High-point cards should be discarded early in the game to reduce possible penalties in the event that an opponent declares Rummy before you do. But it's also critical to consider whetherparty slots keeping some cards could eventually result in profitable combinations. For gameplay to be effective, risk & reward must be balanced. Think about how your discards will affect your opponents' hands as well. Discarding cards that could help your opponent finish their melds might be a good idea if you observe that they are gathering cards from a particular suit or rank.
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