Tips & Tricks for dabong!
Shamans are powerful! They are especially good when you are down to two or three cards for playing a Natural dabong! For example, if you have a 4 and a Shaman, if any other player plays a 5 or higher, you can immediately play a Natural dabong! designating your Shaman as whatever value you need to add to 4 to get to the discard card value. Shamans are also great to make into a 2 or Queen of Water, to punish someone that is down to a few cards. At the very least, use your Shaman in conjunction with other cards – they’re great for rounding out a Flush or Full House!
Be vigilant when you get down to several cards, even when it’s not your turn. Always keep in mind the number your cards add up to, if it’s 14 or less. Be ready to dabong! immediately if the right card is played (so you can play your dabong! before the next person plays his or her normal play).
Card trading and teaming up on someone is allowed – but watch out, what goes around comes around! Feel free to trade cards and orchestrate strategies to make the person that’s about to win draw several cards. It keeps the game going longer and gives you a chance to win later! There will be plenty of times where even with card trading, you cannot prevent someone from winning, however.
If you’re playing Intermediate or Master rules, when you get your initial eight cards, look for the big plays. Examine if you have Four Pair, Full House, Flush, Twenty-One… Since the object is to get rid of all your cards, it helps to be able to play two and three cards at a time. You’ll go through your cards real fast if you can dump five or more on one turn!
Having to draw a lot of cards early is not necessarily bad in Intermediate and Master rules. With eight cards, a Flush or Full House is unlikely – but with 10 or more, you have much better odds. So think twice before making someone draw four or more cards early in the game – they’ll likely just play five cards at a time and catch up quickly. 2’s and the Queen of Water are more effective when played mid-game or end-game.
Low cards are better to have than high cards near the end. This is because low cards are more useful in Addition, and Subtraction, and will give you a better chance for a natural dabong! when you’re down to two or three cards.
Shamans are powerful! They are especially good when you are down to two or three cards for playing a Natural dabong! For example, if you have a 4 and a Shaman, if any other player plays a 5 or higher, you can immediately play a Natural dabong! designating your Shaman as whatever value you need to add to 4 to get to the discard card value. Shamans are also great to make into a 2 or Queen of Water, to punish someone that is down to a few cards. At the very least, use your Shaman in conjunction with other cards – they’re great for rounding out a Flush or Full House!
Be vigilant when you get down to several cards, even when it’s not your turn. Always keep in mind the number your cards add up to, if it’s 14 or less. Be ready to dabong! immediately if the right card is played (so you can play your dabong! before the next person plays his or her normal play).
Card trading and teaming up on someone is allowed – but watch out, what goes around comes around! Feel free to trade cards and orchestrate strategies to make the person that’s about to win draw several cards. It keeps the game going longer and gives you a chance to win later! There will be plenty of times where even with card trading, you cannot prevent someone from winning, however.
If you’re playing Intermediate or Master rules, when you get your initial eight cards, look for the big plays. Examine if you have Four Pair, Full House, Flush, Twenty-One… Since the object is to get rid of all your cards, it helps to be able to play two and three cards at a time. You’ll go through your cards real fast if you can dump five or more on one turn!
Having to draw a lot of cards early is not necessarily bad in Intermediate and Master rules. With eight cards, a Flush or Full House is unlikely – but with 10 or more, you have much better odds. So think twice before making someone draw four or more cards early in the game – they’ll likely just play five cards at a time and catch up quickly. 2’s and the Queen of Water are more effective when played mid-game or end-game.
Low cards are better to have than high cards near the end. This is because low cards are more useful in Addition, and Subtraction, and will give you a better chance for a natural dabong! when you’re down to two or three cards.
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Quick Start Guide for dabong!
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Quick Start Guide for dabong!
as a PDF file...
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. May I lay a face card on a 10, or a 10 on a face card?
A. No – even though the cards are valued the same, you may only lay a 10 on a face card, or face card on a 10 if they match suits. Otherwise, you may lay a 10 on a 10, Jack on a Jack, etc. The 10 value for face cards only comes into play with an Addition or Subtraction play (or Twenty-One in Intermediate rules.)
