What makes a strong hand
- Rocket: the strongest two-card control play in the game.
- Bombs: four of a kind can regain control and double the multiplier.
- Twos: four 2s are premium control cards, though they cannot join sequences.
- Aces: strong singles and pairs after the 2s are gone.
- Long structures: straights, pair sequences, and planes remove many cards in one turn.
- Voids and short suits: fewer scattered groups usually means an easier finish.
A practical evaluation
| Feature | Value | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Big joker | 8 | Highest single control card. |
| Small joker | 7 | Nearly as strong and completes the rocket. |
| Each 2 | 6 | Immediate control outside sequences. |
| Each Ace | 3 | Strong but dependent on the 2s. |
| Each bomb | 10 | Control, multiplier, and a difficult pattern to answer. |
| Rocket | 15 | Ultimate response and maximum safety. |
Use this as a starting point, not a rigid formula. A hand with 18 points but six isolated low cards may be worse than a 14-point hand that reduces to three plays.
Bid bands
- Pass: scattered low cards, no reliable control, and too many unresolved singles.
- Bid 1: one strong feature but several weak groups. Take the landlord role only if the score is already low.
- Bid 2: multiple high controls or a strong long structure with a plausible finish.
- Bid 3: rocket plus another control group, multiple bombs, or a hand that can reduce to very few plays.
When to pass a good hand
If two opponents are already competing and your hand is only marginally strong, passing can be correct. A farmer with a teammate needs less absolute strength than a landlord playing alone.
Do not bid 3 simply because you hold one rocket. The three bottom cards are unknown; the other seventeen cards decide whether the hand can finish.
After winning the bid
- Re-evaluate after seeing the bottom cards.
- Count the minimum number of plays needed to empty your hand.
- Choose a first lead that gains information without exposing your only control group.
- Keep bombs for a turn where they change control or secure the finish.