Phom, also known as Ta La or Tu Lo Kho, is a card game deeply ingrained in Vietnamese culture, particularly popular in the northern regions. In the south, it's referred to as Ta La, while in the north, it's called Phom. The objective of the game is to strategically collect and discard cards to form sets, known as Phoms, while minimizing the score of cards not included in these sets. Played with a standard 52-card deck, the game's versatility and engaging mechanics make it a favorite during family gatherings and festive occasions.
Key Terms in Phom and Ta La
- Phom: A set of three or more cards of the same suit in consecutive order, or three cards of the same value.
- Junk cards: Cards that do not belong to any Phom.
- Ù: Achieving three Phoms, resulting in no junk cards, which declares the player an absolute winner.
- Stomach: The remaining cards after the initial deal to players.
- Mom: When a player cannot form any Phom at the end of the game.
- Take the pin: Playing a junk card on the last turn that another player picks up.
- Send: In the last turn, if a player's junk card can be added to another player's Phom, it is sent, and not counted in the final score.
- Compensation: If a player takes a pin on the last turn and another player Ùs, the player who took the pin receives compensation. If another player takes a pin afterward, they must compensate the first pin-taker.
- Re: After playing, if another player discards a card that can be used, the original player gets another turn.
How to Play Phom - Ta La
The game accommodates 2 to 4 players, with each player receiving 9 cards, except the dealer or winner, who gets 10. The remaining cards, known as the Stomach, are placed face-down in the center of the table. The game proceeds counterclockwise, starting with the player who has 10 cards.
- Gameplay: The first player discards any card. The next player can either take this card to form a Phom or draw from the Stomach. After drawing, the player discards a card, and the cycle continues.
- End of Game: The game ends when a player achieves Ù. If no one achieves Ù, the game ends after 4 rounds, and scores are calculated based on junk cards.
- Last Turn: Players must lay down all their Phoms, send any cards they can to other players' Phoms, and then discard their last card. Remaining junk cards are scored.
Scoring Junk Cards When No One Ùs
- The player with the lowest score wins.
- A, J, Q, K are scored as 1, 11, 12, 13 respectively. Other cards are valued according to their numbers.
- In case of a tie, the player who discards their cards first wins.
Final Score Calculation
- First place: +6 points
- Second place: -1 point
- Third place: -2 points
- Last place: -3 points
- Player who gets the pin: -4 points
- Player who takes the pin: +4 points
- Player who Ùs: +15 points (each other player loses 5 points)
- Burned/burnt player: loses 4 points to the winner.
Note: This game is intended for entertainment purposes only, with no real-world transactions or rewards involved. For support, please contact [email protected].
In addition to Phom Ta La online, we offer other popular online card games such as Tien Len Mien Nam, Poker - Hong Kong Poker, Mau Binh - Gray Binhxap, Tien Len Counting Leaves, and Tien Len North.
What's New in Version 737.4
Last updated on Jul 18, 2024:
- Reduced game size
- Fixed issue with account freezing in the game
