I remember the first time I sat down with a deck of cards to learn Tongits - that traditional Filipino game that's captured hearts across generations. Much like that frustrating boss fight against the Templar in certain video games where you're forced to play as Yasuke, I initially found myself constantly dodging and weaving through games without ever really understanding how to land meaningful blows. Those early sessions felt exactly like those described combat scenarios - endless defensive maneuvering just to get in one or two decent plays before being overwhelmed again. It took me nearly three months of regular play, probably around 50-60 games, before something clicked and I started seeing the patterns that separate consistent winners from perpetual strugglers.

What makes Tongits so compelling, and simultaneously challenging, is that it combines elements of luck with deep strategic thinking. Unlike poker where you can sometimes bluff your way to victory, Tongits requires actual card mastery - you need to understand probabilities, reading opponents, and when to take calculated risks. I've found that about 70% of winning comes from solid fundamental strategy, while the remaining 30% involves adapting to your specific opponents' tendencies. The best players I've encountered, those who consistently win tournaments in Manila's local card clubs, share this mindset of treating each game as a puzzle to be solved rather than a gamble to be taken.

Let me share something crucial I learned through painful experience: knowing when to knock is more important than knowing how to knock. Early in my Tongits journey, I'd get excited about potential combinations and knock too early, only to discover my opponents had better hands. This is reminiscent of those video game battles where impatience leads to disaster - you can't just spam attacks and hope for the best. I developed a personal rule that's served me well: unless I'm holding at least 85% of what I need for a sure win, I'll usually draw another card rather than knock. This conservative approach has increased my win rate by approximately 40% in casual games, though tournament play requires more aggression.

The psychological aspect of Tongits cannot be overstated. After tracking my games for six months (around 200 sessions), I noticed that players give away tells through their card arrangement speed, how they handle their discard pile, and even how they sigh or smile at certain draws. One particular player at our local weekly game has this tell where he arranges his cards very deliberately when he's one card away from winning - I've used this knowledge to avoid knocking against him three times in recent months, saving myself from what would have been certain losses. These subtle behavioral cues are as important as the cards themselves, much like how in those challenging video game duels, learning enemy patterns is more valuable than having the strongest weapon.

Card counting in Tongits isn't about memorizing every card like in blackjack - it's about tracking key cards and understanding what remains in the deck. I typically focus on the 8s, 9s, and 10s since these form the backbone of many winning combinations. Through practice, I can usually keep track of about 60-70% of these critical cards during a game. When I notice that most of the 8s have been discarded, for instance, I'll adjust my strategy away from combinations that require them. This situational awareness prevents the kind of repetitive, slogging gameplay that makes those Yasuke battles so tedious - instead, each game feels fresh and dynamic.

One of my personal preferences that might be controversial: I almost never go for the highest-scoring plays if they carry substantial risk. While some players chase the glory of big wins, I've found that consistent small victories add up more reliably. In my record-keeping, aggressive players win big about 15% of the time but lose moderately in 70% of their games, while my more measured approach yields small wins in 65% of games with minimal losses. This philosophy extends to how I manage my discards - I'd rather discard a moderately useful card than risk giving an opponent exactly what they need for a winning combination.

The beauty of Tongits mastery lies in developing your own style while respecting the game's fundamentals. After teaching dozens of newcomers, I've observed that it takes most people about 20-30 games to move beyond complete confusion, another 50 games to grasp basic strategy, and hundreds of games to develop true proficiency. The players who excel fastest are those who review their games afterward, analyzing what worked and what didn't - much like how professional gamers study their gameplay footage. I make it a point to mentally review at least three key decisions from each session, which has accelerated my learning curve significantly.

What continues to fascinate me about Tongits is how it balances accessibility with depth. Unlike those repetitive video game battles that become chores, Tongits offers endless variety within its simple framework. Each hand presents new challenges, new opportunities to outthink your opponents, new chances to practice the patience and observation that separate masters from amateurs. The game has taught me more about strategic thinking than any business book or seminar ever could - lessons about risk management, pattern recognition, and psychological awareness that apply far beyond the card table. And isn't that what makes any pursuit truly worth mastering?