This game can be quite confusing at first. to win you need to get at least two of your "caravans" to between 21 and 26 before your opponent does. The easiest way too win is to stack your deck inn your favor with lots of 6s, 8s, 10s, and Ks as this is the easiest way to get to 26. 26 being the key number to have without having your caravan be to "heavy". A few Js help too incase the game is tied, which I'll discuss in a bit. *This may be the most important thing on this answer* your opening hand DOES NOT have to be the hand you start with. If you don't have at least two possible caravans that will equal up to 26, you have the ability to discard any number of cards BEFORE THE GAME STARTS and draw new ones until you are happy with your hand. But remember if you run out if cards you auto lose.Now about ties. The game CANNOT end if you and your opponent have a set of caravans directly opposite each other. This is where strategy comes into play. You have the ability to sabotage your opponents caravans. You can make them "lighter" (taking away a card or cards) with either a jack, which removes just one card (and any card attached to it) or a joker(which removes all cards of that type, i.e. if you have 2 eights down and so does your opp. and you play a joker on your eight the three others get removed). So if you are tied play a J or a Joker (more risky) on your opp. caravan. Or simply play any card that will make their caravan bust. This strategy should keep you from ever losing. I'm currently 26-0 using this method. And much richer for it. Hope this helps.