From family reunions in Pampanga to late-night sessions in Tondo, Pusoy has always been part of Filipino life. Now sharkaaa brings that same excitement online — real players, real stakes, and the same thrill of laying down that unbeatable hand. Laro na, kabayan!
If you grew up in the Philippines, chances are you've played Pusoy at least once — during Christmas Eve at your lola's place, after a long bayanihan shift, or during a long commute with friends. It's one of those games that feels deeply Pinoy, somewhere between poker and Chinese poker, but with its own flavour that you won't find anywhere else in the world.
At sharkaaa, we didn't just port the game to a screen — we rebuilt it from the ground up for Filipino players. The interface is clean, the matchmaking is fast, and the game logic is tight. No laggy animations, no confusing menus. You pick your variant, join a table, and your 13 cards are dealt in seconds. It feels exactly like sitting down at a real table, minus the need to shuffle.
Whether you're a casual player who just wants a few rounds during your lunch break or a competitive player looking for real-money tables with serious opponents, sharkaaa has the right setup for you. We've got free-play tables for practice, and real-money games starting at ₱10 per hand — accessible for everyone without exception.
Pusoy — also known as Filipino poker or Chinese poker — is a card game where each player receives 13 cards and must arrange them into three separate hands: a 3-card front hand, a 5-card middle hand, and a 5-card back hand. The back hand must be the strongest, the middle hand the second strongest, and the front hand the weakest. If you set them in the wrong order, you get a "foul" and automatically lose the round — no exceptions.
At the end of each round, players compare hands against each other. You score a point for each hand you beat, and lose a point for each hand you lose. There are also royalties — bonus points awarded for particularly strong hands like a straight flush in the back, a full house in the middle, or three of a kind in the front. These royalties can completely flip the scoring in one round, which is what makes Pusoy so exciting and unpredictable.
On sharkaaa, the game logic enforces all rules automatically, so you don't have to worry about accidentally misranking your hands. The platform catches fouls before you submit, and royalty bonuses are calculated instantly. It's clean, it's fair, and it respects the traditional rules that Filipino players know and love.
Understanding hand rankings is the foundation of solid Pusoy strategy. Here's a complete breakdown of what beats what on sharkaaa's tables.
| Rank | Hand Name | Description | Royalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | High Card | No matching cards; highest card determines value | None |
| 2 | One Pair | Two cards of the same rank | None |
| 3 | Two Pair | Two different pairs in the same hand | None |
| 4 | Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank | +3 pts (front hand) |
| 5 | Straight | Five consecutive cards, any suit | None |
| 6 | Flush | Five cards of the same suit, any order | None |
| 7 | Full House | Three of a kind plus a pair | +2 pts (middle hand) |
| 8 | Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank | +8 pts |
| 9 | Straight Flush | Five consecutive cards all of the same suit | +10 pts |
| 10 | Royal Flush | A–K–Q–J–10 all of the same suit | +20 pts |
* Royalty values shown are for standard Pusoy Dos rules as applied on sharkaaa tables. Variant-specific royalties may differ — check in-game rules for each table before sitting down.
Not all Pusoy tables are created equal. Sharkaaa offers multiple variants so you can choose the version you grew up playing — or discover a new one that suits your style. Each variant has its own pace, its own payout structure, and its own table culture. Here's what's currently running on sharkaaa's live tables around the clock.
The original version most Filipinos learned at home. Four players, 13 cards each, standard hand rankings with basic royalties. The best starting point for new players on sharkaaa — low minimum bets and a patient pace give you time to think through your arrangement.
The version that took over Pinoy households in the late '90s and never left. Pusoy Dos incorporates a shedding mechanic — players take turns playing single cards, pairs, or combinations to beat the previous play. Fast, aggressive, and deeply satisfying when you clear your hand first. The most active tables on sharkaaa run this variant.
Sharkaaa's high-stakes rooms are for players who know the game inside out and aren't afraid to back their skills with real money. Bigger buy-ins, bigger royalty multipliers, and a smaller pool of serious opponents. If you've been playing Pusoy for years and want a real challenge, this is where to go.
Pusoy is as much about skill as it is about luck. The card distribution is random, but how you arrange those 13 cards is entirely up to you. Here are proven strategies that good players use — and that you can start applying on sharkaaa today.
Your 5-card back hand must be your strongest. Before you start placing cards, scan your 13 cards for the best possible 5-card combination — flush, full house, straight. Build that first, then work backwards from there.
Many players weaken their back hand trying to stuff the middle with something impressive. Unless you can hold both a strong back and middle hand at once, keep the middle hand modest and reliable — a consistent two pair or straight beats going for broke and fouling.
If you're sitting on four of a kind or a straight flush in the back, arrange everything around protecting and maximising those royalty points. On sharkaaa's high-stakes tables, a single royalty swing can mean the difference between a ₱2,000 win and a ₱2,000 loss.
Sharkaaa offers free-play tables running 24/7. If you're learning the game or trying a new arrangement strategy, use these first. There's no shame in practising — the best players on sharkaaa all started at the free tables.
Unlike single-hand poker, Pusoy gives you time to observe. If an opponent consistently overpowers the back hand at the expense of their front, you can plan your arrangement to beat their likely front strategy. Pattern recognition is a real edge in longer sessions.
Sharkaaa's Pusoy tables are built for touchscreens. Drag and drop your cards into the three hands, tap to rearrange, and submit when you're happy — all without lag. Works perfectly on the mid-range Android phones most Pinoys use every day.
You're not playing against a bot. Sharkaaa's matchmaking pairs you with real players from across the Philippines — from Manila to Mindanao. That means genuine competition, real chat, and the authentic social feel of a Pusoy session with friends.
Pusoy is a social game, and sharkaaa keeps it that way. Send quick emotes or short text messages during your session. Trash-talk (friendly, of course) is part of the experience — just like a real table among kabayan.
Cards are dealt using a certified RNG with independent auditing. Every shuffle is provably fair. No player — including sharkaaa — can see or influence your cards before they're dealt. Total transparency, no exceptions.
Track your win rate, average royalties earned, and hand history over time. Sharkaaa's stats dashboard helps you identify where you're strong and where your arrangement strategy needs work. Data-driven improvement, for real.
Log in daily to claim free chips. Win weekly tournaments for bonus cash credited directly to your sharkaaa wallet. There's always something extra on the table — sulit every single day you play.
Fund your sharkaaa account in seconds using the apps and banks you already have on your phone. Fast deposits, fast withdrawals — walang tagal na paghihintay.
Minimum deposit: ₱100 · Minimum withdrawal: ₱200 · Zero fees on all local payment methods at sharkaaa.