diff --git a/src/game.rs b/src/game.rs
index 13ccb3c..5e420cf 100644
--- a/src/game.rs
+++ b/src/game.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use info::*;
 */
 
 pub type Color = &'static str;
-pub const COLORS: [Color; 5] = ["blue", "red", "yellow", "white", "green"];
+pub const COLORS: [Color; 5] = ["red", "yellow", "green", "blue", "white"];
 pub fn display_color(color: Color) -> char {
     color.chars().next().unwrap()
 }
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ pub struct BoardState {
     pub turn: u32,
     // // whose turn is it?
     pub player: Player,
+    pub hand_size: u32,
 
     pub hints_total: u32,
     pub hints_remaining: u32,
@@ -343,6 +344,7 @@ impl BoardState {
             fireworks: fireworks,
             discard: Discard::new(),
             num_players: opts.num_players,
+            hand_size: opts.hand_size,
             player: 0,
             turn: 1,
             hints_total: opts.num_hints,
@@ -360,10 +362,13 @@ impl BoardState {
         }
     }
 
+    fn get_firework(&self, color: &Color) -> &Firework {
+        self.fireworks.get(color).unwrap()
+    }
+
     // returns whether a card would place on a firework
     pub fn is_playable(&self, card: &Card) -> bool {
-        let firework = self.fireworks.get(card.color).unwrap();
-        Some(card.value) == firework.desired_value()
+        Some(card.value) == self.get_firework(&card.color).desired_value()
     }
 
     pub fn was_played(&self, card: &Card) -> bool {
@@ -399,7 +404,7 @@ impl BoardState {
     }
 
     // is never going to play, based on discard + fireworks
-    pub fn is_unplayable(&self, card: &Card) -> bool {
+    pub fn is_dead(&self, card: &Card) -> bool {
         let firework = self.fireworks.get(card.color).unwrap();
         if firework.complete() {
             true
@@ -413,20 +418,20 @@ impl BoardState {
         }
     }
 
-    // cannot be discarded without sacrificing score, based on discard + fireworks
-    pub fn is_undiscardable(&self, card: &Card) -> bool {
+    // can be discarded without necessarily sacrificing score, based on discard + fireworks
+    pub fn is_dispensable(&self, card: &Card) -> bool {
         let firework = self.fireworks.get(card.color).unwrap();
         if firework.complete() {
-            false
+            true
         } else {
             let desired = firework.desired_value().unwrap();
             if card.value < desired {
-                false
+                true
             } else {
                 if card.value > self.highest_attainable(&card.color) {
-                    false
+                    true
                 } else {
-                    self.discard.remaining(&card) == 1
+                    self.discard.remaining(&card) != 1
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -454,12 +459,23 @@ impl BoardState {
     pub fn player_to_right(&self, player: &Player) -> Player {
         (player - 1) % self.num_players
     }
+
+    pub fn is_over(&self) -> bool {
+        (self.lives_remaining == 0) || (self.deckless_turns_remaining == 0)
+    }
 }
 impl fmt::Display for BoardState {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
-        try!(f.write_str(&format!(
-            "Turn {} (Player {}'s turn):\n", self.turn, self.player
-        )));
+        if self.is_over() {
+            try!(f.write_str(&format!(
+                "Turn {} (GAME ENDED):\n", self.turn
+            )));
+        } else {
+            try!(f.write_str(&format!(
+                "Turn {} (Player {}'s turn):\n", self.turn, self.player
+            )));
+        }
+
         let deck_size = self.deck_size();
         try!(f.write_str(&format!(
             "{} cards remaining in deck\n", deck_size
@@ -476,8 +492,8 @@ impl fmt::Display for BoardState {
             "{}/{} lives remaining\n", self.lives_remaining, self.lives_total
         )));
         try!(f.write_str("Fireworks:\n"));
-        for (_, firework) in &self.fireworks {
-            try!(f.write_str(&format!("  {}\n", firework)));
+        for color in COLORS.iter() {
+            try!(f.write_str(&format!("  {}\n", self.get_firework(color))));
         }
         try!(f.write_str("Discard:\n"));
         try!(f.write_str(&format!("{}\n", self.discard)));
@@ -499,6 +515,26 @@ pub struct GameStateView<'a> {
     // board state
     pub board: &'a BoardState,
 }
+impl <'a> GameStateView<'a> {
+    pub fn has_card(&self, player: &Player, card: &Card) -> bool {
+        assert!(self.player != *player, "Cannot query about your own cards!");
+        let state = self.other_player_states.get(player).unwrap();
+        for other_card in &state.hand {
+            if *card == *other_card {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        false
+    }
+    pub fn can_see(&self, card: &Card) -> bool {
+        for other_player in self.other_player_states.keys() {
+            if self.has_card(other_player, card) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        false
+    }
+}
 
