Lucky Numbers has distinguished itself as a game featuring an intriguing fusion of chance and strategy. Beneath its seemingly straightforward exterior lies a game with an unexpected amount of strategic complexity and playmaking opportunity. Prepared to transform luck into skill? Let us delve into the tactics that will elevate you to a ‘Lucky Numbers’ champion.
Quickly create an evenly distributed main diagonal
The primary diagonal (top left to bottom right) is the most important because it serves as the skeleton around which the rest of the numbers are placed. Quickly building a well-designed primary diagonal sets you up for success and gives you some much-desired flexibility later in the game.
The ideal primary diagonal is evenly distributed, with 5 or 6 numbers in between each clover value. So, it would start with a 1 or 2, then a 6, 7, or 8, then a 12, 13, or 14, and finish with a 19 or 20. This gives you the most flexibility when adding numbers because you’re starting with a relatively even distribution. If you deviate too far from this initial framework then you’ll probably end up with one or more areas on the board where your number options are severely limited.
Place numbers close to the ideal board framework
A Lucky Numbers board is set up in a 4×4 grid, but I find that it’s actually more useful to think of the board as a series of 7 diagonals, oriented from the bottom left to the top right. The rules of the game state that each number value must be greater than the all of the numbers above and to the left of it, so this means that high numbers tend to end up in the bottom right of the board while low numbers belong in the upper left.
It can be difficult to decide where to place your numbers, especially early in the game. I find that it’s usually best to put them as close to the framework shown above as possible. Simply put, each diagonal has an ideal range of numbers. This is especially true early in the game when things are more fluid and neither player has locked in the structure of their board yet. Adhering as closely as possible to the framework shown above leaves you with an evenly distributed board that gives you the best chance to win.
String close numbers together for added flexibility
While the illustrated framework shown above is a great starting point, you can earn yourself some additional flexibility by stringing consecutive numbers together. Condensing a run of consecutive (or nearly consecutive) numbers together means you’ll have more room on either side of those numbers to work with.
If and when you manage to do this, you should mentally adjust the illustration mapped out above to account for it. For example, if you have a 20 and two 19’s in the bottom right corner, you should shift and expand the distribution of numbers down and to the right. You’ll have more numbers available that work within the confines of your existing framework.
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Take useful numbers from the board
Lucky Numbers (not surprisingly) involves a lot of luck. So, eliminating any degree of luck from the game can amount to a game-winning advantage. When your opponent plays a number to the table it gives you an opportunity to take a number with a known value instead of a random number from the pile. In most cases, you should take the number from the table if it’s useful to both you and your opponent. This ensures that you improve your situation instead of leaving it to chance.
Leave useful numbers your opponent can’t use
While taking a useful number from the table is always good, sometimes you should delay doing it. If your opponent can’t immediately use the number, leave it on the table and take a chance drawing from the pile. You can always take the useful tile from the table on a later turn since your opponent can’t steal it from you, so it makes sense to see what you get from the random pile.
Deprive your opponents of useful numbers
Most new Lucky Numbers focus almost entirely on their own boards, but more experienced players know that if you want to win, you must also monitor your opponents’ boards. This is especially true towards the end of the game when players only have 2 or 3 spaces left. At that stage of the game, you have a very concrete idea of what range of numbers each player is looking for.
Do everything you can to deprive your opponents of the numbers they need – especially if those numbers help you, too. Sometimes this means replacing a number on your board that you wouldn’t have otherwise, but it’s worth it if it puts your opponent in a bind. If your opponent has painted themselves into a corner, sometimes you can make it literally impossible for your opponent to complete their board by taking the specific numbers they need.
Keep track of which numbers have been played
There is no hidden information in Lucky Numbers. At any given time, you know exactly which numbers are in play and which are in the pile. This means that, if you’re willing to put in the effort, you can track exactly which numbers are left in the pile and use it to your advantage.
This usually isn’t worth the effort until about 2/3 of the way through the game. At that point, you can start to take an inventory of what numbers are left and use that information to influence your number placement. This technique is especially useful when there are only a few spaces left on your board and you’re trying to make a tough decision. For example, you can calculate the percentage chances of drawing a number you need vs swapping out a tile from the table.
Plan for numbers opponents will have to replace
Another advantage of watching your opponents’ boards is that you can determine which tiles they will have to replace. There are just some numbers that are so problematic that they will be forced to eventually lay them on the table after swapping them out. Therefore, you can reserve a spot for that number on your board while you wait for them to swap it out.
Being able to plan for a specific number in a specific location is very powerful because it eventually leads to more flexibility on the rest of your board. For example, if your opponent is going to have to swap out a 16, you can squeeze and 15 and a 17 one space apart, knowing that you’re guaranteed to get the 16 you need to place between them.
Place numbers in the tightest window possible
You usually have several options on where to place a number. You should use the diagram above as a rough guide, but once the game progresses things become more nuanced. If you’re trying to decide between two placements, put the number within the tightest window it will fit. This leaves the other space open with more numbers that can potentially fill it.
For example, if you draw a 12 from the pile and you’re trying to decide to place it between a 9 and a 15 or between an 11 and a 14, you should place it between the latter pair. You have a much better chance of drawing another number later on that will fit between the 9 and the 15.
Take more risks when playing from behind
With so much luck involved in this game, sometimes you’ll end up behind even if you play perfectly. In that case, you should take more risks to try to make up some ground. Don’t replace tiles unless absolutely necessary, and hope that you can draw the numbers you need to squeeze onto your board.
Conversely, if you have only 1 or 2 spaces left and your opponent still has a ways to go, you should play conservatively and take the sure thing. You can afford to take a few turns to replace 1 or 2 numbers and manipulate things to your advantage. For example, you can replace a string of numbers to shift everything over one space and finish it off with a number from the table, all while your opponent is powerless to stop you.
Thanks for reading! Did I miss something, or do you have some tips of your own to add? Drop a comment below!
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