Greasy Spoon Strategy Tips

• Maintain at least one playable card in each category to avoid being locked out of that category.
• Avoid running out of Sides in hand; if you do, your opponent can safely lead Sides while you are forced to pass.
• When leading a round, attack where your opponent is weak. For example, if they have already spent most of their strong Mains, start rounds with small Mains to maintain tempo.
• Within each category, the hierarchy is: consecutive ranks < same rank, and rainbow < same suit. In general, use the weakest valid pattern first and save stronger patterns for later.
• Always try to keep at least one Main and one Side available; avoid spending all your Mains early on flashy plays.
• When passing in the first half of the game, place 1–3 cards on the Backburner, prioritizing cards that can form future combos or are currently awkward but potentially powerful later.
• When following a play, respond with the weakest legal upgrade in that category, preserving suited and same-rank forms for future rounds.
• Pay attention to which category your opponent avoids leading and, when you gain tempo, initiate rounds in that category to pressure them.
• In the late game, stop over-optimizing the Backburner and focus on shedding cards efficiently while maintaining tempo