Tips numberdrop

Some general tips:

- Try not to waste numbers or leave holes, the more you waste the less maximum points you can get.
- Keep an eye on other players, try to work out what they are doing and how it might affect you.
- Score combinations that are no longer accessible over combinations that could still be added to.
- Don't feel like you need to score a combination as soon as you complete it, there will be more turns than combinations you score. This can be useful especially if you get an early "8" combination - it might be more worth scoring only 7 later on to go for the bonus 10 points over the 8 points.
- Normally it is not worth sacrificing higher point combinations to trigger lower point value BLOCK piece drops, unless it has some obvious advantage to you.
- Be aware of falling behind in points, the other player(s) can simply end the game to win. Less important in multiplayer games if other players are keeping up.
- Be careful triggering BLOCK piece drops if you are far behind in points, it can allow the point leader to end the game knowing they will win (as you will be stuck on whatever points you have while they drop the BLOCK).
- If you have fallen behind and fear the other player may end the game, aim for as many points as possible to try beat them if they do take the -5 points and end the game.

A game can be won very quickly by strategically going for the bonus ten points for completing all combinations of identical numbers, or all combinations of sequences. Once you have secured the bonus, it is often possible to simply end the game, taking the -5 point penalty, knowing you are enough points ahead to win. Some tips for achieving this:

- This strategy is much easier in two player games than multiplayer games.
- Typically, sequences are easier to achieve than identical numbers, purely because it is unlikely for a roll to give you many identical numbers. It is much easier to set up a roll of 4 different numbers to require only 1 or 2 specific numbers/pieces to get a 6 or 7 in a row sequence.
- Make sure you build upwards so that you are ready to end the game as soon as you complete your last sequence.
- Don't worry about BLOCK drops, they only help you build upwards and/or get points for completing more rows
- Once you have your bonus ten points, try to end the game ASAP, assuming you opponent(s) are not close in points.
- Don't worry about sacrificing rows if it will help get combinations faster.
- Don't score the 8 point combination unless you are sure you don't need those numbers for other combinations that will help get the bonus.
- If you are going to end the game, double check that you opponent(s) can't get enough points to catch you in the next turn. Never end the game if you are not guaranteed to win by ending it.
- If more than one player are using this strategy and achieve the bonus at the same time, it then becomes a game of who can score the highest in the other combination column. Aiming for BLOCK drops will help a lot at this point in the game to clog your opponents board.