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[WanderingWinder]

DStu just knocked me out 4-3.
Game 1: http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/16/game-20111116-101951-406ab56c.html
I was unlucky enough to draw all of my non-drawers together in one hand the first time it was possible on turn 12. After that, I could have tied it, but would have lost on tiebreaker, and in such a mirror, that was pretty much game over.
Game 2: http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/16/game-20111116-102835-3bbf7ccc.html
Turn 5 I hit Shanty Town-copper-Potion-estate-estate, and the shanty town draws me the last estate and my university. Literally the only 6 card combination in my deck that stops me from getting a second university that shuffle, and man that kills me. DStu had gone YW first, which wasn't a big problem for me as I loaded up on the Shanty Town banes, but it was a huge problem that he was able to catch up in the University->actions race AND have a lead in money.
Game 3: http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/16/game-20111116-103338-4c1a74ba.html
Not a ton on the board. I really loaded up on the militias. He gets a saboteur instead of a third militia. And then I get a little bit lucky on getting my money faster, and I'm pretty much in control if he doesn't get a bit lucky in return with his Sabo, which he doesn't.
Game 4: http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/16/game-20111116-104121-d575ae73.html
Again, my dominance with workshop on board continues to astound me. we have, I think, similar strategies - Workshop to gain some tournaments, LOTS of conspirators and hunting parties. I open with tournament/Workshop, whereas he goes conspirator/workshop. This instantly backfires with terminal collision on turn 3. Well, I tactically go for provinces over colonies at a few points, just not giving him any room. This was definitely a lot closer than the score would indicate.
Game 5: http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/16/game-20111116-104537-b6f3829f.html
He goes for a chapel/remodel strategy with a little walled village support. I plan on going more chapel/money with eventually apprentice or remodel and nobles support. Well, I get a little bad luck with my chapel draws, and I'm not sure if it was all that or if his strategy was a little better too (I'm guessing it probably was), but it didn't feel so close as the 8 point margin would indicate.
Games 6 and 7 I neglected to pull the logs of. I'm probably going to replace all the logs with the CouncilRoom ones tomorrow, and I'll put these in then.
Game 6: This is probably the one I'm most proud of. We both open scheme/sea hag. By getting a second hag a little sooner, I win the curse war 6-4 (actually I don't know that he should have gotten the second hag at all). But with only one more pile seeming likely to run out soon, we both had to ramp back up. The key cards were Native Village (which I got pretty lucky with, though some of that is the nature of sea hags), scheme, Vault, and Grand Market. I actually am pretty slow to get to vault, but I eventually pick up more schemes than he does, and a huge ball of scheme/vault/native village/grand market snowballs to grab a lot of points pretty quickly. I actually end the game (I think with 5 provinces?) on turn 23 or something, which is not bad at all considering the huge tempo loss of the hags.
Game 7: Really complicated interesting board. I've always wondered whether remake was a really effective counter to ambassador. Well, I should have figured out before this. It isn't. Young Witch, Lab, and Hunting Party all made it more interesting too. It's not so much that I get balled under (the remakes do a decent job of dealing with things) as it is that he's just really fast with his thin deck. I was definitely outplayed here, and deservedly lost.

Thanks for the games, and congratulations DStu

[DStu]

So I beat WanderingWinder 4:3.

logs of 6&7:
http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/16/game-20111116-105619-e2766af1.html
http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/16/game-20111116-110401-188c75fd.html

