You know that feeling when you're playing a game and you just want to skip through all the dialogue to get back to the good part? That's exactly how I felt playing Unicorn Overlord recently - the combat system was so engaging I kept wishing the story would just get out of my way. And it struck me how similar this is to mastering a game like Tongits. You don't need to understand every single rule or memorize complex backstories - you just need to grasp the essential strategies that actually matter during gameplay.
I've been playing Tongits for about three years now, and in that time I've probably played over 500 games. What I've learned is that much like how Unicorn Overlord's combat carries the entire game despite its weak narrative, Tongits has certain fundamental strategies that can carry your entire performance regardless of what cards you're dealt. The first thing I always tell new players is to stop worrying about memorizing every possible combination and instead focus on reading your opponents. Last Thursday, I was playing against two experienced players who'd probably been playing since I was in diapers, but because I paid attention to their discarding patterns, I managed to win three straight games despite starting with pretty mediocre hands.
The key is understanding probability while also trusting your gut. I remember this one game where I had the chance to go for Tongits early - the math said I had about a 35% chance of drawing what I needed, but something about how the other players were holding their cards told me to wait. I folded that opportunity, and two rounds later, I drew into a perfect sequence that won me the game with maximum points. These moments are like those rare instances in Unicorn Overlord where the combat just clicks - when you position your units perfectly and watch them execute flawless combinations without any tedious dialogue interrupting the flow.
What most players get wrong is they focus too much on their own cards without considering the table dynamics. It's like how in Unicorn Overlord, you might keep using that "cool-looking dude who hits like a truck" without considering how he fits with your other units. I used to make this mistake constantly - I'd get fixated on building a specific hand and miss obvious opportunities. Then I started treating each game session as a series of small adjustments rather than one big strategy. If I notice an opponent consistently discarding high cards early, I'll adjust my collecting strategy accordingly. If someone's holding onto cards for too long, they're probably building something specific, and I can play defensively to block them.
The emotional rollercoaster of Tongits mirrors what good gameplay should feel like - those moments of tension when you're one card away from winning, the satisfaction of reading an opponent's move correctly, the frustration when luck just isn't on your side. I've had games where I was down to my last few chips only to mount an incredible comeback because I stayed patient and watched for patterns. It's in these moments that Tongits transcends being just a card game and becomes this beautiful dance of probability, psychology, and timing.
Some people might tell you to always follow strict mathematical rules - like never drawing from the deck when you have a 72% chance of getting something useful from the discard pile. But I've found the most memorable wins often come from breaking conventional wisdom. Last month, I won a tournament by making what seemed like a terrible move according to probability, but it completely threw off my opponents' expectations. They were so confused by my play that they started making genuine mistakes, and I cleaned up. This is where Tongits differs from pure probability games - the human element can override even the most unfavorable odds.
What keeps me coming back to Tongits, much like what kept me playing Unicorn Overlord despite its narrative flaws, is that perfect balance between calculated strategy and spontaneous adaptation. You can study all the techniques, memorize all the probabilities, but when you're in the heat of the game, it's your ability to read the room and trust your instincts that truly determines whether you'll dominate the session. And honestly, that's what makes any game truly great - when it gives you just enough structure to feel in control, but enough uncertainty to keep every session fresh and exciting. After all those games I've played, I still get that thrill when the cards are dealt and the real psychological battle begins.
