User:Sammy McSam/Hanabi

⚠ Work in progress ⚠ Contains logic

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• Reference for BGA by Romain672
• Tips for end game by Romain672
• Hanabi conventions by Postmans
• Conventions et Techniques by Blacktango

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• Situation generator by Blacktango
• Template:HCard

Interpretation

In order to play cooperatively, we need to mark playable cards to get them to play at the correct time. To maximise cooperation, we need to be able to predict the possible moves of other players. The cost of being able to predict moves is to limit the number of moves

• If a card is playable, logically we assume it will be marked by a clue before it is discarded (unless there is another copy visible).

Valid clue types (not exhaustive)

Situation	Response	Receiver's Interpretation			Clue type
Alice clues 2 to Cathy: blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,blue1b,with a blue1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Prompt: 1 marked play connects to the target
Alice clues 2 to Cathy: blue1b,with a blue1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Finesse: 1 unmarked play connects to the target
Alice clues b to Cathy: blue1b,with a blue1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Bob plays red1r,with a red1clue,	as blue1b,with a blue1clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Bluff: 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target ⚠ All bluff targets must be one card away from playable
Alice clues 3 to Donald: red1r,with a red1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 blue2b,with a blue2clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	➕blue2b,with a blue2clue, Cathy🟰	blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Long Finesse: Multiple unmarked plays connect to the target
	Cathy plays blue2b,with a blue2clue,	connects to blue3b,with a blue3clue,	🟰	blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues 3 to Donald: blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,blue1b,with a blue1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 blue2b,with a blue2clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	➕blue2b,with a blue2clue, Cathy🟰	blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Prompt + Finesse: 1 marked play connects to the target 1 unmarked play connects to the target
	Cathy plays blue2b,with a blue2clue,.	connects to blue3b,with a blue3clue,	🟰	blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues 3 to Donald: blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,blue1b,with a blue1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	🟰	blue3b,with a blue3clue,blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Prompt + Bluff: 1 marked play connects to the target 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target ⚠ This clue type is dangerous because Bob may not cooperate and try to bluff red1r,with a red1clue, himself before responding to blue3b,with a blue3clue,.
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue2clue,	➖ blue2b,with a blue2clue, 🟰	blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues 3 to Donald: blue1b,with a blue1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	🟰	blue3b,with a blue3clue,blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Finesse + Bluff: 1 unmarked play connects to the target 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue2clue,	➖ blue2b,with a blue2clue, 🟰	blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues b to Donald: red1r,with a red1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 blue2b,with a blue2clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Bob plays red1r,with a red1clue,	as blue1b,with a blue1clue,	➕blue2b,with a blue2clue, Cathy🟰	blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Promise Bluff: 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target 1 unmarked promise to connect to the target (in the finesse position of at least one player)
			🟰	blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Bluff: 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target
Alice clues 4 to Emily: blue1b,with a blue1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 blue2b,with a blue2clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 red1r,with a red1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Donald 🡲 card back4,with a 4clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back4,with a 4clue,	➕blue2b,with a blue2clue, Cathy🟰	blue4b,with a blue4clue,blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲	Long Finesse + Bluff: Multiple unmarked plays connect to the target 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target
	Cathy plays blue2b,with a blue2clue,	connects to blue4b,with a blue4clue,	🟰	blue4b,with a blue4clue,blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲
	Donald plays red1r,with a red1clue,	as blue3b,with a blue3clue,	➖ blue3b,with a blue3clue, 🟰	blue4b,with a blue4clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲
Alice clues 4 to Donald: blue1b,with a blue1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 card back4,with a 4clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back4,with a 4clue,	🟰	blue4b,with a blue4clue,blue2b,with a blue2clue,blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Finesse + Promise Bluff: 1 marked play connects to the target 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target 1 unmarked promise to connect to the target (in the finesse position of at least one player)
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue2clue,	➖ blue2b,with a blue2clue, 🟰	blue4b,with a blue4clue,blue3b,with a blue3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues 2 to Donald: blue1b,with a blue1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Double Bluff: 1 unmarked play appears to connect to the target 1 unmarked play reveals neither connect to the target
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue2clue,	➖ blue2b,with a blue2clue, 🟰	card2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues 2 to Donald: blue1b,with a blue1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red1clue,black powder4,with a black powder4clue,black powder3,with a black powder3clue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Double Promise Bluff: 1 unmarked play appears to connect to the target 1 unmarked play reveals neither connect to the target n unmarked promise to connect to the target (in the finesse position of at least one player)
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue2clue,	➕black powder4,with a black powder4clue,black powder3,with a black powder3clue, Cathy 🟰	black powder2,with a black powder2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
			➖ blue2b,with a blue2clue, 🟰	card2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Double Bluff: 1 unmarked play appears to connect to the target 1 unmarked play reveals neither connect to the target
Alice clues 2 to Emily: black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 multicolour1m,with a multicolour1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 multicolour2m,with a multicolour2clue,blue1b,with a blue1clue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Donald 🡲 card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲	Bob discards	🡆 finesse	➕multicolour1m,with a multicolour1clue, Cathy 🟰	multicolour2m,with a multicolour2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲	Patch Finesse: Bob does not respond 1 unmarked play attempts to connect to the target 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target 1 unmarked play connects to the target
	Cathy plays multicolour1m,with a multicolour1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	multicolour2m,with a multicolour2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲
	Donald plays multicolour2m,with a multicolour2clue,	disconnects card back2,with a 2clue,	➕blue1b,with a blue1clue, Donald 🟰	blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲
	Donald plays blue1b,with a blue1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲

