Tongits for Beginners: Learn the Rules and Start Playing!

Tongits, also called Tong its, is a well-liked card game for three players in the Philippines.

It’s like the rummy games you might know, and it uses a regular deck of 52 cards.

To be good at Tongits, you need some luck, and a good plan, and you have to pay attention to what the other players are doing.

It can be fun and hard at the same time, no matter how experienced you are.

This guide will help you start with Tongits, explaining the rules and some tips to enjoy the game.

A Super Simple Guide to Get You Playing Tongits!

Getting Ready to Play

Dealing Time: One person deals the cards. They give 13 cards to themselves and 12 cards to each of the other two players. 

The rest of the cards go face down in a pile in the middle – that’s the “stockpile.” The winner of each round gets to deal for the next game.

First Move: The dealer starts! If they want, they can put down any “melds” (sets or runs of cards) they have right away.

Then, they have to throw one card face up to start the “discard pile.”

What You Do on Your Turn

• Pick a Card: You start by picking up one card. You can choose:

• The top card from the face-down pile (stockpile), or

• The top card from the face-up pile (discard pile).

• Important Rule: If you pick a card from the discard pile, you have to use it to make a meld immediately! You can’t just hold onto it.

• Meld (Optional): Put down your “melds.” What’s a meld?

• Sets: 3 or 4 cards of the same kind (like three Queens).

• Runs: 3 or more cards in a row, all of the same suit (like 5, 6, 7 of hearts).

• “Sapaw” (Optional): This is where you get to add cards to melds that are already on the table, even if someone else put them there! 

How the Game Ends

There are a few ways the game can finish:

• Tongits!: If you use all of your cards to make melds (either new ones or adding to existing ones), shout “Tongits!” – you win instantly!

• Draw: If you think you have the fewest points in your hand compared to the other players, call “Draw” at the start of your turn (before you pick up a card). The other players can then:

• Fold: Give up (you win!).

• Challenge: Show their hands to see who has the lowest score. If someone challenges you and you have the lowest score, you win. But if they have a lower score, they win, even if it’s a tie!

Quick Tips for Playing Tongits

• Meld early: The faster you make melds, the better!

• Keep your hand organized: Group the cards that might make sets or runs together.

• Watch other players: See what cards they’re taking and throwing away.

• Throw cards away smartly: Don’t give your opponents the cards they need! Try to get rid of the cards worth more points.

• Think before calling “Draw”: Make sure you have a good hand!

• Be ready to change your plan: Don’t get stuck on one way to play.

• Learn “Sapaw”: Use it to get rid of your cards and mess up other players’ plans.

So grab your mobile phone now, start playing, and see if you have a skills to be a Tongits go-master!