The best strategy is to keep count of how many sevens go into the discard pile, and to keep two in your hand so that you can pick the pack if a seven is discarded. You also have to consider how well your opponents play. Do they always keep one or two sevens until the last card is played? Are they forced to throw in their final seven if they are down to very few cards left in their hand, and they know that any other card discarded will enable their opponent to pick the pack. We have a table rule that is this: If you pick the pack (with any card) and your partner discards a seven on his next turn, that indicates he has at least one more seven in his hand.

Not often as you need 7 out of a possible 8 and can’t use wilds. That combined with stiff penalty for failing to make 7’s make it very risky. The best thing is to be true to holding 2 7’s in your hand at all times and keep count of discarded 7’s in the tray. If you KNOW there are 5 in there and you get the opportunity to take the pack–go for it!!