• With black powder: 1 bluffs are black powder1,with a black powder1clue, promise bluffs unless black powder1,with a black powder1clue, is known to Alice and the receiver.
• Context color bluff

Quiz: valid or invalid?

Triple bluff (i.e. none of the blind plays actually connect to the bluff target)

❌ If we agree that bluff targets must always be 1-away from playable, this is not possible. We only blind play a card if a bluff is not revealed. After two unrelated blind plays, a bluff is already revealed no matter what the bluff target is.

Bluff + Finesse

❌ Bob would not respond if he sees the next connecting card.

Bluff + Prompt

❌ Bob would not respond if he sees the next connecting card.

Double bluff + Finesse

❌ Bob would not respond if he sees the next connecting card.

Double Promise bluff

✅ Only with:

• number clue (otherwise it would be read as finesse + bluff) and
• black powder (otherwise it would be read as double bluff).

Reverse bluff

✅ Only when Bob is unable to respond (i.e. they must respond to a previous clue or give a fix clue.

There are other more complex contextual exceptions to this e.g. Bob must scream or generate a token for another player, but let's not discuss that here ​.

Example: Reverse bluff when Bob is busy

Known bluff (when Bob cannot have the connecting card)

✅ If Bob does not respond, someone else will (and bomb).

Example: Known bluff

Trash promise bluff

❌ What nonesense is this..

Extraction

It is possible to extract a card that is 'blocked' by an unplayable card using two clues.

1. Clue the target with colour.
2. Clue the target with number.

Example 1: avalanche

redr,with a redclue, yellow1y,with a yellow1clue, greeng,with a greenclue, blueb,with a blueclue, whitew,with a whiteclue, multicolourm,with a multicolourclue,

white5w,with a white5clue,yellow4y,with a yellow4clue,red3r,with a red3clue,green5g,with a green5clue, Bob 🡲 white4w,with a white4clue,green4g,with a green4clue,multicolour2m,with a multicolour2clue,yellow2y,with a yellow2clue, Cathy 🡲

• Avalanche of colors option is on, so multicolour cards are marked by any colour clue.
• Cathy's yellow2y,with a yellow2clue, should play before it is discarded.
• The focus of a 2 clue on its own will be multicolour2m,with a multicolour2clue, and the focus of a yellow clue will also be multicolour2m,with a multicolour2clue,.

