yes i agree about the 1st few rds. BUT if you can steal an early bonus with a 50 bid in rd 1 you will be up an almost insurmountable lead. Ive noticed in may ponds no one will bet over 100 in rd1 BUT in rd 2 at least 4 poeple will try a 400 bid to steal a bonus, this is where research comes in handy. now your set up for rd2 and know not to bet high in that rd. keep it low. The starting bids are always lower the more players in the pond. If the Pond has 60 people in it the opening bids will be in the low 20s or even in the high teens. whereas in a pond of 16 the opening bid will be in the 40s or 50s perhaps in the 30s. but ive been seen ejections in the high 20s in those ponds. So early rd research is vital if you plan on sticking around to rd 2. There is the unpredictability factor that can come into play, which is why you have to not always go by what "BOOK" tells you.