1. Splitting Melds - If we have a meld run of numerous cards, for example J, 7, 6, 5, 4 of Diamonds, and you pluck from the deck a 6 Diamonds -- you can split the meld into 2 melds. You now have J, 7, 6 and 6, 5, 4 of Diamonds. Always keep in mind that the object is to go out by melding 11 Cards -- any card that helps you reach that goal is valuable.
2. Borrowing From Melds - As the rules states, you may borrow from a meld as long as you leave a valid meld. For example if we have 2, 3, 4, 5 of Clubs and we are able to use or pluck a 2 Hearts from the Draw and we are holding a 2 Spade in our hand, we can drag the 2 Hearts to the Meld Zone, move the 2 Clubs to the new meld, and add the 2 Spade from our hand to form a new meld. Now we have a new meld of 2's that can be built upon if more 2's come to us.
3. Manufacturing Pays - The best type of borrowing from Melds, is when they lead to pay Conditions. For example, you have melded K, Q, J of Spades (Which gave you 2 chips from each player) and a 7 Spade is forced onto you. You also have a 7 Heart in your hand. You pick a 7 Club on a future turn. What do you do? You take the 7 Spade from the K, Q, J run and meld the 7 Spade, the 7 Club, and 7 Heart from your hand, to form a new meld which collects one chip from every player. One of the biggest mistakes new players often do is put down cards to runs that are limiting their possibilities of pays. For example, you meld 6, 7, J Spade and you have a 5 Spade in your hand. Don't put the 5 Spades Down! Why? Suppose another 5 Spades comes off the deck and you take it -- now you have 5, 6, 7, J Spades on board and a 5 Spades in your hand. If another 5 Spades comes to you -- you now have manufactured A Bong! 4 Chips from every player!
4. The Grand Switch - This is when you have 3 Runs that can be converted to 3 Sets. For example you have A, 2, 3 of Clubs, A, 2, 3 of Spades, A, 2, 3 Diamonds and you pick an Ace and you have a 3 Clubs in your hand -- What will you do? YOU WILL GO OUT by switching the cards into Sets -- A, A, A, A 2, 2, 2 3, 3, 3, 3. The other players will be impressed and mad at the same time!
More Pearls of Pan From The Pan Man!