16 Playbook 11: General AI Plays

Tom S
Updated

Universal prompting techniques power users rely on, and they work with any model. This is one of the 11 Playbook categories. Each play below is a single move you can run right now, tagged by effort. Filter to the quick ones if you are just getting started.

PLAYBOOK 11
General AI Plays

Universal prompting techniques that work with any model

 

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What is a play?

A play is a single move you can run in Smith right now: one prompt, one result. Each is tagged by effort so you can pick the quick wins first. Plays are grouped into 11 categories; this article is one of them. For multi-step workflows that combine several moves, see the Recipes.

The Plays

Each card is one technique. The badge shows the effort: Quick is a single prompt, Few steps adds a little setup.

Filter by effort: Showing all items
Role + Task + FormatQuick

Do: Structure the prompt: "Act as [role]. Do [task]. Return as [format]."

Get: Dramatically better output from one structured line

1
Ask-me-first promptingQuick

Do: "Before answering, ask me 3 questions to get this right."

Get: A targeted result instead of a generic one

1
Few-shot by exampleQuick

Do: "Here are 2 examples of what good looks like, now do mine."

Get: Output matched to your standard, not the default

1
Self-critique loopQuick

Do: "Rate your answer 1-10, then improve the weakest part."

Get: A noticeably better second draft, easy

1
Think step by stepQuick

Do: Add "reason through this step by step" to hard problems.

Get: Fewer logic errors on complex questions

1
Argue both sidesFew steps

Do: "Answer, then argue the opposite, then reconcile."

Get: A balanced answer instead of a one-sided one

2
Constrain the outputQuick

Do: "In exactly 50 words" / "as a 5-row table" / "no jargon."

Get: Output shaped to fit where it's going

1
Chain promptsFew steps

Do: Work in stages, outline → draft → polish, not one mega-prompt.

Get: Higher quality than asking for everything at once (see Recipes)

2
Set the audienceQuick

Do: "Explain this to a 10-year-old / a new hire / an expert."

Get: The right altitude every time

1
"What am I not asking?"Quick

Do: End with "what should I have asked but didn't?"

Get: The blind spot you didn't know you had

1
Reverse the promptQuick

Do: "Generate the perfect prompt for what I'm trying to do."

Get: A better question, which is half the battle

1
Constraints firstQuick

Do: State limits up front (budget, time, tone) before the ask.

Get: Realistic answers, not theoretical ones

1

See It in Action

Here is one of these plays running, so you know what to expect before you try it yourself.

💡General AI plays

Role + Task + Format

The most reliable prompt shape: tell Smith who to be, what to do, and how to hand it back. See the glossary for the technique names.

Next Steps: Pick one technique and use it on your next prompt. When single moves feel natural, the Recipes show how to chain them into repeatable workflows. Working through your first month? The First 30 Days plan tells you which plays to use each week.

Playbook 10: Role-Based Plays

The previous category of plays.

Playbook 1: Set Smith Up

Start at the beginning of the Playbook.

Smith Recipes

Ready to combine plays into multi-step workflows?

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