Tips hanabi

This guide is for strategy tips: How to interpret clues, how to give clues, how to decide to play, discard or clue.

Basics

1. Basic Rule for Clues: Every clue given is for either a) save useful card(s) or b) get the clued card played.

Most hanabi-players on BGA play by this main rule. So when a clue is given, ask yourself "Is this clue to save something"? If not, it is to get played. Saving cards is important because there are only 2 cards of value 2, 3, and 4 in each suit, and only 1 card of value 5. To not get stuck on that color it is urgent to keep the last copy of a card safe (prevent from discarding it).

2. Basic Rule for Discarding: Discard first what you know is useless (like a clued 1 when all 1s are already played). After that: discard your oldest unclued card.

On BGA new cards move in on the left side. So you should discard from the right side. Most players will expect you to do so from the beginning even though there is no oldest card in your opening hand.

3. Basic Rule for Playing: Play the newer clued card

When you get multiple cards clued and you can identify it is in fact a clue for play (see Basic Rule 1) - it is more likely that your newer card is the playable card. So most people on BGA expect you to play the clued card on the left. The rest of the cards are just to be kept on your hand. Beware that there are different approaches and not all players play by this convention

[to be continued...]

Advanced

[to be added...]