Yaniv strategy

Throw the high cards first

Early in the hand, get rid of kings, queens, jacks and tens. A pair of kings is twenty points gone in one turn and a shorter hand, and a shorter hand is the only way under the line.

Throwing a set or a run is worth more than one card: you lose several cards' worth of points and draw only one back.

Take the known low card

A 2 or a 3 on the pile is better than the deck, where the average card is worth more than six. Take it, unless the deck is the only way to complete a set or run you are building.

A card that pairs with one you kept is worth taking even when it is not low: it lets you throw both next turn.

Watch the other hands

You can see how many cards everyone holds and what they take from the pile. A player with two cards who just picked up an ace is close to calling — or close to assafing you.

A player who keeps throwing single high cards and drawing from the deck usually still has a big hand.

Call at the right moment

Calling at seven with three players still drawing is a gamble; calling at two is almost certain. The more players, and the fewer cards they hold, the lower you should be before you call.

If you are well ahead on the scoreboard, call early and take the safe hand. If you are behind, the 30-point assaf costs you less than letting the leader finish.

Aim for 50 and 100

A score that lands on exactly 50 or 100 is halved. When you are a few points short, it can be worth holding a hand that adds up to exactly the gap rather than racing to the lowest total.

Keep an eye on everyone else's score too: a player on 44 will be happy to be caught with six.