Tonk scoring determines winners and shapes strategy. Understanding exactly how points are awarded helps you make better decisions throughout the game.

Card Point Values

CardPoints
King10
Queen10
Jack10
1010
99
88
77
66
55
44
33
22
Ace1

Maximum hand value (5 cards): 50 points (five face cards/10s)

Minimum hand value (5 cards): 6 points (four Aces + a 2)

Round Outcomes and Payouts

These are the usual payments, as in the typical rules recorded by Pagat. The “stake” is the amount agreed before the game. Many groups change some of these; see how to play Tonk for the common house rules.

49 or 50 on the deal

If your initial 5-card hand totals 49 or 50 points, show it at once. The hand is not played, and each opponent pays you a double stake. If two or more players are dealt 49 or 50, the hand is a draw and nobody pays.

Going out

If you get rid of every card in your hand, you win:

  • By a spread or a hit, with no card left to discard (a tonk, or “tonking out”): each opponent pays you a double stake.
  • With a final discard: each opponent pays you the basic stake.

Drop and win

If you drop at the start of your turn and have the lowest count, each opponent pays you the basic stake.

Drop and get caught

If you drop but another player has an equal or lower count, you are caught. You pay a double stake to every player with an equal or lower count, and the player with the lowest count also collects the basic stake from each of the others.

Stock pile exhausted

When a player wants to draw and the stock is empty, the hand ends. All players show their hands, and the lowest count wins the basic stake from each opponent.

Payout Summary

OutcomeWinner gets
49 or 50 on the deal2× stake from each opponent
Tonk out (spread or hit, no discard)2× stake from each opponent
Out with a final discard1× stake from each opponent
Successful drop1× stake from each opponent
Stock pile out (lowest count)1× stake from each opponent
OutcomeDropper pays
Caught (dropped, not lowest)2× stake to each player with an equal or lower count

Example Hands

Hand 1: 49 on the deal

Dealt: K♠ - Q♥ - J♣ - 10♦ - 9♠ = 49 points. Show it: an instant double win. (Five cards worth 10 each, 50 points, does the same.)

Hand 2: A successful drop

After several turns, your hand is 3♥ - 4♣ - A♠ = 8 points (your other cards are in spreads).

At the start of your turn you drop. Your opponent has 7♦ - 9♣ = 16 points.

You win, and your opponent pays the basic stake.

Hand 3: Caught

Your hand is 6♠ - 5♥ - 3♦ = 14 points. You drop.

Your opponent has 2♣ - A♥ - 4♠ = 7 points.

You’re caught, and you pay your opponent a double stake. With three or more players, you would pay a double stake to every player with 14 or less.

Scoring With Points Instead of Money

Tonk plays just as well without money. A simple way, and the way Rare Pike’s online game scores, is penalty points:

  • At the end of each hand, every losing player adds the count left in their hand to their score. Lower is better.
  • On a hand dealt 49 or 50, the other players add double their counts.
  • If you drop and you are caught, you add double your own count, and nobody else adds anything that hand.
  • The game ends when someone reaches 100 points, and the player with the lowest total wins.

Scoring Tips

  • Track your count constantly — knowing your exact total is essential for knock decisions
  • Face cards are dangerous — each one is 10 points of deadwood
  • Aces are cheap — at 1 point each, they rarely hurt your count
  • Getting caught is costly — the double penalty means one bad drop can undo several winning hands
  • Tonks are rare — don’t count on getting one, but always check your deal immediately

Ready to play? Try Tonk for free on Rare Pike — no download needed.