The discards are even more important in this game than they are in the American version. First, there are always four players, so that without picking form the discards, each player has an opportunity to draw only 12 or 13 tiles with which to complete their hand. If you are playing for any of the more complicated hands, it is absolutely necessary to have as many picks as possible. Therefore you should always pick from the discard pile often, even if some of the tiles are picked on total speculation. Do not pick unless you can form a reasonable combination, but a guaranteed combination, particularly one which can go several ways, is better in most cases than gambling on an unknown tile.
Besides filling melds or forming combinations, tiles picked form the discard pile leaves more picks in the drawing pile. They also keep tiles in circulation, and you want as many chances at them as possible. Of course this gives the other players more chances also. Thus it is very important to choose your own discards with the maximum amount of care.
If everyone is playing on the rack, the discards are the only clues you have to the tiles that are available. A good memory is extremely important here. You wan tot remember not only which tiles remain in the discard piles and are therefore no longer available, but you also want to remember which tiles your opponents pick up. With four people, remember the discard piles are more important than remember what was picked up, if you have trouble remembering both. Your own discards have little influence on any player other than the one on your right. You directly control that player’s hand to some extent, and you obviously do not want to give them the tiles that match previous discards.
The buried tiles will determine which hands you still have a chance to make and which ones are impossible. This is important even in playing Open Rummy, because you still have far fewer tiles to work with than you do when playing the American version of open melds. As always, the more information you can gather and retain, the more of an edge you have on your opponents. The discards are the only good source of information you have on tiles not on your rack or on the table in open melds. Use them to their fullest advantage. There is probably no one factor which will more quickly separate the expert player from the good player than his or her ability to use the discard data.
The point value of your discards is of little importance as far as your final score is concerned when playing any of the hands. If someone else goes you have 100 points scored against you regardless of what is on your rack. Therefore, resist the tendency to discard high tiles first. Discards should be chosen for two reasons only. The first is always choosing tiles that have the least possibility of filling any particular hand or possible hands you could develop. The second is the defensive possibilities of the discard. Remembering this will allow you to use the discard pile to your advantage to win the game.