• Alice to Cathy: these 2 cards are yellow.

redr,with a redclue, yellow1y,with a yellow1clue, greeng,with a greenclue, blueb,with a blueclue, whitew,with a whiteclue, multicolourm,with a multicolourclue, white5w,with a white5clue,yellow4y,with a yellow4clue,red3r,with a red3clue,green5g,with a green5clue, Bob 🡲 white4w,with a white4clue,green4g,with a green4clue,multicolour2m,with a 12clue,yellow2y,with a yellow2clue, Cathy 🡲

• Bob to Cathy: these 2 cards are 2s - this fix clue changes the focus from the left 2 to the other 2.

redr,with a redclue, yellow1y,with a yellow1clue, greeng,with a greenclue, blueb,with a blueclue, whitew,with a whiteclue, multicolourm,with a multicolourclue, white5w,with a white5clue,yellow4y,with a yellow4clue,red3r,with a red3clue,green5g,with a green5clue, Bob 🡲 white4w,with a white4clue,green4g,with a green4clue,multicolour2m,with a 12clue,yellow2y,with a yellow2clue, Cathy 🡲

• Note: if a multicolour card is the intended target of a play clue, the clearest clue would be a colour that does not splash any other card.

Example 2: 5 colors

redr,with a redclue, yellowy,with a yellowclue, greeng,with a greenclue, blueb,with a blueclue, white1w,with a white1clue,

extract white2w,with a white2clue,:

1. Alice to Cathy: these 2 cards are white.
   • Focus is left.

   card back2,with a 2clue,card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back2,with a 2clue, Cathy 🡲 red2r,with a red2clue,white3w,with a white3clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,white2w,with a white2clue, Cathy 🡲

2. Bob to Cathy: these 2 cards are 2s.
   • Changes focus from left to right.

   card back2,with a 2clue,card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back2,with a 2clue, Cathy 🡲 red2r,with a red2clue,white3w,with a white3clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,white2w,with a white2clue, Cathy 🡲

Example 3: avalanche

redr,with a redclue, yellowy,with a yellowclue, greeng,with a greenclue, blueb,with a blueclue, white1w,with a white1clue, multicolourm,with a multicolourclue,

extract white2w,with a white2clue, with avalanche:

1. Alice to Cathy: these 3 cards are white.
   • Focus is left.

   card back2,with a 2clue,card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back2,with a 2clue, Cathy 🡲 multicolour2m,with a white2clue,white3w,with a white3clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,white2w,with a white2clue, Cathy 🡲

2. Bob to Cathy: these 2 cards are 2s.
   • Changes focus from left to right.

   card back2,with a 2clue,card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back2,with a 2clue, Cathy 🡲 multicolour2m,with a white2clue,white3w,with a white3clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,white2w,with a white2clue, Cathy 🡲

Since black powder can't be clued with colour, extraction is a little different:

1. Clue the target with number.
2. Clue the card to the left of the target with colour.

Example 4: black powder

redr,with a redclue, yellowy,with a yellowclue, greeng,with a greenclue, blueb,with a blueclue, whitew,with a whiteclue, black powder3,with a black powder3clue,

extract black powder2,with a black powder2clue,:

1. Alice to Cathy: these 3 cards are 2s.
   • Focus is left.

   card back2,with a 2clue,card back2,with a 2clue,card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲 yellow2y,with a yellow2clue,red2r,with a red2clue,black powder2,with a black powder2clue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲

2. Bob to Cathy: this card is red.
   • Changes focus from left to right.

   card back2,with a 2clue,card back2,with a 2clue,card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲 yellow2y,with a yellow2clue,red2r,with a red2clue,black powder2,with a black powder2clue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲

Why extraction works

1. Alice gives a white colour clue to indicate to Bob that she is giving a play clue to Cathy.
2. Bob has one job: don't let Cathy bomb. He sees that one of Cathy's marked white cards is playable, so he understands that he just has to help Cathy play the correct card:

• If the leftmost white card is playable, Bob does not need to do anything.
• If the leftmost white card is not playable, Bob needs to help with a follow-up fix clue.

Why colour before number?

• In each colour, only one card can be playable (two with avalanche), whereas there can be many playable cards of a certain number. So Alice singles out one colour to help Bob know her intention is for him to help Cathy play the correct card.
• A colour clue can mark a chop card without looking like a save.

How do I know it's not a finesse?

• The leftmost card may be 1-away-from-playable.

But if Bob can see that one of the cards Alice marked with colour is playable, he will prefer to give a fix clue and not blind play his finesse position.

• As Bob, consider the choice of clue:
  • if Alice wanted to finesse 2b with a playable 1m in front, why skip players to give specifically a blue clue (why not another colour or number?
  • if Alice wanted to finesse 4k with a playable 4r in front, why skip players to give specficially a 4 clue (why not red)?

