In the early stages of the game it may be a good idea to hold back some tiles so
that other players “open up” the table and provide more opportunities for manipulation.
Sometimes it’s useful to hold back the fourth tile of a group or a run and lay only
three, is that on the next turn you can lay a tile instead of drawing from the pool.
Keeping a joker on one’s rack may also be a good strategy – although one risks being
caught with a Joker when another player goes Rummikub. This might cost you 30 points.
If you have a gambling blood in your veins, you may wish to hold back your melds,hoping
to catch your opponents with a “bundle”. This way you deny your opponents the opportunity
to build on your melds, and allow yourself the freedom to rearrange your tiles as
you please.
Try to figure out what the player on your left is missing, so you can avoid putting
down on the table – “feeding” him/her with a tile or a set of tiles, which he/she
can use.