Tonk

In the game of Tonk, the objective is to either play all the cards in your hand or have the lowest value non-pair at the end in order to win.

This game is played by 2-3 players and requires a standard 52-card deck.

Tonk is a type of Rummy game that is enjoyed by adults.

Discovering Tonk

Tonk, sometimes known as Tunk, is an American card game that combines elements of knock rummy and conquian. It is said to have originated from a Filipino card game called “Tong-Its.” Tonk gained popularity among jazz players in the 1930s and 40s, becoming a favorite pastime.

Getting Started

Each card in Tonk has a specific value:

Face cards: worth 10 points each.

Aces: worth 1 point each.

Number cards: worth their respective face values.

When it comes to playing Tonk, the objective is to win money. Before we get into the details, let’s start with the basics. Every player agrees on a foundational stake, which is the amount of money paid to the winner by each player. Sometimes, a player can win double the stake, and we call that a “tonk.”

Now, let’s talk about how the game is set up. To determine the dealer, each player receives one card, and the player with the highest card becomes the dealer. The deal then passes to the left, so new players must sit to the dealer’s right.

THE DEAL

Once the dealer is established, they start the game by passing each player five cards, one at a time, starting from their left. After every player has five cards, the top card on the deck is flipped to create the discard pile. The remaining deck is known as the stock.

If I have a total of 49 or 50 points in my hand, I must declare it and show my cards. This is called a tonk. We don’t even play the hand at that point, and I receive twice the amount of money from each player. If there are other players with a hand totaling 49 or 50 points, it’s a draw and no one gets paid. All the cards are then collected, shuffled, and a new hand is dealt.

THE PLAY

To play the game, you draw and discard cards, trying to arrange them into sets called “spreads.” A spread can be made up of “books” (cards of the same rank) or “runs” (cards of consecutive ranks). You can also discard cards into existing spreads. The goal is to either get rid of all your cards or have the lowest sum of unmatched cards at the end of the game. Once the game has started, it’s not useful to aim for 49 or 50 points anymore. That strategy only matters before the game begins.

When it’s time to start playing, I’ll be the first one to go. Then, the order will move around the table in a clockwise direction. I have two options to choose from when it’s my turn:

1. If I want to finish the game early, I can place all my cards face-up on the table. This is called “dropping,” “going out low,” or “knocking.” When I knock, I’m saying that I have the fewest total cards compared to the other players.
2. I can also choose to keep playing by either drawing a card from the stockpile or taking the top card from the discard pile. The goal is to reduce the number of cards I have by forming sets or adding to sets that are already on the table. I can only end my turn by discarding a card onto the discard pile.

Remember, only the top card of the discard pile should be visible. We’re not allowed to search through the discard pile.

A spread is when you have three or more cards that don’t count towards your hand. There are two types of spreads: books and runs. Books have three or four cards with the same rank, like J-J-J or 4-4-4-4. Runs have three or more cards in sequence from the same suit, like A-2-3-4 (spades). The ace is considered low in runs.

When you add a card to a spread, it’s called hitting. For example, if you have a spread of 5-6-7 (clubs) and you have a 4 of clubs in your hand, you can add it to the spread during your turn before discarding.

If you use all your cards in hand during a turn, you win that hand. But if you still have cards left after discarding, the play continues. If you end up with no cards after discarding, you win the game.

If I don’t end the game by playing all my cards or knocking, I keep playing until there are no more cards in the stock and I play all the cards I can from my hand. The game ends when I decide not to take a card from the discard pile and instead take from the empty stock.

Now, let’s talk about what happens after the game ends.

If I manage to play all my cards without discarding any, it’s called a “tonk” or “tonking out.” In this case, I get double the stake from each player.

If I run out of cards after discarding some, the player with an empty hand gets the basic stake from each player.

And if someone knocks, we all reveal our hands and add up the total value of the cards we have.

The player who knocked and has the lowest total wins the basic stake.

When someone knocks, they don’t necessarily have the lowest total. Instead, they have to pay double the stake to each player who has an equal or lower hand. The player who actually held the lowest hand receives the basic stake from each player. If there’s a tie for the low hand, both players get the stake, which is called a catch.

If the stock runs out, the player with the lowest sum receives the basic stake from each player.

VARIATIONS

After the deal, there is no discard pile formed. The first player draws from the stock, and their first discard begins the discard pile.

It’s against the rules to hold a spread in your hand. If you have a spread, you must place it down. However, there’s an exception for three Aces, which can be held in hand. This rule may seem strange from an enforcement perspective, since hands are supposed to be secret.

Players can win double the basic stake if they create a new spread and get rid of all their cards without discarding. However, they can only win the basic stake if they hit spreads and run out of cards without discarding.