The everlasting exception: context

Context > convention and can cause an unconventional move!

Think carefully about:

1. timing (why now?),
2. negative clues (e.g. "not red"),
3. recently discarded cards,
4. unique cards,
5. tokens needed for saves or other plays

Examples

blue2b,with a blue2clue,multicolour1m,with a multicolour1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,Cathy 🡲 multicolour1m,with a multicolour1clue,blue2b,with a blue2clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,Cathy 🡲

Played: yellow2y,with a yellow2clue, card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back5,with a 5clue,card back5,with a 5clue,Bob 🡲 yellow4y,with a yellow4clue,black powder4,with a black powder4clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,Cathy 🡲

card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back5,with a 5clue,card back5,with a 5clue,Bob 🡲 yellow4y,with a yellow4clue,black powder4,with a black powder4clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,Cathy 🡲

• Alice clues 4s to Cathy. How should Bob respond?

Answer

With no context, the interpretation falls to the fewest blind plays: i.e. prefer to play the marked card back5,with a 5clue, as yellow3y,with a yellow3clue, rather than slot 1 as black powder5,with a black powder5clue,.

What context could change this interpretation?

Some possible answers:

1. Bob has negative 3.
2. Bob had yellow2y,with a yellow2clue, which was marked with number 2 instead of a number 3 fix, and either:
   1. Bob did not discard what would have been a trash 3
   2. yellow4y,with a yellow4clue, was discarded when it could have easily been marked to prompt yellow3y,with a yellow3clue,

In this game the context was 2.1: On move 23 a fix clue was given with number 2 instead of 3, Bob can know that their card back5,with a 5clue, is not yellow3y,with a yellow3clue, (else the fix should be 3¹, not 2). This is why it is important for each player to pay attention to how their own cards are fixed (and what cards they discard afterwards).

¹Note that there are no trash 3s at this point. If there were at least one trash 3 (e.g. white3w,with a white3clue, were played or already marked somewhere), Bob should only make this conclusion after discarding his unmarked card, to check that a 3 fix was not given due to bad touch.

When is it chop focus?

Travis Hall » 16 December 2023, 01:12

When playing with high-level partners, I generally try to regard a number clue touching chop as chop-focussed unless there is a timeliness consideration.[…]when giving a finesse, we can’t wait for the discard of the chop. For example:

Played: white2w,with a white2clue, white3w,with a white3clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, B 🡲 multicolour5m,with a multicolour5clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,white4w,with a white4clue,black powder4,with a black powder4clue, C 🡲

A clues 4 to C. Cluing white is blocked by multicolour5m,with a multicolour5clue,. Cluing 4 can’t wait, because B will probably discard and white3w,with a white3clue, will move out of finesse. C can note the finesse response and adjust their expectation to play the left 4.

And I try to consistently clue the same way.

I recognise that many masters will clue 2s non-chop-focussed in the early game. Frankly, I’m not a fan, as this forces me to guess who does this and who does not, but I will guess because my rate of error is lower that way. I understand the consideration that 2s are the most valuable cards, but I’m not sure the risks are worth it.

Whenever somebody touches my chop with a number clue and expects me to play from the left, and I misfire, my question is always “Well, if my cards were the opposite way around, how would you have clued them?” Of the few who will answer that question at all, the answer is usually, “I would clue <number>,” and they don’t understand that this makes it impossible for me to do anything other than guess.

Since we know we can extract a playable cards with colour + number clues, it follows that number clues that mark the chop card are interpreted as:

1. Unique save if the chop card can be unique
2. Double discard save if the player either side of the receiver has a non-unique card of the same number
3. Otherwise a left-focused play clue.

black powder1,with a black powder1clue,

• 1 clues that mark the chop card are interpreted as a black powder1,with a black powder1clue, save (unless the receiver already has a known play).

• If a player can see black powder1,with a black powder1clue,, it is logical to play all cards marked 1 from oldest to newest.

The oldest is the most valuable 1 because otherwise it could have been discarded before cluing 1.

