Tongits Rules for Beginners

Tong-its is a three-player card game that uses a standard 52-card deck. The basic aim is to be the first to get rid of all your cards by forming sets or sequences called melds. And it all starts with the deal.

On this page · 3 sections

1. Setup and dealing
2. Melds and card values
3. What you do on your turn

Setup and dealing

Tong-its is played with exactly three players. The dealer gets 13 cards, while the other two players each get 12 cards. After the deal, the remaining cards become the draw pile or "stock". The dealer takes the first turn, but before doing anything else, the dealer must discard one card face up to start a discard pile. After each hand, the winner of that hand becomes the dealer for the next one.

Melds and card values

In Tong-its, a "meld" is a set of three or four cards of the same value, like three Kings or four Queens, or a sequence of three or more cards of the same suit, like 2, 3 and 4 of Hearts. Aces are always low, so an Ace, King, Queen sequence is not allowed. Cards are counted as follows: Ace = 1, Jack or Queen or King = 10, and the other cards are counted at face value. A card can only be a part of one meld.

What you do on your turn

When it's your turn, you have to do something in this order:

1. Draw or take: Either take the top card from the stock or take the top card from the discard pile. But you can only take from the discard if you can use it to start or add to an exposed meld right away.
2. Expose meld: If you can, make a set of or sequence of at least 3 cards and put it face up next to your cards. This exposes your meld. You don't have to expose a meld every turn, but if you have a secret set of 4 cards, you can lay that set down in secret when first melding.
3. Lay off: If you can, add card(s) to the exposed melds of any player, including your own, to make a legal meld.
4. Discard: Throw out a card face up on the discard pile.

A player who has formed meld(s) during their turn is considered to have "opened".

Winning by Tongit

If a player melds or lays off all his cards in a single turn, that player calls "Tongit". In such a case, the player wins and the game is over. They win the round. The winner of a hand deals the next one.

Ending by Draw or stock depletion

The game ends if a player calls a "Draw".

However, if the stock is depleted, the player who has the lowest-numbered unmelded cards in play wins. They win the hand. Any player who has never exposed a meld lose automatically.