Mistakes almost everyone makes
These mistakes have one thing in common: in the moment they seem harmless, and they come back to bite a few rounds later, when there is nothing left to fix.
Beating with a trump right away
The most expensive habit. A trump gets spent in the first round to avoid taking one card, and five rounds later there is nothing left to defend with. Taking one card early is almost free; losing a trump is costly.
Leading with high cards
It seems logical: let the opponent struggle with an ace. In reality you give away your defense and are left with sixes that are useless at the end of the game. Start with low cards and save the high ones.
Taking at the first sign of trouble
Some players take the moment they see an awkward card. The hand grows, and with it the chance of being left last. Before you take, look at how many more cards can be thrown in: it is often better to beat one card than to pick up four.
Not looking at the discard pile
The discard pile is open, but beginners never look at it. Yet it holds the answer to the key question: how many trumps are still in play. Without that, every endgame decision turns into guessing.
Throwing in everything you can
If you can, you should. No. Throwing in two cards empties your hand and gives the opponent a chance to defend and take over the turn. Sometimes it is better to keep a pair for the next round.
Forgetting how many cards the opponent has
You cannot throw in more cards than the defender has in hand. If they have two cards, you will not get a third one down. Experienced players count this in advance and pick the moment when the opponent is defenseless.
Playing the same way against one opponent and against three
With two players you can take risks: only one person throws in. With three or four, everyone works against you at once, and your hand melts twice as fast. The more opponents, the more carefully you should spend trumps.
What to do about all this
Do not try to fix everything at once. Pick one habit, for example saving trumps, and keep it in mind for a couple of games. Once it becomes automatic, move on to the next one.
Break the habits
Turn on the Mentor, and it will show you where a move went wrong and explain why in simple words.