Hanabi Fun Tips

[Khoo1]

Long, long ago, in a room at BoardGameArena.com...

I play Hanabi for the first time.
1 of the first 7 players guided me.
A few chats in Hanabi, we became one.

I wish I recall who showed me,
so I may share my gratitude.

Paying forward; a simple guide...

1. Cards flow from left to right,
so when clued COLOUR on the left,
its likely to play the one left.

2. Before old goes out the right,
clue NUMBER to retain the right.

3. Each #2 to #4 has two, #5 only one,
so we begin from #1s and save the rare #5s.

4. Play on left, Keep the right,
when sequence, Discard from right.

5. Learn your players.
Share to be kind.
Enjoy the fun!

Thereafter, I learn as I play.

Sometimes I play training < expert
And preset of the day to practise.
2p: https://boardgamearena.com/4/hanabi?table=104074205
credit to CharlotteB89 at 103 game scored 26 elo +3

Credit BoardGameArena team resources on Hanabi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bqSWF2DF6I
https://www.spillehulen.dk/resources/product/EDR/RG8/69/Hanabi%20Card%20Game%20Rules.pdf
https://github.com/Zamiell/hanabi-conventions/blob/master/Beginner.md

I am an imperfect player,
if you see me, run for your life
as I have never read conventions,
and thank you for your kindness.

If time permits, I hope to share tips.
Always remember to have FUN!

[Khoo1]

"One's greatest enemy is one's ownself"

I am not always aware of my behaviour.
For I am ambitious, crave, fear,
pre-program logic, blindspot, error,
preoccupied mind, habitual, honour,
are some the influence of my behaviour.

“Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.” ― Frank Sinatra

My enemy is difficult to determine,
Sometimes they exist unaware,

Even when I may recognize their presence,
Ego preserves the fragile self image,

"Good is the enemy of great." - Jim Collins

To deal with my enemy alone,
They may not even be just one,

“A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.” ― Baltasar Gracian

But I do not have to face them alone,
Hanabi is the game.

Someone to go along with you on your way,
Compatriot also have demons to slay.

“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” ― Oscar Wilde

So learn to share,
Be kind and embrace,

“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” ― Abraham Lincoln

Always remember, to have fun,
Even before fireworks are done.

[Khoo1]

When the plain is open, the #1s roll out,
without further colour clarifications.
When ALL the #1s are in place, #2s roll out,
unless clued to prevent clash into red tokens.
When ALL the #2s in place, #3s roll out,
so tokens shared can be used practically,
When the #4s in place, without 2 red tokens out,
then end game can calculate risky play.

Example of calculated risk at end game final turn
2p: https://boardgamearena.com/4/hanabi?table=103832893

One logic, three benefits

Such logic offers players a choice of play,
beyond rushing to clue 1st left card to play,
One at a time, depletes 8 tokens quickly.

2p: https://boardgamearena.com/gamereview?table=60216063
Around turn / move #65 - #70 space roll out of #4. Game score 29

Have fun sharing play.
Frugal and thoughtfully,
5 tokens can be fun to play.

[Khoo1]

When the plain is open, the #1s roll out,
without further colour clarifications.
When ALL the #1s are in place, #2s roll out,
unless clued to prevent clashing bomb.
When ALL the #2s in place, #3s roll out,
so tokens shared can be used practically,
When #4s in place, without 2 red tokens out,
then end game can calculate risky play.

If you tried "roll out" logic did not work,
then that is no surprise. It does not work!

Ask experience players who follow their
conventions religiously and their
answer is their convention is fair.

Then look at their game statistic
to reveal outlier score statistic.

No system, logic, tool, method, technique,
work all 90% of the time, in every game,
in every card formation, every sequence.

Even mother nature's ecosystem is failing,
global warming, faster virus incubation,
more frequent pandemic, more people dying,
climate change. People who can adapt & learn...

I acquire skills and methods so that,
I am less likely trapped by situations,
I am less frustrated without options,
I may prevent unfavourable formations,
use right method to solve complication,
not habitually 1 way, every occassion.

Yet I am still human, prone to mistakes,
I like playing with convention blokes,
when they get trap by convention makes,
we can laugh and eat our cakes.

With skills, you can help other players
in their situation, then players
can enjoy gaming different layers.

Remember to share tokens
and have Hanabi fun!

[Khoo1]

Do you want a Hanabi secret power?
Examine the basics to secret power.

Player's turn can perform 1 of 3 actions:
> Wisely INFORM one other's hand: COLOUR or NUMBER
> Happily DISCARD a card in hand to discard pile
> Calmly PLAY a card in hand to the firework
... except when tokens effects occur.
(The following "=>" is not in Hanabi rule book)

=> 8 blue tokens available:
Player cannot DISCARD, can INFORM or PLAY

= 0 blue tokens available:
Player cannot INFORM, can DISCARD or PLAY

= 3rd red token triggered:
Player cannot PLAY, lost GAME OVER.

Therefore instead of INFORM to keep from discard,
DISCARD gain 8th token prevents next player DISCARD.
Example in move #50 held 5 rare cards by DISCARD.
https://boardgamearena.com/6/hanabi?table=103537030
credit to player: taxi00

Now you have a power: 1 action produce 2 effects.

Frequent use can frustrate some players' decision,
because lost of freedom to 3 choices of action.

The feeling of being 'CORNERED' into 8 or 0 tokens,
can be avoided by keeping the game in 3 to 7 tokens.
Hence when required, thoughfully DISCARD into 8 tokens.
If you can do this then the game will flow unbroken,
and silently earn respect for making the game fun.

Isn't being understanding and thoughful = secret power ?

[Khoo1]

The superior #1 opening:
2p: https://boardgamearena.com/gamereview?table=60250660
credit to player: Machibari

When I began Hanabi, there was no clue #2 opening.
The clue/INFORM #2 opening can benefit:

• efficient opening play

• preempt missing #2 deep in the deck

The #2 opening convention has built-in idiots.

Players explain clue #1 then next move clue #2,
#2 clued after #1, are (automatically) played,
no matter where the #2s are position in hand or,
even after waiting one or two turns clue #2,
they will disrespect logic of clue-to-keep.

Rare cards will NOT be saved in #2 open convention.
E.g. #5 on most right chop position in hand,
Do you CLUE/INFORM to save #5 or efficient open?
Convention followers clue #2. Priority into trash can.

Not everyone read French, Turkish, or Italian,
not everyone is familiar with whose convention.

So when player do not respect LOGIC and
other players IGNORANT of convention,
then PATIENCE is required in COOPERATION.

When players gets clued #1 at opening game,
he/she can PLAY, CLUE/inform or DISCARD,
the decision depends on which is PRIORITY.
PLAY or CLUE are likely #1 or #2 PRIORITY.
When PLAY or CLUE, they will not DISCARD.
Logically clue-to-keep #2 in the game.

Candicecobabe using the #1 open while
Khoo1 use #2 open WITHOUT convention:
2p: https://boardgamearena.com/gamereview?table=60216063
Move #13 Candicecobabe clue-to-keep #2
Move #37-#40 space then roll out #2.

As such, thoughtful #1 open can benefit like the #2.

Hence, #1 opening is superior to #2 convention,
in general sense, depends on card formation.

The BEST Hanabi opening technique, ...to be continue

Note: Edit on earlier post "roll out"
when ALL #3s in place then #4s roll out.
2p: https://boardgamearena.com/gamereview?table=60216063
Around turn / move #65 - #70 space roll out of #4
Game score 29

[Khoo1]

Thoughts on #1 and #2 opening ...continue

The agreeable opening is possibly the #5 open,
prevent rare #5 on most right / chop position
from discard. Other cards expandable on open.

Pro-tip: if there is another rare card in hand,
safer to INFORM-to-hold #5 before chop position.

I like the #COLOUR open to inform on cards,
it can hold up too many multicolour cards,
and the 1st left must be a playable card.

2p: https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=101017992
Hamid opens with #5, Khoo1 opens with #colour, over #2
Game scored 29 with 2 elo each.

The elusive clue #4 opening.

Since open priorities are #1s,
we like to keep rare and #5s,
limited cards-on-hand space,
at open, I may discard #4.
My interpretation of opening #4.

To avoid conflict with clue-to-keep,
1st #4 DISCARD would be 2nd right #4.
Depends on space taken and tokens,
I may space out 1 or 2 DISCARD #4.

#4 open is rare because not clued,
cards will naturally be discarded.
Players may CLUE to space out for safe DISCARD.

#3 open that I played were because no,
#5, #colour, #1, #2 suitable to open to,
which I may apply #4 opening logic too.

Rare opportunity to open with #3 and #colour:
2p: https://boardgamearena.com/gamereview?table=104007316
No opportunity to 'roll out' meant we suffer in poverty of tokens
End game Khoo1's seat, reveal missed opportunity to use red token
Credit: Einatgu. Scored 28 = elo +1 Khoo1 & no change Einatgu.

Unlike conventions, these ideas can improve
should I gain new insights to a better game.

1st opening player has 8 tokens can't discard,
2nd opening player can open with a DISCARD,
#DISCARD open depends on CLUE received.
Above game Hamid desired #DISCARD.

Meaning to suggest that the BEST opening,
depends on card-in-hand formation opening.

Bonus tip:
Since I learn players, then I must account
for players to make error incur red token.
So I avoid consecutive PLAY #1 to prevent
clash and DISCARD also generate token.

Have fun choosing your opening!

[Khoo1]

Q: Between knowing all my cards vs. tokens?
A= I prefer healthy number of 5 to 7 tokens,
because...

> player won't stress unable CLUE/DISCARD
> enable safe DISCARD prevent losing card
> shop for right card to release clog hand

In 2p game, if you give your player 1 token
he/she will return to give you 0 token
cause + consequences...

This is a good reason to practise on
CLUE / INFORM moves using COLOUR than
NUMBER because more information obtain.

VosDaFox and Khoo1 opens CLUE COLOUR
2p: https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=101466823
colourful game end by move #75 with 2 left in deck.

What is most ideal depends on card formation
Learn your players, Share tokens and
Have fun!

[Khoo1]

Why do some INFORM but clueless?
1. Reverse CLUED
2. Safe DISCARD
3. Risk to avoid
4. Misfire to avoid
5. Sequence / Balance hand
6. 8 token RULE at hand
7...

CLUE green: multicolour and green light up
Not multicolour, green will not light up
So you know what's-not and what's-up.

A DISCARD #4red next player DISCARD #4red
PLAY or CLUE to avoid consecutive DISCARD
of viable* cards needed for firework card.

1 turn for 1 move but multiple occurence
can happen yet understanding player space
out risk when 3-held in hand near clog, so CLUE

CLUE to prevent misfire
2p: https://boardgamearena.com/gamereview?table=104819852
credit BOLTXEE elo 331 scored 29 at very difficult multicolour setting

Sequence end game for all-in firework
One hand too many viable cards won't work
2p around 22-on-deck, I clarify for end work.

8 blue tokens player cannot DISCARD or PLAY
So CLUE what is, not, or mid-game strategy
After all, you gave him/her 8 tokens play.

7... other reasons like wishing you
clarify his/her hand or insecure of you
So be aware, learn your players and you.

Because if you often CLUE 1 token: 1 move
Soon you will be poor, not free to move
Insecure of trust can you be reliable?

*To clarify 'viable'
If all the #1s are in firework place
remaining #1s in hand not viable
remaining cards required to place
those are cards that are viable.

Bonus tip:
Lose twin #3s maximum score 27
Lose twin #4s maximum score 28
Sacrifice a #5 maximum score 29
Inconsistent DISCARD lose trust.

So remember what makes Hanabi fun!

[Khoo1]

"To begin with the end in mind" strategy
Success = Preparation + Opportunity

How to 'begin' and 'prepare' for end game?

3. Each #2 to #4 has two, #5 only one,
so we begin from #1s and save the rare #5s.

"Good is the enemy of great." - Jim Collins

“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” ― Oscar

When the #4s in place, without 2 red tokens out,
then end game can calculate risky play.

use right method to solve complication,
not habitually 1 way, every occassion.

Yet I am still human, prone to mistakes,

If you can do this then the game will flow unbroken,
and silently earn respect for making the game fun.

Isn't being understanding and thoughful = secret power ?

Meaning to suggest that the BEST opening,
depends on card-in-hand formation opening.

Bonus tip:
Since I learn players, then I must account
for players to make error incur red token.
So I avoid consecutive PLAY #1 to prevent
clash and DISCARD also generate token.

In 2p game, if you give your player 1 token
he/she will return to give you 0 token
cause + consequences...

This is a good reason to practise on
CLUE / INFORM moves using COLOUR than
NUMBER because more information obtain.

Sequence end game for all-in firework
One hand too many viable cards won't work
2p around 22-on-deck, I clarify for end work.

Example of a plan end game
#number of cards on deck, #number of tokens, viable cards left to play
2p: https://boardgamearena.com/4/hanabi?table=104898828
credit UncleGong scored a 'banzai' 30 with 1 turn left.

"The game ends if a firework maker takes the last card from the pile: each player plays one more time, including the player who picked up the last card." - Hanabi rule book

Example of not planning end game
Open #colour, Clog by turn 9, 33, twice
Stun at turn 66 led to misfire at 72, barely enough token
https://boardgamearena.com/table?table=104942571
credit Amilika scored 30

Finally, should a score on a screen
dictate how you feel / emotion?
Cherish player(s) spend time playing with you.
So remember your emotion is up to you.

Clog hand. Move 48. Smooth release.
But saving all cards from move 24 suffer consequence.
https://www.boardgamearena.com/6/hanabi ... layFrom=24
Credit pinacolada1202 game scored 27 elo -5 each

Choose to (Hana)bi happy!