How to Play Tongits: A detailed beginner-friendly guide

For the Filipino people, Tongits is not just a card game. It is part of their culture; their favorite game that brings friends and families together. Therefore, chances are almost every Filipino would at least know how to play Tongits even if they are not experts in the game.

This guide is for users who have just started playing and feel overwhelmed by the rules of the Tongits game. We will try to break down and simplify the rules and the game flow so that you can refer to this guide anytime you feel stuck in a game. After reading this article, you can play Tongits online or offline because we have covered all the standard rules of the game. Let’s begin with the definition of Tongits.

What is “Tongits” and its objective:

Tongits (spelled Tong-its in some regions) is a rummy-style card game that originated in the Philippines. It is played by 3 players using a standard 52-card deck.

The objective of a Tongits game is to arrange cards in Melds (special card combinations) and reduce the total points by minimising the unmatched or un-melded cards. The player who reaches zero cards or the player with the lowest points on the table wins the game.

What do you need to play Tongits

Number of Players In most of the popular variants, three players play Tongits. But some online apps and websites allow 4 players too.

Deck needed Again, all commonly played Tongits variants use a standard 52-card deck without any Jokers. Ace is the lowest value card (1 point), whereas face cards carry the highest value (10 points each).

Setting up the Tongits game

1. A dealer is decided by a toss. The player with the highest card in a toss becomes the dealer for that round. After that, the player sitting to the left of the dealer becomes the dealer in the next round.
2. The dealer gets 13 cards. The other two players get 12 cards each.
3. The remaining cards are placed face down in the center and become the Close Pile.
4. Dealer discards the first card from his hand and starts the Discard Pile (cards placed face-up). The game begins.

Tongits game terminology

Before we get into the technical details of how to play Tongits, let’s understand the terms used in Tongits:

Melds The most important aspect of this game is to create Melds - special combinations of cards in your hand. There are two ways to create Melds.

• Sets: Three or Four-of-a-kind (e.g., K♠️ K♥️ K♦️)
• Runs: Three or more cards of the same suit in a sequence, also known as Straight Flush (e.g., 5♥️ 6♥️ 7♥️).

Sapaw or Lay-Off Sapaw makes Tongits even more interesting. Sapaw or Lay-off means adding your cards to the exposed Melds of other players. This is a great move to reduce your total points and block opponents from “Challenging” you.

Calling “Tongits” This is the best-case win scenario for any player. This means if you are able to use all your cards in valid Melds, you can call “Tongits” and win the game instantly.

Sunóg or Burn In a Tongits game, you would always want to avoid “Burn”. If you are “Burned” or Sunog, it means the round has ended and you were unable to lay down even a single Meld. This leads to an instant loss and a penalty.

Challenge / Fight If you believe that you have the lowest points on the table, you can Challenge other players to either Fold or Fight and compare points with you.

Points System in Tongits

• Aces = 1 point
• Cards 2–10 = Equivalent to their rank
• J, Q, K = 10 points each

Explained with an example:

• John ends the game by calling for a “Challenge” and has the following unmelded cards: Q♥️, 9♠️ and 4♦️. The points calculation will be as follows: 10 + 9 + 4 = 23 points
• Julia has the following cards: Ace♠️, 7♥️ and 10♦️. Their points would be: 1 + 7 + 10 = 18 pts
• In this scenario, Julia will win the game if there is a Challenge/Fight situation between the two.

Tongits Game Flow - Step by Step

A normal game of Tongits goes as follows:

1. Card dealing

   • Dealer deals the cards
   • Discards one card
   • Might or might not lay down a Meld (assuming they have created one)

2. Drawing card from the piles

   • The next player picks up a card from the Closed Pile or the Discard Pile.

Point to remember: You can pick up a card from the Discard Pile only if you can use that card in a Meld (Set or Run). You simply can’t hold that card.

3. Forming Melds

   • In case you have cards to create a valid Set to Run, you can choose to lay it down on the table i.e., expose it to others.

4. Sapaw or Lay-Off

   • If you can, add a card to one of your or the opponent’s Melds exposed on the table.
   • When you Sapaw a Meld of your opponent, they will not be able to start a “Challenge” on their next turn.

5. Discarding a card

   • To end your turn, discard one card.

Point to remember: Discard your cards wisely. If you discard big cards like K, Q, J, it will help you reduce your points quickly. But make sure you don't give your opponents an unwanted advantage.

6. Ending the round

There are three scenarios in which a Tongits round can end:

• Call “Tongits” Use all your cards in Melds and Sapaw and call “Tongits” to win the round.
• Challenge/Fight If you are certain that you have the lowest points on the table, call for a “Challenge”. Other players can choose to Fold or Fight based on their cards and points.
• No card left in the Closed Pile When the Closed Pile runs out of cards, the current round comes to an end. The player with the lowest points on the table is the winner. Also, the player who has not exposed any Meld gets “Burned”.

Tongits game mistakes to avoid

If you want to learn how to play Tongits and win consistently, you must be aware of these mistakes:

• Holding on to cards in hand in the hope of a perfect Meld. Always prioritize shorter Melds and keep expanding on them.
• Not paying attention to the Discard Pile. The cards your opponents are discarding can tell you a lot about their game strategy and the Melds they are chasing.
• Discarding big cards too early or too late. Always discard high-point cards only when you are certain that they will benefit you and not your opponents.
• Not being dynamic with your strategy. Tongits is a game of uncertainties. Your strategy should be flexible and evolve with the game.
• Giving emotions the driving seat. If you feel frustrated, take a break, especially if you are playing Tongits online.

Use these Tongits tips to play like a pro

You can use these tips to elevate your Tongits game:

• Create a simple Meld early in the game, even if it is not a perfect one.
• Keep an eye on the opponents’ card draws and discards. It gives you an insight into their potential Melds.
• Sapaw or Lay-off smartly to reduce points from your tally and block others from “Challenging” on their next turn.
• Start a Challenge only if you are almost certain that you have the lowest points on the table. Otherwise, it might backfire and cost you a game.
• Practice Tongits free games on apps or websites regularly. Try to learn the basics of the game on free Tongits platforms.

Playing Tongits Online

Playing Tongits online is a great way to start. Most Tongits apps come with excellent game explainers and practice mode. Use these apps as your safe space to learn about the finer details of the game, test your strategy and hone your skills. It’s always advised to start with the apps that offer Tongits free games.

All done! Ready to play Tongits?

Tongits is a fun game that is fairly easy to learn. However, players must keep in mind the common mistakes, tips and tricks to enjoy this game fully. This article explained the basics of the game in a very detailed manner. We also discussed the basic flow of the game so that you can start playing right after reading this article.

Now that you know how to play Tongits, find an app that suits you the best. You can easily find a lot of Tongits free to download apps. So, what are you waiting for? Test what you have learned and start playing Tongits now.