User:Sammy McSam/Hanabi

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Guides

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

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• Hanabi friendly real-time 3-5 players (  Beginner -  Master )
• Hanabi Training Academy (  Strong -  Master )
• greatest active hanabi players (  Expert -  Master )
• BGA forum

Tools

• 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 blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,blue1b,with a blue 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 blue 1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Prompt: n marked plays connect to the target
Alice clues 2 to Cathy: blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 blue 1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Finesse: n unmarked plays connect to the target
Alice clues 2 to Bob: card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲 blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Cathy 🡲	Bob discards	must wait for	➕blue1b,with a blue 1clue, Cathy🟰	blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲	Reversed Finesse: n unmarked plays connect to the target
	Cathy plays blue1b,with a blue 1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	card back,with a clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲
Alice clues 3 to Cathy: blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲 blue2b,with a blue 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Donald 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue 1clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	➕blue2b,with a blue 2clue, Donald🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Long Finesse: n unmarked plays connect to the target
	Donald plays blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	🟰	card back,with a clue,blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲
Alice clues b to Bob: card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲 yellow1y,with a yellow 1clue,blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Cathy 🡲	Bob discards	🡆 finesse	➕yellow1y,with a yellow 1clue,blue1b,with a blue 1clue, Cathy🟰	card back,with a clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲	Layered Finesse: n unmarked plays don't connect to the target n unmarked plays connect to the target
	Cathy plays yellow1y,with a yellow 1clue,	looking for blue1b,with a blue 1clue,	➕blue1b,with a blue 1clue, Cathy🟰	card back,with a clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲
	Cathy plays blue1b,with a blue 1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲
Alice clues 2 to Cathy: yellow1y,with a yellow 1clue,blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Bob plays yellow1y,with a yellow 1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	➕blue1b,with a blue 1clue, Bob🟰	blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Clandestine Layered Finesse: n unmarked plays appear to connect to the target n unmarked plays connect to the target
	Cathy discards	must wait for	➕blue1b,with a blue 1clue, Bob🟰	card back,with a clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲
	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue 1clue,	connects to blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	🟰	card back,with a clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲
Alice clues b to Cathy: red1r,with a red 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 red 1clue,	as blue1b,with a blue 1clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue 2clue,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 2 to Cathy: cards in the deckred2ryellow2ygreen2gblue1bwhite2wmulticolormblack powder Discarded: blue2b,with a blue 2clue, blue2b,with a blue 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Bob plays blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	as card back2,with a 2clue,			Trash Finesse: All targets are known to the receiver as unplayable before the first response. n unmarked plays as if it were clued directly with the same clue
Alice clues 2 to Bob: cards in the deckred2ryellow2ygreen2gblue1bwhite2wmulticolormblack powder Discarded: blue2b,with a blue 2clue, card back2,with a 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Bob 🡲 yellow3y,with a yellow 3clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Cathy 🡲	Bob discards card back2,with a 2clue,	🡆 finesse	➕yellow3y,with a yellow 3clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue, Cathy		Layered Trash Finesse: All targets are known to the receiver as unplayable before the first response. n unmarked plays don't connect to the clue 1 unmarked play connects to the clue
	Cathy plays yellow3y,with a yellow 3clue,	looking for blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	➕blue2b,with a blue 2clue, Cathy
	Cathy plays blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	as card back2,with a 2clue,
Alice clues 1 to Cathy: cards in the deckred1ryellowygreengbluebwhitewmulticolormblack powder red2r,with a red 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 card back1,with a 1clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Bob plays red2r,with a red 2clue,		🟰	red1r,with a red 1clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Cathy 🡲	Trash Bluff: 1 unmarked play reveals the target is unplayable ⚠ Black powder: all bluff targets must be revealed to be trash and not lead to a promise bluff misinterpretation.
Alice clues 3 to Donald: blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,blue1b,with a blue 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 blue2b,with a blue 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 blue 1clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	➕blue2b,with a blue 2clue, Cathy🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Prompt + Finesse: n marked plays connect to the target n unmarked plays connect to the target
	Cathy plays blue2b,with a blue 2clue,.	connects to blue3b,with a blue 3clue,	🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues 3 to Donald: blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,blue1b,with a blue 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 blue 1clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Prompt + Bluff: n marked plays connect 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 red 1clue, himself before responding to blue3b,with a blue 3clue,.
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red 1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	➖ blue2b,with a blue 2clue, 🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues 3 to Donald: blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 blue 1clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Finesse + Bluff: n unmarked plays connect to the target 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red 1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	➖ blue2b,with a blue 2clue, 🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues b to Donald: red1r,with a red 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 blue2b,with a blue 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 red 1clue,	as blue1b,with a blue 1clue,	➕blue2b,with a blue 2clue, Cathy🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,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 n unmarked promises connect to the target (in the finesse position of at least one player)
			🟰	blue2b,with a blue 2clue,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 Donald: blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 blue 1clue,	connects to card back4,with a 4clue,	🟰	blue4b,with a blue 4clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲	Finesse + Promise Bluff: n marked plays connect to the target 1 unmarked play doesn't connect to the target n unmarked promises connect to the target (in the finesse position of at least one player)
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red 1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	➖ blue2b,with a blue 2clue, 🟰	blue4b,with a blue 4clue,blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues 2 to Donald: blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 blue 1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue 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
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red 1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	➖ blue2b,with a blue 2clue, 🟰	card2,with a Hanabi card 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
Alice clues 3 to Emily: blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 blue2b,with a blue 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Cathy 🡲 red1r,with a red 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Donald 🡲 card back3,with a 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲	Bob plays blue1b,with a blue 1clue,	connects to card back3,with a 3clue,	➕blue2b,with a blue 2clue, Cathy🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲	Triple Bluff: 2 unmarked plays appear to connect to the target 1 unmarked play reveals none connect to the target
	Cathy plays blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	as blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	🟰	blue3b,with a blue 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲
	Donald plays red1r,with a red 1clue,	as blue3b,with a blue 3clue,	➖ blue3b,with a blue 3clue, 🟰	card3,with a Hanabi card 3clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲
Alice clues 2 to Donald: blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 red1r,with a red 1clue,black powder4,with a black powder 4clue,black powder3,with a black powder 3clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 blue 1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue 2clue,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 promises connect to the target (in the finesse position of at least one player)
	Cathy plays red1r,with a red 1clue,	as blue2b,with a blue 2clue,	➕black powder4,with a black powder 4clue,black powder3,with a black powder 3clue, Cathy 🟰	black powder2,with a black powder 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Donald 🡲
			➖ blue2b,with a blue 2clue, 🟰	card2,with a Hanabi card 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 powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Bob 🡲 multicolour1m,with a multicolour 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, Cathy 🡲 multicolour2m,with a multicolour 2clue,blue1b,with a blue 1clue,blue5b,with a blue 5clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 multicolour 1clue, Cathy 🟰	multicolour2m,with a multicolour 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲	Patch Finesse: Bob does not respond n unmarked plays don't connect to the target n unmarked plays connect to the target
	Cathy plays multicolour1m,with a multicolour 1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	multicolour2m,with a multicolour 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲
	Donald plays multicolour2m,with a multicolour 2clue,	disconnects card back2,with a 2clue,	➕blue1b,with a blue 1clue, Donald 🟰	blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲
	Donald plays blue1b,with a blue 1clue,	connects to card back2,with a 2clue,	🟰	blue2b,with a blue 2clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue, Emily 🡲

