In Ticket to Ride, how do you overcome bad initial tickets?
I have won games with a bad initial draw by simply forgoing tickets. This really works best when you have two tickets that are only worth 4 - 5 points.


Keep the lowest value tickets, return the highest.
Ignore the tickets completely
Immediately aim for as many five and six train routes as possible.
If you can hit the stretch of three six train routes across the top of the US or a the bottom, that might lead to the longest route bonus.
Be willing to 'waste' a turn, perhaps two, per player breaking/blocking them using one,  two if you must, train routes. Watch the San Francisco, Portland and Seattle section for easy opportunities to block; Houston works well as well here.