GameZone Pusoy & Pusoy Dos Guide: Hand Rankings, Rules & Tips

Q: What is a foul in Pusoy?

A foul happens when your back hand is weaker than your middle hand, or your middle is weaker than your front. A fouled arrangement loses all rows.

Q: What is the highest card in Pusoy Dos?

The 2 is the highest card in Pusoy Dos, followed by the Ace.

Q: Is Pusoy Dos the same as Big Two?

Yes, Pusoy Dos is the Filipino name for the family of games known as Big Two, with some local house rules.

AI-assisted content: drafted with AI tools, then fact-checked and edited by Jeremy Cruz. How we work.

Key takeaways

"Pusoy" usually means 13-card Chinese poker: you split your cards into a 3-card front, 5-card middle and 5-card back hand.
"Pusoy Dos" is a shedding game like Big Two, where 2 is the highest card.
In Pusoy your back hand must be the strongest and your front the weakest, or you foul.

Two games, one name

Filipino players use "Pusoy" for two different games, and GameZone players should know both:

	Pusoy (Chinese poker)	Pusoy Dos (Big Two)
Players	Usually 4	Usually 4 (3 to 4)
Cards each	13	13
Goal	Arrange 13 cards into three poker hands that beat opponents' hands	Be the first to get rid of all your cards
Highest card	Ace	2
Main skill	Arrangement	Timing and control

For background, read about Chinese poker and Big Two on Wikipedia. If you prefer rummy-style games, our Tongits guide covers the other big Filipino favourite.

Pusoy illustration showing three arranged card rows: front, middle and back hands — In Pusoy, the back hand must be the strongest, the front the weakest.

Poker hand rankings (strongest first)

Straight flush
Four of a kind
Full house
Flush
Straight
Three of a kind
Two pair
One pair
High card

The 3-card front hand can only be three of a kind, a pair or high card.

Pusoy (13-card) rules

Each player gets 13 cards.
Arrange them into back (5 cards), middle (5 cards) and front (3 cards).
Back must be stronger than or equal to middle, and middle stronger than or equal to front. Breaking this rule is a foul and loses all three hands.
All hands are revealed and compared row by row against each opponent.

Arrangement tips

Build the back hand first, then the middle, then use what is left for the front.
Do not overload the back. A huge back hand with a junk middle often loses two rows of three.
A pair up front is valuable. Many front hands are only high card.
Check for a foul before you confirm. On mobile it is easy to drag a card into the wrong row.

Pusoy Dos rules

Card order is 3 (lowest) up to A, then 2 (highest). Suits rank too, often clubs < spades < hearts < diamonds in Filipino play, but check the in-game rules because GameZone tables may use a set suit order.

The player with the 3♣ usually starts.
You can play singles, pairs, triples or five-card poker hands.
The next player must beat the play with the same number of cards, or pass.
When everyone passes, the last player to play starts a new round with anything.
First to empty their hand wins; others are penalised by cards left.

Pusoy Dos tips

Get rid of low singles early when you have control.
Save your 2s to regain control at the right moment.
Use five-card hands to shed lots of cards in one go.
Watch the player with few cards and block them with higher plays.

Practise before you stake

Both games reward experience. Practise with friends or in free modes, then start at the smallest stake. Read our account setup guide and payment guide before funding an account, and keep our play safe checklist handy.

Want something faster and simpler? Try the Color Game or bingo, or browse the full Games hub.

Play Pusoy on GameZone (21+)

Frequently asked questions

What is a foul in Pusoy?

A foul happens when your back hand is weaker than your middle hand, or your middle is weaker than your front. A fouled arrangement loses all rows.

What is the highest card in Pusoy Dos?

The 2 is the highest card in Pusoy Dos, followed by the Ace.

Is Pusoy Dos the same as Big Two?

Yes, Pusoy Dos is the Filipino name for the family of games known as Big Two, with some local house rules.

Update history

This guide is reviewed regularly for content freshness. Last updated October 6, 2026.

October 6, 2026: Clarified the difference between Pusoy and Pusoy Dos with a table.
August 25, 2026: Added arrangement examples.
July 28, 2026: First published.

Written by Jeremy Cruz

Filipino card-game player and gaming writer covering GameZone, Tongits, Pusoy and safe mobile play for Southeast Asian gamers. Contact: jercruz@gamezone.my

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