What is a "Phom" (Meld)?

A Phom is a set of cards formed in two ways: - **Horizontal:** 3 or 4 cards of the same rank (e.g., 5-5-5, 8-8-8-8). - **Vertical:** A sequence of 3 or more cards of the same suit (e.g., 4-5-6 of Hearts, 9-10-J of Spades). *Note:* A Phom cannot contain cards used in another Phom.

What does "Móm" (Burned) mean?

If the game ends (after 4 rounds) and you have **failed to form any Phom**, you are "Móm". *Consequence:* You automatically rank last (4th place), regardless of how low your points are. Avoiding Móm is a top priority for beginners.

You win immediately (Ù) if all 9 cards in your hand form Phom sets, leaving 0 points. - **Ù Khan (Dry Win):** A rare lucky hand dealt initially with no pairs or potential matches. Instant win. - **Ù Tròn (Perfect Win):** When a player holds 10 cards (as dealer) and all 10 form Phoms.

What is the "Pay All" (Đền Làng) rule?

This is the harshest penalty in Phom. It triggers if: 1. You let the next player eat **3 cards in a row** -> They Win (Ù). 2. You let the next player eat the **Closing Card** (Chốt) -> They Win (Ù). *Penalty:* Instead of splitting the loss, **YOU pay the total winnings for the entire table**.

What happens if I eat a card?

- **Benefit:** You form a Phom using an opponent's discard. - **Cost:** You must move one card from your hand to the discard pile. - **Strategy:** Eating reduces your hand size and potential points but reveals information to opponents. Be careful not to break up potential Phoms unless necessary.

If points are equal, who wins?

If two players have the same score (e.g., both have 5 points), the player who **put down their cards first** (who sits closer to the dealer in counter-clockwise order) takes the higher rank. This is why playing quickly and decisively matters in the final round.

Phỏm Variations - Regional Rules 🔄

Overview

While Phỏm (or Tá Lả) is originally a Northern Vietnamese game, it has spread across the country. Unlike Tiến Lên, Phỏm rules are relatively standardized, but high-stakes variations introduce complex "penalty" mechanics that drastically change the strategy.

The "Tái Gửi Ù Đền" Rule Set

This is the most popular competitive variant, adding drama and high risk.

1. Tái (Re-Draw)

Rule: If a player in the 4th round eats a card (Ăn chốt), the discard rotation shifts.
Effect: Players who had already played their 4th card and put down their Phỏm might get another turn ("Tái").
Strategy: This allows players one more chance to draw, eat, or send cards (Gửi) to reduce points.

2. Gửi (Sending)

Rule: After showing your Phỏm, you can attach your unmatched cards to any other player's Phỏm on the table.
Effect: The sent cards no longer count towards your score.
Strategic Chaos: You can reduce your hand to 0 points (Ù) by sending everything away! This is called "Ù Gửi".

3. Ù Đền (Pay for All)

The most dangerous rule.

Scenario: Player A discards. Player B eats. Player A discards again. Player B eats again. Player A discards a 3rd time. Player B eats and achieves Ù (Win).
The Penalty: Player A is responsible for the entire table's loss. Player A must pay Player B the winnings for everyone (Players C and D pay nothing).
Why: Player A played poorly by feeding Player B three times ("nuôi báo cô").

Regional Differences

🏙️ Northern Style (Original Tá Lả)

Characteristics: Strict, focused on memory and calculation.

Melds: Strict sets and runs. No "wild cards".
Aces: Always count as 1 point (or sometimes 11, depends on house).
Rules: Often played with "Ù Khan" (if dealt a hand with NO pairs or potential matches, win immediately - very rare).

🌴 Southern Style (Phỏm Miền Nam)

Characteristics: Faster, slightly more casual adaptation.

Terminology: Often called simply "Phỏm".
Jokers: Some casual groups include Jokers as wild cards (rare in serious play).
Scoring: May use simpler point multipliers for betting.

Specialized House Rules

1. "Ăn Chốt" Penalty

Standard: Eating the closing card costs 4x the bet.
Variation: Some groups play 10x or instant game loss to discourage careless discarding in the final round.

2. Ù Khan (Dry Win)

Rule: If your initial 9/10 cards have absolutely no pairs (cạ) or potential phỏm (highly unlikely probability).
Result: You win immediately without playing. Often pays double.

3. Ù Tròn (Perfect Win)

Rule: Winning with 10 cards (as the dealer/starter) where all 10 form Phỏm.
Bonus: Usually pays extra bonus.

4. K-K-K-K (Tứ Quý)

Rule: If you are dealt or form a set of 4 Kings (or 4 of any rank in some versions).
Effect: Immediate bonus payment from other players, similar to "heo" in Tiến Lên.

Comparison: Standard vs. Competitive

Feature	Standard (Family)	Competitive (Casino/Street)
Eating Penalty	Small / None	Immediate Cash Transfer
Chốt Penalty	Standard	Heavy (4x-10x)
Đền Làng	No	Yes (Crucial Mechanic)
Gửi (Sending)	Allowed	Allowed (Strategic)
Mood	Relaxed	Intense, Silence Required

🎯 Adaptation Tips

When joining a new Phỏm table, always ask:

"Có chơi Tái Gửi Ù Đền không?" (Do we play Re-draw/Send/Pay-all?)
"Ăn chốt phạt bao nhiêu?" (What's the penalty for eating the closing card?)
"Ù Khan tính sao?" (Does Dry Win count?)
"A tính 1 hay 11?" (Is Ace 1 or 11 points?)

Last Updated: January 2026 Regions Covered: National (Vietnam) Complexity: High (Due to penalty mechanics)

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