Recognizing When to Throw Away High Point Cards. For instance, it might be prudent to discard several high-point cards as soon as possible if you find yourself holding onto them without any possibleirda exam hall ticket combinations. By being proactive, you reduce your risk and maintain a low point total in the event that another player leaves. On the other hand, there are instances in which it can be beneficial to hold onto particular cards. Playing defense in rummy. You might want to hold onto cards that could throw off your opponent's strategy if you see that they are collecting particular suits or ranks.