Sho strategy tips for beginners
5 min read
Simple ideas that win more games of Sho: when to stack, when to kill, how to stay safe and how to finish.
Sho has a lot of luck in it, but the same throw can be used well or badly. These ideas will help you win more often against friends and against the computer.
1. Stack early, stack often
A stack moves as one and is harder to kill: a rival needs a stack at least as big to land on it. Stacking also gives you another throw. When you can choose between placing a coin on an empty shell and joining your own coins, joining is usually better.
2. A kill is worth more than distance
Killing sends your rival's coins back to their hand and gives you another throw. Even a small kill near the start of the track can cost your opponent several turns. Look for kills first, then for stacks, and only then for plain moves.
3. Watch the danger zone
The most common totals are 6, 7 and 8. A small stack of yours sitting six to eight shells in front of a bigger enemy stack is likely to be killed. If you can, move it away, or join it to another of your stacks so it becomes too big to attack.
4. Do not leave coins in your hand too long
Coins in your hand are safe, but they are not moving. Bringing new coins in steadily gives you more choices for every throw, which makes it easier to use your total well.
5. Plan the finish
Only coins that go past the last shell count towards your nine. Near the end, prefer moves that bring a big stack home in one go. In the Bhutanese rules you choose what the extra count past the end does: push another stack forward or bring a new coin in, so a good finish keeps working for you.
6. Practise against the computer
The Easy, Normal and Hard computer players are a good way to try these ideas without pressure. When you feel ready, play a free table online.
Try it now against the computer, or find real players online.