Waiting too long to declare, however, can result in lost opportunities and give rivals a chance to catch up or even win. As a general rule, you should declare when you have genie slotscreated a significant number of melds and barely have any deadwood left. Players should also think about the current situation; if opponents appear to be about to declare, it might be wise to do so as soon as possible. Knowing how many cards are left in the stockpile can also help determine whether it makes sense to declare or wait for a turn.