If you have ever been to the Philippines and have ever played one of the card games, you will know that Tongits is a popular choice. It is an exciting and fun game that also offers great betting opportunities. This card game is very popular in Luzon, but its origins are still unknown. Tongits are very similar to Gin Rummy and sometimes called 3-player rummy. It has some similarities with Tonk and Mahjong. So, if you’re curious about How to Play Tongits, here’s a rough guide:
How to Play Tongits
Tongits can be played with 3-4 players, but the ideal number of players is 3 to maximize your winnings. A standard card deck is used.
The goal of the Tongits game is to be the first player to use all the cards or to be the player with the lowest score. This means that each card is equal to a certain value. Face cards (J, Q, K) and 10 cards are worth 10. Cards 2 through 9 are equal to their numeric value, and Aces are equal to 1.
To use cards, you must fuse them in different ways:
- Set of similar suits (can be 3 or 4)
- Set of similar suits in sequence
Players can also remove a card from their hand by placing it on top of their opponent’s previously played card. However, this can only be done if the opponent stacks the cards.
There are four ways to find unity. You can complete all the cards and declare unity. You can also simply aim to get the lowest score among all the players. You can also challenge yourself to a draw where you and the person accepting your challenge can see who has the best hand. Another option is to try someone else’s draw. In some cases, you can use this draw as a way to bluff your opponent (more on this later).
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at how to get started with the game.
How to Play Tongits : Setting Up
As mentioned above, you need 3 players. However, Tongits can be played with two or four players. Remove the Joker from the default group. Anyone can shuffle the cards, but if you want to be pedantic you can roll a die to decide who deals the cards. For some players, taking the first hand is important because they receive 13 cards, one more than the other players. This gives him the advantage of being able to choose which cards to remove from his hand.
Dealing the Cards on How to Play Tongits
The dealer starts with the cards and deals them face down clockwise. The dealer is dealt 13 cards, and the other dealer is dealt 12 cards. In the case of a four-player game, the number of cards per player is 10 for the dealer and 9 for the other players. There are still cards left, so you should place them in the center of the table. It is from this reserve that players take turns drawing cards.
How to Play Tongits : Starting the Game
The dealer, who has 13 cards, chooses a card from his hand and discards it. They do not withdraw funds from the supply. You can select cards you don’t need. Remember that this move equalizes the number of cards for each player.
If the dealer discards a card, the next player can draw a card from the deck or receive the discarded card. The latter can only be done if you complete the set using cards.
For example, the dealer throws a King. The next player can claim it if they have two Kings. They can knock down all three Kings at once to create a 3-suited King streak. They can also claim the discarded card to complete a direct stream of King, Queen and Jack.
Players must also reveal combinations. Once you get a discarded card, you cannot draw cards from that source. After the set is placed in front of him, he must discard one card from his hand.
The next player can discard a card or draw from the supply, so it’s best to think about which cards you want to discard. If you choose to draw from the supply, you must discard a card to end your turn.
Once a player completes a set after drawing from the source, there is no need to open the combined set. However, the lack of a meld may mean that players cannot challenge players who want to draw except those with four of a kind.
Note: Players can only contest ties if they have a visible set.
This sequence repeats until the pool is full, someone declares a round, or a player challenges a round.
Preventing a Draw as You Play Tongits
There are ways to prevent players from calling turns. One is when a player dissolves his set. This is because your opponent may be “bluffing” when they have good cards. Another way to place cards in another player’s mixed row. For example, a flush dissolve the Queen, Jack and Ten, which can be placed together with the King, and follows 9 cards up to the Ace. Be careful, if you place a card on top of an exposed meldable card, that card and the discarded card can no longer be used.
If another player joins and decides not to challenge, the player who called the draw is less likely to show a card. This way, other players won’t be able to tell that you bluffed to win the round.
Some players will call a playoff to make other players think they have a good hand if they feel there is no way to win when the score is decided after the match.
Play Tongits to Win
If any player fails to reach Tongit, the game will automatically end when supplies run out. Now it’s time for the players to count their scores. Again, the values are:
- Jack, Queen, and King are worth 10 points each.
- Number cards are worth their number value, such as 7 points for an 7, 4 points for a 4, etc.
- Ace are worth 1 point each.
Once a player has used all of his cards, he must declare Tongit on his turn. This can happen if the player first fuses, discards, or removes a card. Tongit can only be announced during your turn. Therefore, if the other player can use all the cards before the end of the turn, that player wins the game.
Players can also choose to end the game early by calling a round. Ideally, you should do this when you think your score is the highest. Remember that fused cards are not considered disadvantageous. Only loose cards count towards your score. For example, you have a total of 7 cards, 3 of which are the 3 sets of queens and the remaining 3 are the sets of 6,7,8 and you have lost an ace. Your score is 1.
Note that a draw can be announced if someone places a card in the combination revealed. However, if someone invites you to a raffle, you can contest the raffle. If the contestant has the same score as the person who declared the round, the contestant wins the round.
Betting on Tongits
Betting on Tongits can be done in different ways. The most basic way to place a bet pot. Here the first bet can be $5 for each player. At the end of each round, each player must add one dollar to the pot. This pot can only be won if the player wins two rounds in a row. Pots can only be matched if no player can win two rounds in a row.
The winner of each round may also win, depending on what was agreed upon. Some examples:
- For every win at Tongits, players earn $2 from each player. When you get an ace in your meld set or hand, you earn $1 for each ace.
- For winning the game, players can earn up to $3. In addition, he can also earn $1 if he has an ace.
- Players without melded set are considered burn and will pay $1 to the winning player.
Players can choose from a variety of side bets to make the game more fun.
Now that you know the rules of Tongits, why not gather your friends and start playing some fun games? Test and see which one will trap you in Tongits and win the lottery. Play Tongits now and have fun with your friends.