First one was Chapel/Woodcutter->Highways/Peddler without other buys or actions or trash-for-benefit. I took an Outpost, I think one or two turns too early because I didn't want to play it the first turns I had it in hand and needed more highways, but I felt that it was a good buy. At least for this tactics, perhaps one should have ignored all these Highways and Peddlers. Second player advantage ( ) really helped as it was enough for me to tie, which really helped in many decisions...
Second one... Cities, Highways with Universities, Young Witch with Shanty Town as Bane. WW went for Cities and defended against the Witch with the ST. I decided to not go for the Shanty Town and let the Witch be a Witch. Was not sure if I should risk to let him go for the Cities, as Curses are unlikely to run out fastly when he defends, but I didn't dare because a complete Level2 City stack is of course very dangerous with the Highways, so I just followed the Cities and we splitted them 5/5. Which of course helps to run them out, I don't know what would have happend. WW went definitely more for a megaturn, I took the points when I could get them and could finish by buying 3 Curses before something bad happened. Don't know how close it was, was afraid the next-to-last turn when I could only have bought 2 Curses that this would have been my last turn.
Third one: BM-Militia as second player, I really felt behind after getting my Gold "stolen" on turn 3, so I thought just sabotage a little bit and hope that this will help. Hit the mean Militias a few times, but it wasn't enough. But at least felt good.
Fourth: Hunting Parties, Tournament, Conspirator. We both Workshopped into the game, but no chance for me. WS/Tournament is definitely the better opening than WS/Consp here, and I didn't really know how to optimally build it up here (except getting as many HP/Consp/Tournament asap), so deserved loss.
Five: Another Chapelgame. I remodelled myself out, was a bit lucky that it doesn't collide with the Chapel and hit estates, but was a good way to get Gold fastly despite the chapelled deck. Support by Margrave in the midgame, and of course Remodel is helpfull in the end as well. WW went for Apprentice, which I also considered instead of the Margrave.
Six: Scheme/Sea Hag->Vault/GM for both of us, WW took two Hags, I bought a second one defitely to late. First Gold should also have a Vault, deserved loss again.
Seven: Ambassador/Hunting party for me, WW plays Remake.

Thanks for the games again.

Edit: Ok, I was not fast enough, so I delete the logs

Edit2:

This was definitely a lot closer than the score would indicate.

Didn't felt like

[DG]

My match with Shark_Bait is adjourned at 2-2 and we don't have a natural time to complete it. We'll have to see how it goes over the weekend.

DG 39 : 45 Shark_Bait http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-105320-9830070b.html
DG 36 : 50 Shark_Bait http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-110401-0e46bc95.html
DG 30 : 17 Shark_Bait http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-112945-5d302186.html
DG 41 : 27 Shark_Bait http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-114644-eecbd4de.html

In the first game I suspect we both planned something different to how it panned out, based on the remodel opportunities we had. We actually had to ask each other what we had planned since it just didn't happen. I certainly replanned what I was doing a few times and plan B and plan C weren't good enough to win anything.
The second game I had a 5/2 start with the only option being torturer against tunnel, that I declined. We both went for baron/loan, I pushed for a loan/tunnel/adventurer continuation while shark_bait went more for tournaments, they both seem reasonable, and it would be nice to know which might have had an edge. (I used my noble steed at the end to get my adventurers back into the draw deck, in case anyone was wondering, I didn't want the silver)
In the third game I went for a more expansive opening and it set me up well enough so that some muddled play in the mid game didn't matter.
In the fourth game my play was again quite muddled but I had one thing in my sights, possession from the black market, and that let me loot Shark_Bait's excellent deck for a win. I probably didn't deserve it though.

[Reyk]

It might be not that important (especially since sharkbait randomly was seated first player in the first game), but 'normally' shark bait would be starting player in game 5. Is there a way to assure this via iso?

Related question: How does iso put the order of players after a tie?

I have the impression that it's hard to overcome an early lead in a match because you will be second seat in the decisive games. (Kudos to DG for reaching this against Mean Mr. Mustard). Therefore I even had the idea to give first player advantage in game 1 to the lower seeded player.

Don't missunderstand me - it's a minor issue. The most important part are the fun games and the interesting comments afterwards.

[Geronimoo]

Rabid 4 - Geronimoo 2

Very fun games where I got a little unlucky with the shuffler, but Rabid definitely outplayed me on the Scrying Pool board.

Geronimoo http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-120231-a3d7ce18.html
I go for a Hunting Party strategy into Peddlers and eventually Possession while Rabid goes for Village Vault. I think my plan is a little better and I posses him relentlessly thanks to the Hunting Parties.

Rabid http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-121045-df71e95f.html
I decide I don't want to go for Ambassador (it's an overrated card) and buy a Salvager which I expect to use frequently trashing Ambassadored Estates. Unfortunately the shuffler is not very kind as I get a 4  Copper Salvager hand and then 2 Copper+3 Estates. Eventually I go for Torturers and money which is actually not a very good idea (should have been Merchant Ships), but it should still beat the Ambassador. Final turns I play Torturer and my opponent discards to 3 so I decide it's quite safe to break the PPR, but he plays GoldGoldSilver for the win.