• Context color bluff

Quiz: valid or invalid?

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

✅ The first three blind plays will connect to each other and the last blind play reveals the clued card is not the next card in the sequence.

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 (e.g. 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

cards in the deckredryellow1ygreengbluebwhitewmulticolormblack powder

white5w,with a white 5clue,yellow4y,with a yellow 4clue,red3r,with a red 3clue,green5g,with a green 5clue, Bob 🡲 white4w,with a white 4clue,green4g,with a green 4clue,multicolour2m,with a multicolour 2clue,yellow2y,with a yellow 2clue, Cathy 🡲

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

• Alice to Cathy: these 2 cards are yellow.

cards in the deckredryellow1ygreengbluebwhitewmulticolormblack powder white5w,with a white 5clue,yellow4y,with a yellow 4clue,red3r,with a red 3clue,green5g,with a green 5clue, Bob 🡲 white4w,with a white 4clue,green4g,with a green 4clue,multicolour2m,with a 1 2clue,yellow2y,with a yellow 2clue, Cathy 🡲

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

cards in the deckredryellow1ygreengbluebwhitewmulticolormblack powder white5w,with a white 5clue,yellow4y,with a yellow 4clue,red3r,with a red 3clue,green5g,with a green 5clue, Bob 🡲 white4w,with a white 4clue,green4g,with a green 4clue,multicolour2m,with a 1 2clue,yellow2y,with a yellow 2clue, 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

cards in the deckredryellowygreengbluebwhite1wmulticolormblack powder

extract white2w,with a white 2clue,:

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 red 2clue,white3w,with a white 3clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,white2w,with a white 2clue, 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 red 2clue,white3w,with a white 3clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,white2w,with a white 2clue, Cathy 🡲

Example 3: avalanche

cards in the deckredryellowygreengbluebwhite1wmulticolormblack powder

extract white2w,with a white 2clue, 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 white 2clue,white3w,with a white 3clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,white2w,with a white 2clue, 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 white 2clue,white3w,with a white 3clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,white2w,with a white 2clue, 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

cards in the deckredryellowygreengbluebwhitewmulticolormblack powder3

extract black powder2,with a black powder 2clue,:

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 yellow 2clue,red2r,with a red 2clue,black powder2,with a black powder 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 yellow 2clue,red2r,with a red 2clue,black powder2,with a black powder 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue, 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 blue 2clue,multicolour1m,with a multicolour 1clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,Cathy 🡲 multicolour1m,with a multicolour 1clue,blue2b,with a blue 2clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,Cathy 🡲

Played: yellow2y,with a yellow 2clue, card back,with a clue,card back,with a clue,card back5,with a 5clue,card back5,with a 5clue,Bob 🡲 yellow4y,with a yellow 4clue,black powder4,with a black powder 4clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,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 yellow 4clue,black powder4,with a black powder 4clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,black powder,with a black powder clue,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 yellow 3clue, rather than slot 1 as black powder5,with a black powder 5clue,.

What context could change this interpretation?

Some possible answers:

1. Bob has negative 3.
2. Bob had yellow2y,with a yellow 2clue, 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 yellow 4clue, was discarded when it could have easily been marked to prompt yellow3y,with a yellow 3clue,

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 yellow 3clue, (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 white 3clue, 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.

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