Objective
Get your hand count as low as you can by laying cards down in spreads, then end the hand at the right moment. You win by tunking out, which means getting rid of every card, or by dropping your hand when you have the lowest count. Tunk is usually played for a set stake per hand, paid in chips or coins.
Setup
Agree on the basic stake. Deal five cards to each player, one at a time. Turn the next card face up to start the discard pile, and place the rest face down as the stock.
Check your hand before play begins. If your five cards total 49 or 50, show them right away: that is an instant tunk and you win double from every player. If two players have one, the hand is a draw and nobody pays.
| Card | Count |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 through 10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen, King | 10 |
How to play
The player to the left of the dealer goes first, and play passes to the left. At the start of your turn, before you draw, you may drop. Lay your hand face up, and everyone else does the same. The lowest count wins.
If you don’t drop, draw the top card of the stock or the top card of the discard pile. Then you may spread: lay down a set of three or four cards of the same rank, or a run of three or more cards of the same suit in sequence. You may also hit, which means adding a card to any spread on the table, your own or another player’s. End your turn by discarding one card.
If you can spread or hit with every card you hold, you tunk out and win double.
If someone hits one of your spreads, you can’t drop on your next turn. If the stock runs out, the hand ends and the lowest count wins.
- 1Drop at the start of your turn, or draw a card
- 2Spread sets and runs, and hit any spread
- 3Discard one card
- 4Play out every card to tunk out and win double
Scoring
Tunk is settled in stakes at the end of every hand. Only the cards still in your hand count; cards in your spreads don’t.
| How the hand ends | Payment |
|---|---|
| Instant tunk on the deal (49 or 50) | Each player pays you double |
| You tunk out | Each player pays you double |
| You drop with the lowest count | Each player pays you the basic stake |
| You drop and someone ties or beats you | You pay double to each player at or below your count |
| The stock runs out | The lowest count collects the basic stake from each player |
Play as many hands as you like, with the deal passing to the left. Some tables keep a points tally instead of paying stakes and play to an agreed total.
Variations
Waiting rule: after you lay down a spread, you must wait a few turns, often three, before you can drop.
Seven-card deal: some tables deal seven cards each, which makes for a slower hand with more spreads.
Lower instant tunks: some tables also pay for a very low starting hand, such as 15 or under, as an instant win.
Short deck: some tables remove the 8s, 9s and 10s and play with 40 cards.
Tips from the table
Get rid of your face cards early. A king you can’t use is ten points sitting in your hand every time someone drops.
Drop sooner than you think. With five cards, a count under 10 or so is often enough to win, and every extra turn gives someone else a chance to beat it.
Hitting a spread does two things: it lowers your count, and it stops that player from dropping on their next turn. Use it when someone looks ready to drop.
Video Guides Are on the Way
We’re filming Game Guides that walk through full hands at the table, from the deal to the score.
Frequently asked
What does tunk mean?
Tunking out means getting rid of every card in your hand by spreading and hitting. It wins double. An instant tunk, 49 or 50 on the deal, wins double too.
Can I drop after I draw?
No. You must drop at the very start of your turn, before you draw a card.
What happens if I tie when I drop?
You lose. A dropper who doesn’t have the lowest count outright pays double to each player who tied or beat them.
Can I add to another player’s spread?
Yes. That is called a hit, and it also stops that player from dropping on their next turn.
New rules every month
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