How to keep score in Pusoy Dos

Pusoy Dos is played hand by hand, and the first player to get rid of all their cards wins the hand. To keep a running score, everyone else counts the cards left in their hand as penalty points, and the lowest total wins. Some tables score only the winner instead.

At a glance

• Players: 4, or 2 or 3 with a different deal

• Who wins: Lowest total when someone reaches 50, or after the hands you agreed

• Each hand: 13 cards each with 4 players

• Starts: Whoever holds the 3 of clubs

Points for cards left

Pusoy Dos has no official rulebook. This is the count Big Two players use, the same game under another name. When one player goes out, everyone else counts the cards still in their hand.

The doubling and tripling hit a player who hardly played at all. House rules differ, so agree on them before you start.

Doubling for 2s and big hands (variant)

Some tables double a player's points if they're left holding a 2, four of a kind or a straight flush.

Some also double everyone's points when the winner goes out on a 2, four of a kind or a straight flush.

Scoring only the winner (variant)

In the Philippines, Pusoy Dos is often scored the other way round: the winner of each hand scores 1 point, nobody else scores, and the highest total wins. Going out with 2s in your last play multiplies it.

• One 2 in your last play: 2 points

• Two 2s: 4 points

• Three 2s: 8 points

• All four 2s: 16 points

Some tables play on until only one player has cards left: 5 points for going out first, 3 for second, 1 for third and 0 for last.

Cards, the start and the end

The 2 is the highest rank and the 3 the lowest. Suits rank diamonds, hearts, spades, then clubs, so the 2 of diamonds beats everything and the 3 of clubs is the lowest card. Whoever holds the 3 of clubs starts.

Agree how long you'll play before the first deal. A common finish, from Big Two: play until someone reaches 50, then the lowest total wins. Or play a set number of hands.

Three or two players

• 3 players: deal 17 cards each, and give the last card to whoever holds the 3 of clubs.

• 2 players: deal 13 or 17 cards each and set the rest aside unused.

• With more cards in each hand, the doubling for 10 or more comes up more often. Agree on it before you deal.

A scoring example

Four players, three hands. In hand 1 Cleo was left with 10 cards, so they count 2 each. In hand 2 Dev never played a card: 13 cards at 3 points each.

Ana, Ben and Dev each went out once and scored 0 for that hand. Ana leads with the lowest total, 11, and the game goes on until someone reaches 50.

Keep score in Tallynight

Pusoy Dos is set up for you: rounds, lowest score wins. After each hand, type 0 for the player who went out and everyone else's points on one keypad. The table keeps the totals, who's in front and who deals next.

Scoring only the winner? Switch Who wins to Highest and keep it as a favourite.

• Everyone's hand on one keypad

• Play to 50, and the app offers to end the game when someone gets there

• Tap any hand to fix it

• A race chart that replays the game at the end

• Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.

• Print a Pusoy Dos score sheet if you'd rather keep score on paper.

Questions

How do you score Pusoy Dos?

When a player goes out, everyone else scores a penalty point for each card left in their hand, 2 a card with 10 or more. The player who went out scores 0, and the lowest total wins.

What is the highest card in Pusoy Dos?

The 2 of diamonds. The 2s are the highest rank, and diamonds is the highest suit, then hearts, spades and clubs.

Who goes first in Pusoy Dos?

Whoever holds the 3 of clubs, the lowest card in the deck. They start the first hand.

Can you play Pusoy Dos with 2 players?

Yes. Deal 13 or 17 cards each and leave the rest out. The scoring stays the same.

Is Pusoy Dos the same as Big Two?

Yes, Pusoy Dos is the Filipino name for Big Two. The main difference is the suit order: in Pusoy Dos, diamonds are highest and clubs lowest.

Game names belong to their owners. Tallynight isn't connected with any game publisher.