The tonk rummy card game rules

How to play the tonk card game

Tonk, a variety of rummy can be played by any number of people. The players take turns dealing and a game can consist of several hands. Tonk can be played for money, but usually no more than a nickel or dime. The pile of money is referred to as the stake.

Tonk uses a regular 52-card deck and each card has a point value. Ace through ten are plated as face value, meaning Aces have a value of one point, deuces have a value of two points and so on. The Jack, Queen and King are worth ten points.

Players are dealt five cards, then the dealer turns over the first of the undealt cards to start the discard the discard pile. These cards form the stockpile, which is place next to the pulling deck.

Players then count up the points in their hand, and if a player has 50 points he says “TONK” and immediately wins a double stake from each player. However, if two players have 50 points, the hand is considered ad draw and cards are shuffle and reissued. If no player tonks, then play continues as normal.

The goal of play is to get rid of one’s cards by forming them into spreads; which are three to four identical cards or three or more sequentially, in the same suit. During the game, a player may add to his own spread or an opponent’s spread.

Play ends when a player gets rid of all his cards or when a player knocks, by laying his cards face up on the table. When a player knocks, all players must likewise lay their cards face up. The player with the fewest points in his hand is the winner. If the played that knocked has the fewest points, he must pay the stake to each player with fewer points and the winner. In case of a tie, both players are paid. If the player does not knock, he must draw the top card from the discard pile or from the stock. The player may then lay face up any spreads, or add to any spreads on the table. If after this the player has no more cards, he says, "TONK" and wins. Each player pays him a double stake. If the player has one or more cards remaining, he must discard one card to the discard pile. If this is his last card, play ends. He wins, and each player pays him the stake.

If the stock runs out, play stops. The player with the fewest points in his hand wins, and is paid the stake by each player.

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