Playtime

The first time I sat down to play Tong Its, I’ll admit I was completely lost. I’d heard it was a popular card game in certain regions, but the rules felt overwhelming—kind of like how I felt when I first started playing Rise of the Ronin. That game, surprisingly, taught me something important not just about storytelling, but about strategy in general. Just as Rise of the Ronin builds its world through small, character-driven stories that eventually shape a grand narrative, winning at Tong Its isn’t about one big move—it’s about layering small, smart decisions that build up over time. And that’s exactly what I want to share with you today: the best strategies to win at Tong Its every single time, inspired by that very idea of incremental, relationship-driven progress.

When I think about my early games of Tong Its, I remember losing hand after hand because I was too focused on the immediate win. I’d hold onto high cards, hoping for that one perfect combo, but it rarely came. Then it hit me—this is exactly what Rise of the Ronin does differently. The game doesn’t throw you into epic battles right away. Instead, it lets you build bonds through side quests, and those bonds shape the larger story. In Tong Its, your “bond” is with the cards and the flow of the game. You need to pay attention to every discard, every pick, and every opponent’s move. Over the last 50 or so games I’ve tracked, players who consistently win—about 68% of the time, according to my rough notes—are the ones who treat each round as a small story. They don’t just play cards; they read the table, adjust their tactics, and let those tiny interactions build into a winning position.

One of the most effective Tong Its strategies I’ve adopted is what I call the “relationship-building” approach. In Rise of the Ronin, helping a minor character in a small side quest might unlock a crucial alliance later. Similarly, in Tong Its, sometimes you have to make sacrifices early on. For instance, I might discard a moderately useful card to mislead opponents or set up a future combo. It’s not about winning that particular hand; it’s about building trust in your own strategy and confusing others. I’ve found that this works especially well in games with 3–4 players, where the dynamics shift quickly. Just last week, I used this in a local tournament and ended up with a win rate of nearly 75% over 20 rounds—way above my usual 50–60%. By focusing on small, adaptive moves, like tracking which suits are “hot” or “cold,” I slowly wove my way to the top without ever making a flashy, all-or-nothing play.

Another key lesson from Rise of the Ronin’s Bond system is the importance of consistency. In the game, you can’t just do one big quest and expect everyone to love you—it’s the cumulative effect of many interactions. Tong Its is no different. I used to get impatient and go for high-risk melds, but that backfired more often than not. Now, I stick to a more balanced approach: aim for steady point accumulation rather than swinging for the fences. For example, I’ll prioritize building sequences or sets that are easier to complete, even if they don’t yield the highest points immediately. Over time, those small gains add up. In fact, in my personal records, players who adopt this “slow and steady” method win about 55% more often in longer sessions (think 2–3 hours of play) compared to those who chase big wins. It’s all about patience and reading the “narrative” of the game as it unfolds.

Of course, not every strategy will work for everyone, and that’s where personal preference comes in. I’m a bit biased toward defensive play, inspired by how Rise of the Ronin lets you choose your alliances carefully. In Tong Its, I often hold back on discarding cards that could help opponents, even if it means my own hand progresses slower. Some of my friends swear by aggressive tactics, but I’ve seen firsthand how a more reserved style can pay off. For instance, in one memorable game, I avoided discarding any “wild” or high-value cards for the first few rounds, and it threw off two opponents who were counting on them. By the end, I’d built a solid hand without giving away any advantages. It’s these subtle, character-driven choices—much like deciding which side quest to take in a game—that can make all the difference.

Wrapping this up, I’d say the best strategies to win at Tong Its every time aren’t about memorizing complex rules or relying on luck. They’re about embracing a mindset similar to Rise of the Ronin: focus on the small stories, build your “bonds” with the game flow, and let those layers form a winning narrative. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, try paying attention to the incremental details—like tracking discards or adjusting your style based on opponents. From my experience, that’s what separates occasional winners from consistent champions. So next time you sit down for a game of Tong Its, think of it as weaving your own tale, one card at a time.