Often, players start by playing a card with a value of one in a color they do not have any other cards in. You may then see 1 1 to form an eleven in different colors or a 2.

You don't want to up the ante too quickly, as maybe you won't be able to play more cards if the number is too high. This game is about working semi-cooperatively to build up the numbers slowly. Then, if you can, hit everyone with a big final play to empty your hand.

But for the most part, strategy and what the best moves are depend on how you want to play and how your opponent(s) play. Some throw away cards that are alone or weak pairs. You may want to keep a 98 and see if the opponent will play the same color so you can build it out.

Most players don't take big swings, meaning they play the next highest number they have in their hand. Some players like to play big swings, meaning 4-5 card drops. Understand how your opponent likes to play. There are only so many variations to the starting hand in terms of color. With more experience, you can feel how you want to play each one. One would play a 5, 2, 2 differently than 4, 3, 2 and 2, 2, 2, 3. Some people like to eliminate colors from their hands. Some like to lead with their highest card suit, to build out their weaker ones. If you play that way, you should pass more, because a four-card drop from your opponent can be devastating since you probably broke your own set of four to build up the other suits.

Always play. Never pass unless you have no choice.

Try to improve your hand with every play by first reducing the number of cards, then reducing the number of different colors, then the quantity of different numbers. This usually looks like a leaning toward collecting one color (or occasionally, one number).

Do not break up groups.

There are times when it's a good idea to pass so you can later play a suit with more cards. For example, if you have four cards of the same color in your hand and the previous player plays two cards of the same color, you have three options:

• Split the four cards to play two
• Split the four cards to play three
• Pass and wait until your turn comes up again to play the four cards

None of the three options is inherently bad, but usually, option three works more often than not.

Passing can be a solid move when you need to cycle out low card counts. For example, if you get a starting hand with a few doubles, playing a double, then passing, prevents the opponent from playing a 4+ combo.

Never play 3 cards without a strong 4-5 cards of the same suit to back it up. This prevents the opponent from dropping a big card combo with no way to answer it.

Another strategy is to lead with the suit you have the most of, then use that to build out your lesser ones.