Also, knowing when to retrieve discarded cards for personal use is essential to making efficient use of the discard pile. It might be worthwhile to take a card that an opponent has discarded rather thanrummy your drawing from the pile if you see that it could drastically improve your hand or help you finish a meld. Making this choice, though, should be done carefully because selecting a card from the discard pile can also give your opponents a clue as to what you're aiming for. Thus, when making strategic decisions about the discard pile, it is essential to balance the possible advantages against the risks.