Tongits is a popular Filipino card game, which has its roots in rummy. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and involves 2-4 players. The aim of the game is to get rid of all your cards or create sets and runs before your opponents. In this article, we will guide you through the 13 steps to play Tongits.

1. Prepare the deck: Use a standard deck of 52 cards, without the jokers. Shuffle the cards well to ensure a random distribution.

2. Determine the dealer: Each player takes a card from the deck. The player with the lowest-ranking card becomes the dealer.

3. Deal the cards: The dealer deals each player 13 cards one at a time, face down, clockwise, starting with themselves. The top card of the remaining deck is placed face-up in the center of the table as the starter card.

4. Begin playing: Starting from the left of the dealer, players take turns performing actions during their turn.

5. Drawing a card: At the start of each player’s turn, they must draw a card from either the top of the undealt pile (face-down) or pick up any single discarded card from previous turns (face-up).

6. Creating sets and runs: Players need to form valid sets or runs in their hand for them to be eligible for “calling” or “declaring” later on. A set consists of three or more cards with an identical rank (e.g., three 7s). A run comprises three or more consecutive cards with a matching suit (e.g., 5-6-7-8 in spades).

7. Discarding: After drawing and making any possible melds (sets or runs), players must discard one card during their turn, placing it face-up next to the previously discarded card(s).

8. Points: Each card in Tongits holds a point value. The values are as follows – Ace: 1 point, numbered cards 2 to 10: face value, face cards (King, Queen, and Jack): 10 points each.

9. Calling: If a player believes they have better melds than their opponents, they may “call” at the end of their turn, challenging other players to reveal their melds. To do this, players must have at least one run in their hand and a total of fewer than five un-melded cards with a total value of less than six.

10. Revealing melds: After someone calls, each player reveals their valid melds for comparison.

11. Endgame scenarios:

a) Sapaw: If a called player has better melds than the caller, they win the round and are awarded the pot.

b) Tongits: The player who gets rid of all their cards first wins the round and collects the pot.

c) Draw: When no one can form any more melds on the table during a calling round, the round ends in a draw.

12. Determining the winner: The player with the lowest score (the sum of un-melded card values) among all competitors wins the round.

13. New rounds/games: For additional rounds or games in Tongits, players rotate clockwise to select a new dealer after each hand.

Once you’ve mastered these 13 steps on how to play Tongits, you’ll be ready to challenge your friends or family for an entertaining night of gameplay!