Q. How can I use an 8 together with other cards for a multi-card play?
A. If you are using an 8 with other cards for a multi-card play, the natural suit of the 8 must match your other cards for Addition, Subtraction, Straight, Flush, Twenty-One, etc. The great thing about the 8, is you can lay it on anything to start your multi-card play, because you are essentially changing the suit to the natural suit of the 8. Also, if you end a multi-card play with an 8, you can select any new suit going forward.
Q. Can I lay the Shaman on anything?
A. Yes – but only if the Shaman is being designated as a card that can legally be played. You can always make the Shaman an 8 and play it on anything. Likewise, you can make it a 2 of whatever suit you’re in, and make the next person draw two. To maximize your Shaman, take a look at Game Play Tips!
Q. If I end a play with multiple 2’s, does the next person have to draw more than two cards?
A. If you’re playing with Intermediate or Master rules, yes – the next person would have to draw the number of cards based on the number of 2’s, or add on in Intermediate with another two, or add on or neutralize in Master. If you’re playing with Beginner rules, no, the next person only draws two (the only way this could happen in beginner is addition with a Shaman designated as a 2, plus the real 2 of the same suit).
Q. Can I win on my first turn?
A. Although it is rare, it is possible and allowed to win on the first turn. The most common example is Four Pair in Master rules, which is sometimes dealt as an opening hand.
Q. I know taking back your turn is allowed – can I take back a turn where I drew cards?
A. No – If you drew a card, that card cannot be put back. The maximum unwinding stops at the point where someone had to draw a card.
Q. Can I trade one of my cards for a 2 or a Queen of Water from another player?
A. Yes, card trading is allowed at any time, but you must give up and get at least one card in a trade.
Q. We don’t like one of the rules – can we take it out?
A. Yes, as long as everyone playing agrees on the rules for the game prior to the start of the hand.
Q. We came up with a new rule – can we put it in?
A. Yes, as long as everyone playing agrees on the rules for the game prior to the start of the hand.
Q. May I lay a face card on a 10, or a 10 on a face card?
A. No – even though the cards are valued the same, you may only lay a 10 on a face card, or face card on a 10 if they match suits. Otherwise, you may lay a 10 on a 10, Jack on a Jack, etc. The 10 value for face cards only comes into play with an Addition or Subtraction play (or Twenty-One in Intermediate rules.)
Q. How can I use an 8 together with other cards for a multi-card play?
A. If you are using an 8 with other cards for a multi-card play, the natural suit of the 8 must match your other cards for Addition, Subtraction, Straight, Flush, Twenty-One, etc. The great thing about the 8, is you can lay it on anything to start your multi-card play, because you are essentially changing the suit to the natural suit of the 8. Also, if you end a multi-card play with an 8, you can select any new suit going forward.
Q. Can I lay the Shaman on anything?
A. Yes – but only if the Shaman is being designated as a card that can legally be played. You can always make the Shaman an 8 and play it on anything. Likewise, you can make it a 2 of whatever suit you’re in, and make the next person draw two. To maximize your Shaman, take a look at Game Play Tips!
Q. If I end a play with multiple 2’s, does the next person have to draw more than two cards?
A. If you’re playing with Intermediate or Master rules, yes – the next person would have to draw the number of cards based on the number of 2’s, or add on in Intermediate with another two, or add on or neutralize in Master. If you’re playing with Beginner rules, no, the next person only draws two (the only way this could happen in beginner is addition with a Shaman designated as a 2, plus the real 2 of the same suit).
Q. Can I win on my first turn?
A. Although it is rare, it is possible and allowed to win on the first turn. The most common example is Four Pair in Master rules, which is sometimes dealt as an opening hand.
Q. I know taking back your turn is allowed – can I take back a turn where I drew cards?
A. No – If you drew a card, that card cannot be put back. The maximum unwinding stops at the point where someone had to draw a card.
Q. Can I trade one of my cards for a 2 or a Queen of Water from another player?
A. Yes, card trading is allowed at any time, but you must give up and get at least one card in a trade.
Q. We don’t like one of the rules – can we take it out?
A. Yes, as long as everyone playing agrees on the rules for the game prior to the start of the hand.
Q. We came up with a new rule – can we put it in?
A. Yes, as long as everyone playing agrees on the rules for the game prior to the start of the hand.