Playing a chop card marked 1 can be played because:

1. black powder1,with a black powder1clue, is visible (and the player who can't see it is promised black powder1,with a black powder1clue,)
   • This player should then track the newest position that can be black powder1,with a black powder1clue,.
     • if this card reaches chop, it should not be saved with a direct clue.
     • if his card does receive a direct clue, it becomes a finesse.
2. a playable 1 was discarded
3. a playable 1 was not bluffed

The everlasting exception: context

Context > convention and can cause an unconventional move!

Think carefully about:

1. timing (why now?),
2. negative clues (e.g. "not red"),
3. recently discarded cards,
4. unique cards,
5. tokens needed for saves or other plays

Example 1: double discard avoidance

Sometimes we need more information before we can know if a clue is a chop-focused save or a left-focused play clue.

Double discard avoidance saves are one of the most difficult clues to interpret because it's one of the very few times we can save non-unique cards without expecting a play response.

Nothing much is going on and there have not been any good ways to splash, give trash clues or otherwise delay one of the players.

Some players forbid a player from discarding if a double discard is possible

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Strategy

Back to basics

• In a 👤5players player game with ✋4cards in hand each and avalanche, there are up to 30 possible moves per player (excluding flamboyants).

e.g. if each hand has one avalanche multicolourm,with a multicolourclue, card.

• In one round of play that means up to 150 possible unique positions!
• That's a lot to think about. But amazingly our human brains can filter out the vast majority of those moves as not logical given a bit of agreement on clue, play and discard interpretations (conventions).

Hand management

• Hand management is important in high level play to keep as many non-trash cards in the game for as long as possible.

When to skip players

(and how to irritate them ​)

• Opening with no information on any of your cards.
• The player(s) skipped have duplicate cards that need to be marked with a good touch play clue.
• If you have been the target of a trash bluff and not yet discarded cards to the right of the trash cards.
• Players in front of you have trash.
• The player behind you has many plays.

Double Discard Avoidance (DDA)

• Many players have incomplete or non-existent methods for managing DDA because it is difficult as it requires a lot of contextual awareness.
• Players need to be aware of how many opportunities there are to mark double chop cards.
• Anytime a chop card is marked with a number of the same rank visible in the next player's hand DDA should be considered.
  • Or even if the double chop players are not next to each other but the in-between players are busy.

Efficiency 8clue tokens

Bluffs

• Bluffs are powerful...
• Easiest way to mark nice cards

Maximising bluff opportunities ​

• Once we realise the power of bluffs, it follows that we want to maximise the number of bluffing opportunities available to players.
• In any given situation, it is possible to work out Alice's optimal move given the information available to her.

• The basic idea is simple: look for the bluff opportunity that is furthest ahead.
• Everyone should be making moves that enable that bluff opportunity to be used, and then work backwards from that player for the next opportunity.

So from Alice's point of view, she will see if:

1. Donald can bluff Emily
2. Cathy can bluff Donald
3. Bob can bluff Cathy
4. Alice can bluff Bob

Example 1

​

1. Donald can bluff Emily
2. Cathy cannot bluff Donald
3. Bob can bluff Cathy
4. Alice cannot bluff Bob

Then it's quite easy:

1. Alice discards
2. Bob bluffs Cathy
3. Cathy discards
4. Donald bluffs Emily

Example 2

Now if Alice can also bluff:

1. Donald can bluff Emily
2. Cathy cannot bluff Donald
3. Bob can bluff Cathy
4. Alice can bluff Bob

Then it's still easy:

1. Alice either double bluffs Bob & Cathy or discards
2. Bob responds or bluffs Cathy
3. Cathy discards
4. Donald bluffs Emily

Example 3

Now if Cathy can also bluff:

Donald can bluff Emily

Cathy cannot bluff Donald

Bob can bluff Cathy

Alice can bluff Bob

Then it's significantly more complicated for the team to predict, but not much more complex for Alice:

1. Alice should probably discard (unless there is a really good bluff target available to her
2. Bob makes a similar decision
3. Cathy responds, double bluffs or discards
4. Donald responds or bluffs Emily

When to not save unique cards ​

• No matter how many tokens you have, whether it is 1clue tokens or 7clue tokens, you do not always have to spend a token to save a card.
  • Some players might find this statement controversial.
• Each player must consider the likelihood of a certain move and assess if the risk-reward of all the possible moves.

#Back_to_basics We know that there are a lot of possible moves, and even more game states.