 // complete game state (known to nobody!)
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -511,7 +547,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for GameState {
         try!(f.write_str("==========================\n"));
         try!(f.write_str("Hands:\n"));
         try!(f.write_str("==========================\n"));
-        for player in 0..self.board.num_players {
+        for player in self.board.get_players() {
             let state = &self.player_states.get(&player).unwrap();
             try!(f.write_str(&format!("player {} {}\n", player, state)));
         }
@@ -552,8 +588,7 @@ impl GameState {
 
     pub fn is_over(&self) -> bool {
         // TODO: add condition that fireworks cannot be further completed?
-        (self.board.lives_remaining == 0) ||
-        (self.board.deckless_turns_remaining == 0)
+        self.board.is_over()
     }
 
     pub fn score(&self) -> Score {
@@ -580,13 +615,19 @@ impl GameState {
     fn take_from_hand(&mut self, index: usize) -> Card {
         let ref mut state = self.player_states.get_mut(&self.board.player).unwrap();
         let (card, _) = state.take(index);
-        if let Some(new_card) = self.board.deck.pop() {
-            debug!("Drew new card, {}", new_card);
-            state.place(new_card);
-        }
         card
     }
 
+    fn replenish_hand(&mut self) {
+        let ref mut state = self.player_states.get_mut(&self.board.player).unwrap();
+        if (state.hand.len() as u32) < self.board.hand_size {
+            if let Some(new_card) = self.board.deck.pop() {
+                debug!("Drew new card, {}", new_card);
+                state.place(new_card);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn process_choice(&mut self, choice: &TurnChoice) {
         debug!("Player {}'s move", self.board.player);
         match choice {
@@ -642,6 +683,8 @@ impl GameState {
             }
         }
 
+        self.replenish_hand();
+
         if self.board.deck.len() == 0 {
             self.board.deckless_turns_remaining -= 1;
         }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 621203f..101d447 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -27,9 +27,11 @@ impl log::Log for SimpleLogger {
 }
 
 fn main() {
+    // TODO: make a binary with command line options
+
     log::set_logger(|max_log_level| {
-        max_log_level.set(log::LogLevelFilter::Trace);
-        // max_log_level.set(log::LogLevelFilter::Info);
+        // max_log_level.set(log::LogLevelFilter::Trace);
+        max_log_level.set(log::LogLevelFilter::Info);
         Box::new(SimpleLogger)
     }).unwrap();
 
@@ -50,13 +52,13 @@ fn main() {
     //     },
     //     n
     // );
-    // simulator::simulate_symmetric(
-    //     &opts,
-    //     strategies::cheating::CheatingStrategyConfig::new(),
-    //     n
-    // );
-    simulator::simulate_symmetric_once(
-        &opts, Some(993),
+    simulator::simulate_symmetric(
+        &opts,
         strategies::cheating::CheatingStrategyConfig::new(),
+        n
     );
+    // simulator::simulate_symmetric_once(
+    //     &opts, Some(999),
+    //     strategies::cheating::CheatingStrategyConfig::new(),
+    // );
 }
diff --git a/src/simulator.rs b/src/simulator.rs
index 93442c4..34b4263 100644
--- a/src/simulator.rs
+++ b/src/simulator.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ pub fn simulate_once<'a>(
         i += 1;
     }
 
+    debug!("Initial state:\n{}", game);
+
     while !game.is_over() {
         debug!("Turn {}", game.board.turn);
         let player = game.board.player;
diff --git a/src/strategies/cheating.rs b/src/strategies/cheating.rs
index f0821e1..a1c3377 100644
--- a/src/strategies/cheating.rs
+++ b/src/strategies/cheating.rs
@@ -5,11 +5,18 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use simulator::*;
 use game::*;
 
