SG777 Pusoy Combinations, From Singles to Straight Flush

Pusoy combinations decide every turn of Pusoy Dos: you can only beat the last play with a stronger play of the same size, or pass. The game borrows its five-card groups from the hands on the online poker pillar, but it ranks the cards its own way, with the two on top and the suits in a fixed order. Below are all eight legal plays, lowest size first, with what beats each one. pagat.com, the card-game reference, is the source for the rules.

Card and suit order behind Pusoy combinations

Every comparison below rests on these two orders. Ranks run 2 (highest), A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 (lowest). For the game as played in the Philippines, pagat.com gives the suits from high to low as diamonds, hearts, spades, clubs, so the three of clubs is the lowest card in the deck. The poker cards ranking page shows how that differs from standard poker, where suits carry no rank.

1. Single card

The simplest play. A higher rank beats a lower one, so a two beats an ace. Between two cards of the same rank, the higher suit wins: the 9 of diamonds beats the 9 of hearts under the Philippine order. Singles are where twos earn their reputation, so many players hold them back.

1. The 2 of clubs beats the ace of diamonds: rank first.
2. The 9 of diamonds beats the 9 of hearts: same rank, higher suit.

2. Pair

Two cards of equal rank. A higher pair beats a lower one whatever the suits, so a pair of queens beats a pair of jacks. When the ranks match, the pair holding the higher suit wins: with diamonds on top, the pair containing the 9 of diamonds beats any other pair of nines.

1. Q-Q beats J-J, whatever the suits.
2. 9-9 holding the 9 of diamonds beats 9-9 holding the 9 of hearts.

3. Triple

Three cards of equal rank. Three twos are the strongest triple and three threes the weakest. pagat.com notes that a triple cannot carry extra cards, so 8-8-8 played with a spare 4 is not a legal play unless the extra cards make it a full house or four of a kind.

1. 2-2-2 beats A-A-A.
2. 8-8-8 with a spare 4 is not a legal play.

4. Straight

Five cards of consecutive rank in mixed suits, and the lowest of the five-card groups. In pagat.com’s basic description twos rank below the three inside a straight, which makes A-K-Q-J-10 the highest straight and 5-4-3-2-A the lowest. Between two straights of the same ranks, the suit of the top card decides. Many groups play their own straight rules, so agree them before the first deal.

1. K-Q-J-10-9 beats Q-J-10-9-8: higher top card.
2. 2-A-K-Q-J is not a valid straight in the basic rules.

5. Flush

Five cards of one suit, in any order. Any flush beats any straight. In pagat.com’s basic rule a flush in a higher suit beats one in a lower suit regardless of ranks, and only between flushes of the same suit does the top card decide. That is the opposite of standard poker, where the flush poker ranking compares ranks only and never suits.

1. Any diamond flush beats any heart flush in the basic rule.
2. Between two diamond flushes, the higher top card wins.

6. Full house

Three cards of one rank with two of another. Two full houses compare by their triples alone, so 9-9-9-4-4 beats 8-8-8-K-K: the nines outrank the eights and the pair never matters. A full house beats any straight or flush.

1. 9-9-9-4-4 beats 8-8-8-K-K.
2. Any full house beats the strongest flush.

7. Four of a kind plus one card

All four cards of one rank, played with any fifth card. The fifth card is required: four equal cards on their own are not a legal play in the basic game. Quads beat any straight, flush or full house, and compare with each other by the rank of the four.

1. 4-4-4-4 with a 7 beats 3-3-3-3 with an ace.
2. 6-6-6-6 played alone, with no fifth card, is not allowed.

8. Straight flush

Five consecutive cards of one suit, the strongest play in the game. Two straight flushes compare by their top card, then by suit. pagat.com notes that the royal flush in the top suit is the best five-card group in its basic description, and also that groups vary on this point.

1. 9-8-7-6-5 of hearts beats 8-7-6-5-4 of diamonds: top card first.
2. Two straight flushes with the same top card compare by suit.

How these combinations differ from poker hands

The groups look like poker hands, but three differences catch new players:

1. There is no two-pair play, and no high-card “nothing” hand.
2. Twos rank highest instead of lowest.
3. Suits rank and break ties, where standard poker ignores them.

Pusoy vs Pusoy Dos

pagat.com records Pusoy Dos as the usual Philippine name for Big Two and passes on a reader’s note that the name translates as “Poker Two”, Pusoy being a Filipino name for poker. It also gives the Philippine scoring, which counts points for the winner instead of penalties for the others:

How to choose which combination to lead

1. Lead your weakest five-card group early, while others still hold strong singles.
2. Keep at least one two for the end, when a single decides the hand.
3. Count what has been played: once the three highest straights are gone, a mid straight is safe to lead.

Pusoy Dos played for money in the Philippines is for players aged 21 and over.