"Taking" discard

[bishogg]

I've noticed players picking up and immediately placing a card back on the pile. Sometimes this occurs several times a hand, while never picking up the pile. This allows their partner to know they have at least 2 of that number. The rule should be if you click on the discard you have to pick it up and play it, and take the additional cards associated with that game mode. Everyone can see the recent cards played in the game log, and should be able to count to 50, 90, 120, etc. Or if you don't have the points to open, then maybe the option to pick it up should not be available.

[GoddessJen]

It's usually because they have the pair, but don't have enough to meet the initial requirements to lay down at all.

If they're letting you know they have two of something, that's positive for you and not something to complain about.

[bishogg]

Read the last sentence in my post.

[LadyLissa]

I have definitely seen players "take" the discard and put it back as a signal that they have those cards. It seems like maybe it just shouldn't show up i the chat for everyone one until the end of the turn.

[RavingWanderer]

I had a long discussion with my friends about whether or not to expose the taking of the discard prior to completion of the turn. The consensus was that it does happen when playing in real life, and does thus leak information about the taker's holdings. As such, it is not inappropriate.

There is a valid point about doing it when you are not open. Generally, determining whether a hand is openable in these circumstances is a Hard Problem. (Some cases are easy, but others are not.) Perhaps an easier thing is to not publicize the taking if the player is not open yet.

[Stoney10]

I have accidentally picked it up merely by hitting the wrong button

[stormwarning]

I have a knee jerk reaction when I see a card I can take from the discard pile. Then I realize I can’t open. What you call as a help to partner is a help to the opponent. People aren’t cheating that way. You should be thrilled you found a card in their hand and they can’t take it.

[wdspider]

I know that there's been times when I've done it simply because I miscounted. More of an "Opps, that would give me 85 not 90" kind of thing. So, yes, it reveals that I have 2 of the card; but it wasn't intentional in not actually taking it.

It would be nice if you could select several cards in your hand despite them not being valid melds together to have the game "count" them rather than forcing the player to manually do it all of the time.

[GeorgiaNative]

This is a computer program. There are a few things that could be done.
1. If you attempt a meld and have to pick back up, it adds 5 or 10 point to the meld. Done in a lot of games IRL.
2. The computer can determine if you have the points behind the scenes. Just like clicking on a pickup which would make 8 cards in the meld, the computer does not allow it. If you have too few points, it is not allowed.
3. If you have enough points, I like the idea that you MUST complete the pickup if you start it. I will admit to starting a pickup and realizing it would either do me no good or harm me, so I put it back down. I have no issue with making myself more responsible for looking before acting.
I really enjoy playing. Some of these cheats being discussed never occurred to me and I have to laugh that people actually do them.
If I have to cheat, why play?