-// strategy that cheats by using Rc/RefCell
+// strategy that explicitly cheats by using Rc/RefCell
+// serves as a reference point for other strategies
+//
 // Plays according to the following rules:
 //  - if any card is playable,
 //      play the card with the lowest value
 //  - if a card is dead, discard it
+//  - if another player has same card in hand, discard it
+//  - if a card is discardable, discard it
+//  - if a hint exists, hint
+//  - discard the first card
+
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct CheatingStrategyConfig {
@@ -43,6 +50,7 @@ impl CheatingStrategy {
             next, view.other_player_states.get(&next).unwrap().hand.clone()
         );
     }
+
     // give a throwaway hint - we only do this when we have nothing to do
     fn throwaway_hint(&self, view: &GameStateView) -> TurnChoice {
         TurnChoice::Hint(Hint {
@@ -50,11 +58,54 @@ impl CheatingStrategy {
                 hinted: Hinted::Value(1)
         })
     }
+
+    // given a hand of cards, represents how badly it will need to play things
+    fn hand_play_value(&self, view: &GameStateView, hand: &Cards/*, all_viewable: HashMap<Color, <Value, usize>> */) -> u32 {
+        // dead = 0 points
+        // indispensible = 5 + (5 - value) points
+        // playable, not in another hand = 2 point
+        // playable = 1 point
+        let mut value = 0;
+        for card in hand {
+            if view.board.is_dead(card) {
+                continue
+            }
+            if !view.board.is_dispensable(card) {
+                value += 10 - card.value;
+            } else {
+                value += 1;
+            }
+        }
+        value
+    }
+
+    // how badly do we need to play a particular card
+    fn get_play_score(&self, view: &GameStateView, card: &Card) -> i32 {
+        let states  = self.player_states_cheat.borrow();
+        let my_hand = states.get(&self.me).unwrap();
+
+        let my_hand_value = self.hand_play_value(view, my_hand);
+
+        for player in view.board.get_players() {
+            if player != self.me {
+                if view.has_card(&player, card) {
+                    let their_hand_value = self.hand_play_value(view, states.get(&player).unwrap());
+                    // they can play this card, and have less urgent plays than i do
+                    if their_hand_value <= my_hand_value {
+                        return 1;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        // there are no hints
+        // maybe value 5s more?
+        5 + (5 - (card.value as i32))
+    }
 }
 impl Strategy for CheatingStrategy {
     fn decide(&mut self, view: &GameStateView) -> TurnChoice {
         self.inform_next_player_cards(view);
-        if view.board.turn == 1 {
+        if view.board.turn <= view.board.num_players {
             // don't know my cards yet, just give a random hint
             return self.throwaway_hint(view);
         }
@@ -66,41 +117,57 @@ impl Strategy for CheatingStrategy {
         }).peekable();
 
         if playable_cards.peek() == None {
-            for card in my_cards {
-                if view.board.is_unplayable(card) {
-                    let index = my_cards.iter().position(|iter_card| {
-                        card == iter_card
-                    }).unwrap();
-                    return TurnChoice::Discard(index);
+            // if anything is totally useless, discard it
+            for (i, card) in my_cards.iter().enumerate() {
+                if view.board.is_dead(card) {
+                    return TurnChoice::Discard(i);
                 }
             }
-            for card in my_cards {
-                if !view.board.is_undiscardable(card) {
-                    let index = my_cards.iter().position(|iter_card| {
-                        card == iter_card
-                    }).unwrap();
-                    return TurnChoice::Discard(index);
-                }
-            }
-            // all my cards are undiscardable!
             if view.board.hints_remaining > 0 {
                 return self.throwaway_hint(view);
             }
-            TurnChoice::Discard(0)
-        } else {
-            // play the lowest playable card
-            let mut play_card = playable_cards.next().unwrap();
-
-            let mut next_card_opt = playable_cards.next();
-            while let Some(next_card) = next_card_opt {
-                if next_card.value < play_card.value {
-                    play_card = next_card;
+            // All cards are plausibly useful.
+            // Play the best discardable card, according to the ordering induced by comparing
+            //   (is in another hand, is dispensable, value)
+            // The higher, the better to discard
+            let mut discard_card = None;
+            let mut compval = (false, false, 0);
+            for card in my_cards {
+                let my_compval = (
+                    view.can_see(card),
+                    view.board.is_dispensable(card),
+                    card.value,
+                );
+                if my_compval > compval {
+                    discard_card = Some(card);
+                    compval = my_compval;
+                }
+            }
+            if let Some(card) = discard_card {
+                let index = my_cards.iter().position(|iter_card| {
+                    card == iter_card
+                }).unwrap();
+                TurnChoice::Discard(index)
+            } else {
+                panic!("This shouldn't happen!  No discardable card");
+            }
+        } else {
+            // play the best playable card
+            // the higher the play_score, the better to play
+            let mut play_card = None;
+            let mut play_score = -1;
+
+            while playable_cards.peek().is_some() {
+                let next_card = playable_cards.next().unwrap();
+                let next_play_score = self.get_play_score(view, next_card);
+                if next_play_score > play_score {
+                    play_card = Some(next_card);
+                    play_score = next_play_score;
                 }
-                next_card_opt = playable_cards.next();
             }
 
             let index = my_cards.iter().position(|card| {
-                card == play_card
+                card == play_card.unwrap()
             }).unwrap();
             TurnChoice::Play(index)
         }