EXPERT GUIDE

The Expert Guide is not intended to teach you the rules of the game. It’s designed to make you a great player! Learn the rules first, then come here for the secrets. You can learn tricks in any order, but we recommend going in order.
BACHELOR OF GAMES
Don’t use too many rolls on your early turns.

Don’t chase red numbers – ride them!


Don’t score 4s 5s or 6s without the red


MASTER OF DICE
Know where the red numbers are when trying to complete RUNs



When rolling to complete a SET, roll all unmatched dice


Shift SETs and RUNs into the 1s and 2s boxes

SUM is your safety valve

Don’t take a roll that has an expected return of less than 5 points

A “Go for Peppers” strategy is a poor one

DOCTOR OF SPICYNESS
If a roll was a good idea before, it’s still the best choice
When your choice of roll was, mathematically speaking, a good idea, but you just didn’t get the roll you hoped for, that same choice is almost always the best choice for your next roll.
For example, let’s say you have five 5s and you’re going for the Big Pepper. You roll three times, but you don’t roll that elusive sixth 5. What now?
The answer is, almost always, roll that last die again. And again. Even though you might get a string of ten bad rolls, the best thing to do right now is the same as it was before – spend a roll for a 1-in-3 chance of adding 25 points to your score.
If a roll was a bad idea before, it’s still a bad idea.
Gamblers often think that a given number is “due” after a long period of not showing up. IT ISN’T. If it was a bad idea, you tried it anyway, and it didn’t work, don’t “throw good rolls after bad” and make the same mistake again and again.
Big Peppers are not all alike. The 4 is more valuable than the 6!


Consider scoring a Big Pepper of 6s elsewhere, even if 6s are open

Usually, ignore the number of rolls you have left
Until late in the game, the number of rolls you have remaining should have very little impact on your strategy
This may seem counter intuitive. After all, if you are short of rolls, you might think you have to save rolls when you can.
Remember that each roll carries a 5 point bonus. In reality, an average roll scores about 8-10 points, so its value tends to be higher when rolled.
If you would try a roll early in the game, it’s probably worth trying until very late in the game.
Usually, ignore your opponent’s score.
Just play your own game for the best score you can.
When you have a lead over your opponent, use the optimal strategies we have discussed. Don’t play aggressively. This is also the best strategy when the score is close.
However, if your opponent takes a big lead or a late lead, that’s the time to get aggressive, which means taking risks that aren’t normally sound.
Keep in mind the bonus value during your final turn

