For the rules of niagara, see GameHelpNiagara

Basic strategy

Don’t fall over the falls!

• It is hard to recover from this as you lose a boat and you can only get it back by paying a gem.
• If you do lose a boat be careful about when you pay to get it back.
• Remember that you can only bring one boat back in at a time.
• You don’t want to give the last vital gem to an opponent.

Play your small numbers early

• This will keep some large numbers in reserve so you can either:
  • Get a gem out or
  • at least avoid plummeting over the falls.

Plan when to play your cloud

• Don’t be forced to play it when you really need to move upstream to avoid going over the falls.
  • It is embarrassing and will cost you a boat!
• When you are in front, reduce the river speed.
  • This speeds up the game
• When you are behind, increase the river speed.
  • This slows the game
• This will give you and other players more opportunities to steal gems from the leaders.

Steal gems whenever possible

• Unless that sets up your opponent to get the gem they need to win.
• The fewer gems your opponents has, the more work they need to do to win.

Avoid being stolen from whenever possible

• If your opponents have used all numbers required to land on a particular space this turn, then treat that space as a safe place for this turn only.

Remember all your opponents’ numbers played

• This is your key to developing a winning strategy.
• Without this information, you are just guessing and hoping.
• Be informed, don’t play randomly.

Defend against sudden victories by your opponents

• You need to keep in mind all possible victory conditions and make sure no opponent is getting close to one of them.
• Reduce the number of purple or white gems available if an opponent is going for one of these.
• They only need four of the same gem, so don’t wait until they have their third or fourth gem loaded on a boat.
• Remove the possibility of someone else getting four gems by getting that gem too.
• All opponents should work together to stop the leaders winning.
• If an opponent is carrying a gem they don’t need for their victory, don’t steal it from them as it only makes their job easier.
  • Unless you need it yourself!