Is the ace low in Tongits? Check A–2–3 and Q–K–A

Draw a line, not a circle

Pagat’s traditional Tongits rules place the ace below two and define a run as at least three consecutive cards of the same suit. The reference explicitly excludes A–K–Q as a run. Use that rule set for this worksheet; an App mode needs its own instructions.

On paper, write one straight strip:

A → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 9 → 10 → J → Q → K

Put a stop mark at each end. Do not draw an arrow from K back to A. Leave enough room below the strip to copy a suit symbol beside every card you are checking. If the symbols are unfamiliar, start with reading ranks and suits.

Compare four independent card labels

Each row below is a separate example. Return the labels to your starting pile between rows; these are not four groups from a single hand.

For each row, place a small mark under its three rank positions. Then underline the suit symbols. A continuous set of marks does not fix a mismatched suit; matching suits do not fix separated rank positions. Keep those two checks on different lines of your notes.

For the wider vocabulary, our sets, runs and sapaw guide explains the distinction between equal ranks and a same-suit sequence.

A reversed list is different from a broken sequence

Copy 3♦ · A♦ · 2♦ on three paper slips. Place each slip under its position on the rank strip. From left to right, the slips now read A♦, 2♦, 3♦. The starting written order was untidy; the card identities still described the first pattern.

Now repeat with A♦ · Q♦ · K♦. Reordering these slips leaves the ace at one end and the queen and king at the other. You cannot repair that gap merely by writing A after K. Photograph or sketch the two layouts separately and label the second one “not connected”.

This is a diagram check. It says nothing about rearranging exposed cards, taking a discard or what action to choose during a hand. The discard-pickup condition is a separate rules question.

Self-check: does the longer row cross an end?

Finish by explaining the failed check in one sentence. “Wrong order” is too vague: say whether the issue is merely the written order, a gap between ranks or mixed suits. Those descriptions point to different mistakes.

Do not carry another game’s ace rule into Tongits

Write the game name and rule source at the top of the worksheet. A familiar ace rule from another card game is not evidence for this one. Keep Pusoy and Pusoy Dos separate, too.

These examples identify a pattern only. They do not score a hand, validate a declaration or show an App accepting a meld. For card values rather than sequence positions, use the separate Tongits counting exercise.