, there are dealing rules when it comes to Tonk. After the dealer has been established, they deal out five or seven cards face down to each of the players. Cards are dealt out one at a time in a clockwise order.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen all of the players have received their cards, the dealer then turns up the top card on the remaining deck, laying it on the table. This is the waste or discard pile. Whatever is left in the deck becomes the stockpile and remains face-down throughout the game.<\/span><\/p>\nGetting a Tonk<\/b><\/h3>\n
Scoring can get a bit more complicated, but let\u2019s start with the basics. If the initial hand belonging to a player equals 49 or 50 points, then they must show their cards immediately before play starts again. If the score is confirmed, the player gets double their original bet, and the hand ends.<\/span><\/p>\nThis is called a \u201cknock,\u201d getting a \u201cTunk\u201d or a \u201cTonk.\u201d Should more than one player draw a Tonk at this stage of the game, it ends in a draw. The deck is then reshuffled, and the dealer begins the process all over again.<\/span><\/p>\nThis is the only time to get this kind of Tonk as it is not available later on. A person can \u201cTonk\u201d on their turn if they have five or fewer unmatched cards at any time. Should the player have the lowest total when they knock, they too can win the game.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is the Spread in Tonk?<\/b><\/h2>\n
While getting a Tonk is the name of the game, the object of the game is to build books, also known as \u201cspreads.\u201d The idea is to have the least number of cards (none, if you can manage it) by the end of the game.<\/span><\/p>\nA spread encompasses a run of three or more cards that are in sequence and of the same suit (7, 8, 9 of Hearts, 10, Jack, Queen of Spades, etc.). In order to achieve a spread, players draw from the stockpile of face-down cards. With each draw, a discard must be made, adding to the discard pile in the process.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen a player gets a spread in their hand, they place it face up on the table. Things can get a little more complicated along the way, but those are the basics to be aware of when playing Tonk.<\/span><\/p>\nHow to Play Tonk<\/b><\/h2>\n
Ready to start playing Tonk? Let\u2019s break it down into individual steps to make it easier to get going.<\/span><\/p>\nOrganize the Game<\/b><\/h3>\n
Before you can get started, you need to have enough people to play. You only need one other person to get started but can play with as many as five other people. Games with two players are generally much shorter than the others.<\/span><\/p>\nMake sure that you have a full deck to play with. The standard deck is 52 cards and encompasses 13 cards per each of the four suits (spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs). Numbers are assigned 2-10, plus there are aces, jacks, queens, and kings. Make sure that you toss out any jokers that might be in your deck.<\/span><\/p>\nSet a Stake<\/b><\/h3>\n
For the most part, Tonk is played for money. It can be any amount of money you wish but it also doesn\u2019t have to be played for money at all. If you are playing for money, know ahead of time what the stake is for each player before beginning.<\/span><\/p>\nOne game will include a few hands and stakes can be doubled during a particular game. Keep that in mind when determining how much of a stake you want to include in your game of Tonk.<\/span><\/p>\nFind the Dealer and Deal<\/b><\/h3>\n
When the game is ready to begin, it is time to determine the dealer. From the deck, have each player choose one card. When everyone has picked, lay out the cards on the table. Whoever has the highest card will win the deal.<\/span><\/p>\nIt is important to note that from game to game, aces can vary between highest and lowest. In Tonk, Aces are always the lowest. This is important when it comes to drawing the cards to find a dealer.<\/span><\/p>\n
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When the dealer is ready to go, it is time to deal out the cards. The next-highest draw will sit to the left of the dealer and progress around the table. When it comes time to deal, players can receive either five or seven cards depending on individual preferences.<\/span><\/p>\nCards are dealt in a clockwise fashion, one per player until all cards have been dealt face-down. Though five and seven-card Tonk are most common, you can play with as few as three or as many as twelve. It all comes down to personal preference.<\/span><\/p>\nCounting the Value of Your Cards<\/b><\/h3>\n
When all the cards have been dealt and the first card after the final player card has been flipped up for the \u201cburn\u201d pile, it is time to assess the value of your hand. Keep your cards hidden when adding up the totals.<\/span><\/p>\nAces are one point. Each numerical card is assigned that value (2, 3, 4, etc.). Face or picture cards are all worth 10 points each. It is entirely possible to declare Tonk at this stage if you have it. Should your cards add up to 50 points, you win the hand (and double your stake) automatically. Should more than one player have Tonk, the hand is over, and the cards are re-dealt.<\/span><\/p>\nStock and Discard Piles<\/b><\/h3>\n
If no one has Tonk immediately after the cards have been dealt, the dealer must establish the discard and stockpiles. The discard pile will feature one card face up while the remaining cards in the deck remain face down.<\/span><\/p>\nAct in a Clockwise Fashion<\/b><\/h3>\n
The player seated to the dealer\u2019s immediate left will be the first to act. They will draw a card from the stockpile or discard pile to add to their hand. They must then take one card from their current hand and place it in the discard pile.<\/span><\/p>\nThe action will continue around the table in a clockwise fashion. When a player discards, they lay their card face-up on the discard pile so the next player can see it.<\/span><\/p>\nCreating \u201cSpreads\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n
The goal of Tonk is to create a \u201cbook,\u201d \u201crun,\u201d or \u201cspread.\u201d As you continue to draw and discard, keep those that form sequences of three or larger. They must be in numerical order and of the same suit. For example, you collect 6-7-8 of hearts, 10-J-Q of clubs, etc.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen you have enough to make a spread, you lay them down on the table and hold onto the others. You can also combine three and four of a kind to form a \u201cspread\u201d as well. The cool thing is that you can build on spreads that have been laid down.<\/span><\/p>\nIf someone else lays down a sequence of 4-5-6 of diamonds, you can lay down the 2 or 7 of diamonds to build off that.<\/span><\/p>\nA Winning Hand<\/b><\/h3>\n
To win in Tonk, you have to be the first to discard all of the cards from your hand. There is a strategy as to when to lay down your hand, but it varies from player to player. Sitting on cards unnecessarily can wind up being costly.<\/span><\/p>\n