Quick winning principles
- Count pudding—whoever has least loses 6 points in 4+ player games.
- Take maki to break ties, not to win maki unless you can secure 1st.
- Complete tempura pairs before chasing wasabi-nigiri combos.
- Deny opponents their obvious 3rd sashimi card.
Ideal strategy
- 1
Pudding insurance: in 4-player, ensure you're not last in pudding even if it costs a good card—-6 swing beats +3 from tempura.
- 2
Maki denial: when two players tie for maki lead, draft the 3-maki card to break tie even if you don't want maki—denial is +6 swing.
- 3
Wasabi-nigiri timing: only chase wasabi if you see 2+ nigiri in the draft; single wasabi is -3 net.
- 4
Sashimi completion: opponents' 2nd sashimi is denial priority over your 1st tempura.
- 5
Hand prediction: with 3 cards left in hand, opponents' last picks are predictable—deny their known combo piece.