Examples of clear good/bad

Questionable examples

Context examples

When to Trash bluff

• When you first learn about trash bluffs, you need to practice it and that's fine.
• Once you are comfortable with how it works, you need to consider if you should use a trash bluff.

• Examples where it is clearly bad

Played: white1w,with a white1clue, blue1b,with a blue1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 white1w,with a white1clue,white1w,with a white1clue,blue2b,with a blue2clue,blue2b,with a blue2clue, Cathy 🡲

• And please, stop trash bluffing 1s when 1k is not visible.

Would you trash bluff 5k when all 5s are not visible?

Reverses with number white3w,with a white3clue,

• Reverse finesses are often not great if the finessed card could instead be bluffed, however, it can be useful to mark a chop card as a reverse to ensure it is not discarded.

  e.g. Alice sees Bob has white2w,with a white2clue, on chop and Donald just drew white1w,with a white1clue,. Normally the best moves would be for Alice and Bob to discard so that Cathy can bluff Donald's white1w,with a white1clue,, but white2w,with a white2clue, is more valuable than any bluff target Alice can see, so she chooses to reverse with colour.

But what if reversing with colour would mark trash?

• If we can finesse with number, why can't we also reverse finesse with number?
• A reverse with number is usually harder to read than a reverse with colour, but they can be a lot more efficient than colour + multiple correction clues (to prevent future bombs).

Travis Hall gives a basic explanation of number reverses:

Similarly, we often avoid number reverses, because if there’s both an available reverse to any card of that number and an immediately playable card of that number, the clue receiver has to guess at the correct move, and this can easily go wrong. Even so, when circumstance narrows the possibilities enough, we can sometimes do a number reverse safely.

Multicolour reverses with colour multicolour3m,with a multicolour3clue,

Travis Hall explains it well:

We usually avoid reverse finesses in multicolour, because although multi does connect with any colour, if we reverse multis then responses to our most common play clues - colour clues to a playable card - just stop, all of them, if a playable multi is in someone’s blind finesse position. That can be very difficult to work around.

• Multicolour reverses with a single colour can work, the most common situation being where the clue giver and receiver can both see a playable card of the colour clued either marked or in the finesse position in someone else's hand.
• Such a reverse may also trigger a hesitation play.

When to GD

1. Plays extra cards for free from one or more hands.
2. Protect cards
3. Token is needed

GD without one of these benefits is usually of negative value:

• Limits the freedom to clue.
• Misleads the receiver - the cards to the right of the copy is not trash.

Context

Using the last token 0clue tokens

Cause a valuable discard

• Marked in a hand
• Unmarked in a hand

Following player has a locked hand

• Cause a trash or duplicate discard e.g. black powder5,with a black powder5clue, from 5 save.
• Cause a play

Negatives white5w,with a white5clue,white4w,with a white4clue,

Write notes if necessary.

1. Keep track of your own negatives.
2. Keep rack of all negatives.

Play finesse position e.g. multicolour bluff where:

• a colour-marked card has a negative colour

Multicolour bluff target is clued with a single colour

• if it can be clued red, but another colour is chosen = finesse
• if it can't be clued red = prompt

Cluing

Marking fewer than possible cards e.g. marking a single 2 with colour instead of multiple 2s with number = duplicate 2 in your hand

no prompt

no save = non-unique

redr,with a redclue, yellow5y,with a yellow5clue, green5g,with a green5clue, blue5b,with a blue5clue, whitew,with a whiteclue, 2clue tokens

card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Alice 🡲 white1w,with a white1clue,red2r,with a red2clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,white3w,with a white3clue, Bob 🡲

1. Alice to Bob: these 2 cards are white.
2. Bob plays white1w,with a white1clue,.
3. Cathy to Alice: these 2 cards are white.

   card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back4,with a 4clue, Alice 🡲 black powder,with a black powderclue,red2r,with a red2clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,white3w,with a white3clue, Bob 🡲

4. Alice plays white2w,with a white2clue,.
5. Bob discards his chop.
6. Cathy discards.

   card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back4,with a 4clue, Alice 🡲 white4w,with a white4clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,red2r,with a red2clue,white3w,with a white3clue, Bob 🡲

What is the best move for Alice?

