Board Game Arena - User contributions [en]

Gamehelpginrummy

2023-12-30T12:33:49Z

Frogstar A: /* Overview */

===Overview===

The aim is to reach 100 points through making melds (runs or sets with 3 or more cards)

Aces are low (A-2-3). Runs must be all of the same suit.
===Turn===

* Take either the face up card in the discard pile or draw the top card from the draw deck.

* Discard 1 card
* Sum of your cards that do not form sets or run is called "deadwood". All face cards are considered as 10 and Aces are 1.
* When your deadwood value is below 10, you can call "knock" and score the deadwood in your opponent's hand minus the deadwood in your hand. If, however, your opponent has a lower deadwood value than you, they score the difference instead as well as get the undercut bonus. The amount of the undercut bonus can be set to different values on BGA, 10 is the typical.
* If your deadwood value is 0 (all cards are in sets or runs), you can call "gin" and score 25 points + the deadwood value of your opponent's hand.
* The first person who reaches 100 points wins the game

Gamehelpginrummy

2023-12-30T12:27:57Z

Frogstar A: /* Overview */

===Overview===

The aim is to reach 100 points through making melds (runs or sets with 3 or more cards)

Aces are low (A-2-3). Sets must be of the same suit.
===Turn===

* Take either the face up card in the discard pile or draw the top card from the draw deck.

* Discard 1 card
* Sum of your cards that do not form sets or run is called "deadwood". All face cards are considered as 10 and Aces are 1.
* When your deadwood value is below 10, you can call "knock" and score the deadwood in your opponent's hand minus the deadwood in your hand. If, however, your opponent has a lower deadwood value than you, they score the difference instead as well as get the undercut bonus. The amount of the undercut bonus can be set to different values on BGA, 10 is the typical.
* If your deadwood value is 0 (all cards are in sets or runs), you can call "gin" and score 25 points + the deadwood value of your opponent's hand.
* The first person who reaches 100 points wins the game

Tips butterfly

2022-01-03T22:41:41Z

Frogstar A: Re-written and expanded a lot. I have been Top 2 ELO at Butterfly so sharing my experience to help others :)

'''ASSESS THE BOARD'''

Before you start have a good look - check for things like:

- Are there any "x2" doublers? If so, how many butterfly points are there in those colors? The more other Red butterflies there are, the better the Red x2 is etc

- How many bees and honeycombs are there, and which one is rarer? On a board with 3 honeycombs but only 1 bee then the bee is a really premium piece to collect, but if there are 3 bees and 1 honeycomb then the honeycomb becomes a premium. And if there are NO bees, don't bother too much collecting honeycombs!

- How many dragonflies, grasshoppers and lightning bugs are there? The *fewer* of these there are the more valuable they become. If there are lots of then don't bother to collect one early on - you can only score one, and there should be lots left later. But if there is (say) only one on the board, then it becomes much more valuable.

- How many flowers are there? The *more* flowers there are the more important they become.

'''PLAY THE GAME'''

Of course picking 5 point and 4 point butterflies up early on is great, especially if they are in colors that also have a x2 on the board somewhere.

Don't be tempted to take high-scoring dragonflies, grasshoppers and lightning bugs early if there are lots of them - you might take an early lead, but you will find at the end that the whole board is just more dragonflies, grasshoppers and lightning bugs and there is nothing left to score.

Similarly, don't worry if you fall behind on points but have a couple of flowers or a high-scoring honeycomb but no bee yet, or if the opponent has lots of points but is relying on a 9 point grasshopper and is likely to pick up a lower one later. Take your time and don't panic!

Also watch for when you can put your opponent into trouble - can you (for example) take a piece that then leaves them with only one move, where that move is a bad one (like being forced to take a wasp).

'''END THE GAME'''

Always be on the lookout for when there is an isolated piece that, if someone takes it, would end the game. If your opponent is ahead on points make sure you don't put them into a position where they can take that isolated piece and win. However, if YOU are ahead on points then watch out for any opportunity to end the game and claim your victory!