three cards of equal rank A triple is also called a three-of-a-kind. For example, if you have three 5s you have a triple, no matter what the suit is. If two triples are going against each other, the one with the higher suit wins.
4. 
   4
   Five-card combinations There are five different combinations for a five-card hand, each with a different rank. Royal Flush is the highest rank, followed by Straight Flush, Four-of-a-kind, Full House, and Flush with a Straight.

   • Royal Flush: A royal flush consists of the highest-ranking cards in consecutive order. For example, a play containing an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten in that order is considered a royal flush.
   • Straight Flush: A straight flush is any five consecutive cards with the same suit. For example, if you get 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 all diamonds, that’s a straight flush.
   • Four-of-a-kind: A four-of-a-kind (also known as quads) consists of four equal-ranking cards and any extra card to complete the hand. They are ranked based on the number of the cards. For example, four kings beat four jacks.
   • Full House: A full house is made up of three cards with equal rank and a pair of cards with equal rank. They are ranked based on the rank of the three cards. For example, three aces with two kings beats three kings with two aces.
   • Flush: A flush has five cards with the same suit, but not a consecutive rank. They have a two-part ranking system. The first rank is based on the suit and the second is based on the number. For example, a diamond flush with a queen beats a diamond flush that has 8 as its highest card.
   • Straight: Straights are made up of consecutive ranked cards that aren’t the same suit. Their rank is based on their highest card. For example, a King-high straight (K, Q, J, 10, 9) would beat a 10-high straight (10, 9, 8, 7, 6).
Advertisement

Section 3 of 5:

Pusoy Dos Strategies

Download Article

1. 
   1
   If you’re playing a single card, wait to play your highest-ranking card. Don’t immediately play your highest ranking card. Instead, wait until someone plays a high card close to yours, then play your card. This can trip up your opponents and cause them to use their best card prematurely. If your card is a 2, ace, or king with a high suit, play it against a card of the same number with a lower suit.
2. 
   2
   Save your pairs for close, competitive moments. If you have a pair of cards, wait for the game to progress a few turns before using them if you can. When cards start getting shed and everyone’s hands start to dwindle, opponents can get caught in the moment. Gain the upper hand by saving your pairs for those moments. That way, you’ll surprise players and shed your cards quickly when it counts.
3. 
   3
   Get rid of your low value triples early to get a head start. Clear out any triples early to slim down your deck and get a head start, especially if your triples are of low value. Shedding your low cards early can help prevent you from getting skipped once the values start to get higher. Save any high value triples for intense moments so you can quickly clear out your hand and prevent other players from shedding cards if they have weaker hands.
Advertisement

Section 4 of 5:

How to Win Pusoy Dos

Download Article

1. 
   Win by getting rid of all of your cards before other players. Aim to get rid of all of your cards before other players do. Use combos and strategies that give you the upper hand, like saving a Straight Flush for when you only have five cards left. Pusoy dos goes by fast, so determine a set number of games to play before you start. Rack up more wins than your opponents to win the game.

   • In one variation, you play until everyone but one person has cleared their hand. Here, the first person to clear their hand wins, the second person to clear their hand is the runner-up, and the third person to clear their hand is in third place. The last person loses.

Section 5 of 5:

What is the difference between pusoy dos and poker?

Download Article

1. 
   In pusoy dos, you get rid of your cards, but in poker you keep them. In poker, you mostly keep your cards and work to get the best-ranking hand. In pusoy dos, you work to get rid of your cards quicker than everyone else. In poker, you can play with more than four players, unlike pusoy dos, where you can only play with two to four players.

   • Pusoy dos and poker use a similar ranking system, both equipped with royal flushes, straights, and other card combinations.
   • Unlike poker, you can’t use two pairs in pusoy dos. A two pair consists of two sets of cards that both have equal value and an extra card. For example, two queens, two 8s, and a 3 is a two pair.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

• In English, pusoy dos is known as Big Two, Big Deuce or Top Dog.

  • Pusoy dos is also called chikicha and sikitcha in certain dialects of the Philippines.
  • Pusoy dos is called Bu Bu Gao Sheng in Taiwan.
  • In the Netherlands, pusoy dos is known as Sjalaliën.
  • A Chinese variant of pusoy dos is called Da Lao Er.
  • A Cantonese variant of pusoy dos is called Choh Dai Di.
  • A Maltese variant of pusoy dos is called Cinzi. They also call the game Giappuniza.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement