Board Game Arena

Be honest:

Do you use an app, a piece of paper, or excel to count cards?
or
Do you play it regular, and just count in your head?
or
Do you just feel it?

Ha ... by the number of answers compared to the number of views, it does not seem absurd to consider that EVERYBODY counts.

So, what is your favorite method ?

Did you develop an app for that ?

It's only not absurd to consider it if YOU count. If you don't count, thinking everybody counts would indeed be absurd, because you know at least one person doesn't

In live plays, I count 10+ cards most of the time. Sometimes I also just estimate the chances of busting.
In turn based, I draw or pass depending on the score. And if it's tight and more at the end of the draw pile, I also consult the game log

kerkael wrote: ↑27 July 2026, 18:12 Ha ... by the number of answers compared to the number of views,...

What does the number of views tell you?

Silene wrote: ↑27 July 2026, 22:24

kerkael wrote: ↑27 July 2026, 18:12 Ha ... by the number of answers compared to the number of views,...

What does the number of views tell you?

Obviously anybody who didn't answer the question must be embarrassed of their answer and are therefore cheaters.

It ain't for money, so I don't cheat. I just go with the feel.
(I wouldn't cheat for money either, I'm just saying what's the point to not being honest?)

BarnardsStar wrote: ↑27 July 2026, 23:55

Silene wrote: ↑27 July 2026, 22:24

kerkael wrote: ↑27 July 2026, 18:12 Ha ... by the number of answers compared to the number of views,...

What does the number of views tell you?

Obviously anybody who didn't answer the question must be embarrassed of their answer and are therefore cheaters.

Not so "obvious"....people read forums/prompts and reply if it interests them. This one is boring and most people probably don't care. Also, little life hack, when the post/op/question is accusatory rather than info seeking, less people are likely to reply.

It's like asking a girlfriend "is there anything about us that you are unhappy with and want to work on?" versus "are you cheating on me?". They may both be eventually getting to the same concern, but one is much more likely to trigger a conversation.

The OP literally asked if people cheat. If they just asked "what methods do you use to keep track of cards, make informed decisions, especially mid to late game?", they likely get more responses.

Also, literally every post for every game has far more views than replies. The ones that garner the most replies are the ones that are actually interesting, or worth debating.

UmpireNate wrote: ↑29 July 2026, 12:40

BarnardsStar wrote: ↑27 July 2026, 23:55

Silene wrote: ↑27 July 2026, 22:24

What does the number of views tell you?

Obviously anybody who didn't answer the question must be embarrassed of their answer and are therefore cheaters.

Not so "obvious"....people read forums/prompts and reply if it interests them.

You should get your sarcasm meter recalibrated. This was my point. (Well, that and:

UmpireNate wrote: ↑29 July 2026, 12:40 Also, literally every post for every game has far more views than replies.

)

I'm interested in probabilities.
Therefore I used a spreadsheet to calculate these at first.(When the game begins you get 12% chance to pick a 12, 11% for an 11 ... 1% for a 1 and a 0).
But it's interesting to see players taking their gain when they have 2 of the big cards (9,10,11,12) at any moment,not only at first.
I have noted, however, that there is more hesitation when the deck is almost empty, while the risk is clearly not that big ... assuming you know exactly which cards remain available.
As in Blackjack, if you were able to count and the deck was not reshuffle at a random card and not at the end of the deck.

Anyway, it took 2 days to start getting anwers ... so maybe no-one dares being the first to answer. The Panurge/Lemmings effect: I'll jump if I'm not the first one, but hey, I'll go immediately after someone took the first leap.

No-one cheats, of course ... what's the point ?
Being a lone Hero in your bedroom ?

Hey, look at my ELO, I'm a master and now I will only play Friendly games, so I'll never lose my rank ...

I call these ones the real losers.