Tips niagara

Niagara basic strategy tips

1. Don’t fall over the falls!

    It is hard to recover from this as you lose a boat and can
    only get it back by paying a gem.
    If you do lose a boat be careful about when you pay to get it back.
    Remember that you can only bring one boat back in at a time.
    You don’t want to give the last vital gem to an opponent.

2. Play your small numbers early

    This will keep some large numbers in reserve so you can either
    get a gem out or at least avoid plummetting over the falls.

3. Plan when to play your cloud

    Don’t be forced to play it when you really need to move
    upstream to avoid going over the falls.
    It is embarrassing and will cost you a boat.
    Reduce river speed for a faster game
    - a good strategy when you are in front.
    Increase river speed for a slower game
    - a good strategy when you are behind.
    This will give you and other players more opportunities
    to steal gems from the leaders.

4. Steal gems whenever possible

    Unless that sets up your opponent to 
    get the gem they need to win.
    The less gems your opponents have,
    the more work they need to do to win.

5. Corollory to stealing when possible is to

    avoid being stolen from whenever possible.
    If your opponents have used all numbers required to land 
    on a particular space this turn, 
    then treat that space as a safe place for this turn only.

6. Remember ALL your opponents’ numbers played

    This is your key to developing a winning strategy.
    Without this information, you are just guessing and hoping.
    Be informed.  Don’t play randomly.

7. Defend against sudden victories by your opponents

    You need to keep in mind all possible victory conditions
     and make sure no opponent
    is getting close to one of them.
    Reduce the number of purple or white gems available
    if an opponent is going for one of these.
    They only need four of the same gem, 
    so don’t wait until they have their third or
    fourth gem loaded on a boat.
    Remove the possibility of someone else getting four gems
    by getting that gem too.
    All opponents should work together to stop the leaders winning.
    If an opponent is carrying a gem they don’t need for their victory,
    don’t steal it from them (unless you need it yourself!).
    It only makes their job easier.