A) clue white3w,with a white3clue, B) clue white4w,with a white4clue, C) play card back4,with a 4clue, D) discard card back4,with a 4clue, E) discard chop card back,with a clue,

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Solution

D) discard card back4,with a 4clue,

1. Alice's chop card was not marked before her free move to clue Bob, so she knows her oldest white card cannot be unique (white5w,with a white5clue,).
2. According to good touch, Alice can assume her white card is also not a 3 and could be a 4.
3. Alice sees Bob has a valuable red2r,with a red2clue, on chop, marked white3w,with a white3clue, and unmarked white4w,with a white4clue, in his finesse position.

In order to delay the future discard of red2r,with a red2clue,, the best move for Alice is to discard her non-unique white card to trigger Bob to play white3w,with a white3clue,white4w,with a white4clue,.

black powder1,with a black powder1clue, tracking

when you can know 1k certain

how you can play chop 1s when 1k is still in the deck

tricks to save on saving black powder1,with a black powder1clue,

• when 1k is known somewhere and other cards are all marked later
• when 1k is known somewhere and there are promised cards in the same hand

• apply this principal generally is tricky because it can become unclear what has triggered a blind-play

slot 3 blind plays

• When you track black powder1,with a black powder1clue,, the position becomes known when the leftmost possible position reaches your slot 3 and your slot 4 is not saved.

card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,black powder1,with a black powder1clue,card back,with a clue, You 🡲

uncertain 2

• Since 2s (& black powder4,with a black powder4clue,) are so valuable, if a player is allowed or encouraged to discard a 2 when it could have been prevented or even just delayed, it is logical that there is another copy of that card in the same hand or visible in someone else's.
• So you can track it like black powder1,with a black powder1clue, and also blind play it before it is marked as soon as it is playable.

Question

Consider this situation:

• Alice clues Donald's blue5b,with a blue5clue,

card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲 blue1b,with a blue1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,red5r,with a red5clue, Donald 🡲

• Bob sees blue1b,with a blue1clue, and correctly assumes he has blue2b,with a blue2clue,blue3b,with a blue3clue,blue4b,with a blue4clue, and mentally congratulates Alice on a great clue.
• So Bob saves red5r,with a red5clue,:

card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲 blue1b,with a blue1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,blue5b,with a blue5clue,red5r,with a red5clue, Donald 🡲

• Cathy discards.
• Donald discards.
• Alice discards.
• What should Bob do?

A) discard chopB) clue blue1b,with a blue1clue,C) play slot 1D) discard slot 1E) type "??" in chat

Answer

C) play slot 1 as blue1b,with a blue1clue,

Always remember to:

1. assume your teammates are giving valid clues (whether it's a good clue is a whole other question!)
2. stop and consider all possibilities
3. not type any reaction to a move in chat because it will usually spoil the game for everyone because you:
   1. tell everyone you found the move strange
   2. distract everyone from thinking about the best moves
   3. may provoke a player who is insecure or prideful into an argument

Discussion at the end of the game can benefit everyone: Bob and Cathy can explain why they didn't respond and the whole team can discuss if it was a good finesse.

Passing back a finesse

• Normally we know that if we finesse a card and more than one player has a copy of the same finessed card, the first player will not play it because they see it in another hand, and the last player who does not see a future response must play the card.
• However sometimes we have a situation where it would be clearly a blunder to play.
• In the last example, Cathy's choice to discard instead of play for blue1b,with a blue1clue, was the correct choice given she saw all the connecting cards in Bob's hand. Note that if Cathy had a critical card on chop, this finesse would be a blunder.

What if there were only one connecting card behind blue1b,with a blue1clue,?

• Alice clues Donald's blue4b,with a blue4clue,

blue1b,with a blue1clue,blue3b,with a blue3clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Bob 🡲 blue1b,with a blue1clue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue, Cathy 🡲 black powder,with a black powderclue,black powder,with a black powderclue,white4w,with a white4clue,red5r,with a red5clue, Donald 🡲

• Bob sees blue1b,with a blue1clue, in Cathy's hand, so he saves red5r,with a red5clue,

Or Cathy has both connecting cards as well?

• Double pass back

The point is that so long as an important card is not in danger of being discarded, the situation should always resolve itself without any more clues given.

Endgame

See Hanabi conventions page 2

5 Flamboyants

See Hanabi conventions page 2