The Mental Model: Grouping, Sequencing, and Planning
Grouping colours
Start by identifying which colours are already grouped together and which are scattered. Your first goal is to consolidate scattered colours into single tubes, using empty tubes as buffers.
Look for tubes that already have two or three layers of the same colour. Prioritise moving colours that are blocking others.
Sequencing moves
Think of each pour as a step in a sequence. Before making a move, ask: will this create a new opportunity or block another colour? Sometimes you need to make temporary moves that seem counterproductive.
Temporary moves often involve using an empty tube to hold a colour while you rearrange others. Avoid filling an empty tube with a colour that will be hard to move later.
Planning ahead
Advanced players look several moves ahead. Try to visualise the end state: which tubes will hold which colours? Then work backwards to see what needs to happen first.
This is similar to solving a Rubik's Cube or a sliding puzzle. With practice, planning becomes intuitive.