Tonk, a card game, is a variety of rummy. Any number can play. A game consists of several hands. The players take turns dealing.

Tonk is usually played for money, with a stake agreed on before the game starts. Each player pays the stake to the winner of the hand. Games typically involve three to five players. Stakes may be any amount, but are typically small, on the order of a nickel or dime.

Tonk is a relatively fast game that can be played during brief periods of time by varying numbers of players. In some places it is a popular pastime for workers on their lunch break.

A standard fifty-two card deck is used. Each card has a point value: Ace through ten have their face value, aces having a value of one point, deuces a value of two points, and so on. The Jack, Queen, and King are each worth ten points.

Play

Players are dealt five cards in turn. The dealer turns up the first of the un-dealt cards as the start of the discard pile. The remaining un-dealt cards are set face down in a stack next to the discard pile. These form the stock.

Players total up the points in their hand. If a player has 50 points he says, "tonk" and immediately wins a double stake from each player. If two players have 50 points the hand is a draw, and another hand is dealt. If no one tonks, play continues. The player to the left of the dealer begins, and play continues in turn.

The goal of play is to get rid of one's cards by forming them into spreads. A spread is three or four identical cards, or three or more in a row of the same suit. A player may add cards to his own or another's spread. The winner is the first to get rid of all his cards, or the player with the fewest points when play is stopped.

Play stops 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 the players likewise lay their cards face up. The player with the fewest points in his hand is the winner. If the player who knocked does not have the fewest points, he must pay the stake to each player with fewer points. In addition, each player pays the stake to the winner. If there is 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 is the winner, and each player pays him the stake. If the player has one or more cards left in his hand after discarding, his turn ends.

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.

Many variations in play are possible.