by jkayati
First, when you call banzai to face a new guard NEVER put them on the board. They don't go there ever. Flip them on top of the appropiate discard piles. If you defeat an Elite guard, then you can take them to score at the end of the game. If you defeat a normal guard, they simply stay in the discard pile.A sentry stays as the sentry until you steal all treasures and dishonor the house. The sentry then goes to the discard pile.
You never lose a card when you cannot defeat a guard. You discard all but one treasure, then add one new treasure to the house.
Rumors can be, but aren't always, the key to winning the game. I've won more than one game by scoring huge points in rumors.