Rabid http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-121919-c2a6eb69.html
I open $5/$2 which is unfortunate on this Jack board (Sea Hag is worse). I think I play it a little better knowing from simulations that I can start Duchying very early while Rabid is still buying Golds, but the $5/$2 opening still kills me.

Geronimoo http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-123228-551bafe7.html
There might be a Bridge engine present on this board, but I'm afraid to try it so I just go Smithy BM and my opponent goes for something in between (he ended with 2 Villages but mostly money for the rest). There's a real PPR situation which Rabid smartly decides not to break (he would have been dead) and so we Duchie-dance for a while, but in the end I win comfortably.

Rabid http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-125703-a357f280.html
This board scares me: I know I should do something with Remake and Scrying Pool, but I'm a bit lost and just go for Hunting Parties + Black Market. I pull a Sea Hag and Goons out of the BM, but I realize pretty soon I'm very very dead. I resign to spare Rabid and myself from going through the motions of his Remaking Curses into Markets and other insanity.

Rabid http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-132927-c8173bf0.html
This was a pretty hilarious game. We both go for Shanty Town-Council Room-Quarrie. I add a Ghost Ship which seems a little better, but might not be because Shanty Towns can be put back on the deck strategically. I make an idiot move of buying Outpost (what are the odds of getting Shanty Town in a 3-card hand? Not very good!!). Rabid decides that 2 idiots is better than 1, so he also buys an Outpost. We both lol a few turns later at our dead Outpost turns. I almost make a come-back thanks to a lot of Spying, but Rabid wins it in a lucky Outpost turn (well he just needed to hit $4 so not very lucky).

I think I outplayed him a little in the first, but he definitely proved his worth on the engine board and isn't that what this game is all about? NO DAMMIT, IT'S ABOUT SILVER AND GOLD!!! Oh well... a deserved winner moves on and I wish him good luck in the next rounds!

[biopower]

but 'normally' shark bait would be starting player in game 5. Is there a way to assure this via iso?

Start a dummy game and have Shark Bait forfeit on turn 1. Then play the actual tournament game. (You can even require the same cards as were used in the dummy game so that inserting the dummy game doesn't have any overall effect).

edit: I accidentally a verb

[Rabid]

Was a fun match thanks for the games:

Geronimoo http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-120231-a3d7ce18.htm

You definatly out played me in this one, you going first + you getting $5, $5 on T 3 & 4 made this really hard to win. My villages were partly to help with peddlers but my deck never really worked, I also never know when to buy the potion in possession games.

Rabid http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-121045-df71e95f.html

I agree we both made mistakes in this one, I would like to try just the one Amb, but salveger is really strong unless you get the dreaded SalvCCCC hand .

Rabid http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-121919-c2a6eb69.html

Going first seems to be huge in Jack mirrors. your estates not lining up with the jacks certainly didn't help. I'll have to look at the sims more for this. I think my T8 gold was OK, in that at that point I'm probably going to have to get a little lucky and win the prov's 5-3. I got to use it on T11 & 15 to buy provs.

Geronimoo http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-123228-551bafe7.html

Got outplayed in this one as well, I think somehow at the same time I had too many villages and too many terminals. Got a late trade routes to try for a late game +buy to steal a win, but drew it dead off a smithy .

Rabid http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-125703-a357f280.html

Very crazy board, Apologies for taking so long on this game was thinking loads and still making several mistakes per turn. Whats the correct opening here? I went for potion / loan  into scrying pool, then got to do sick plays like: develop silver into quarry hamlet, draw them, black market the quarry, remake curse's into black market. Thanks Geronimoo for conceding to save time, was going to be able to easily 3 pile for the win, or set up a HoP ending, or use the valt I got from the BM for loads of $.

Rabid http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/17/game-20111117-132927-c8173bf0.html

Quarry with lots of + buys always makes for a strange game, as you both have to be so careful of the 3 pile ending. I took some early points to defend against this which then obviously started getting in the way. Again not sure on the openings here, Silver Quarry vs Shanty Town Quarry?

Thanks again to Geronimoo for such an enjoyable match.

Rabid

[shark_bait]

I definitely enjoyed my games with DG thus far.  In regard to the fourth game, I certainly was poised to win with a 7 - 3 GM split.  However, DG gave himself the opportunity to get possession and it payed off.  He got it in the nick of time too.  If he had missed getting it one more time I think I would gotten enough of a lead that it wouldn't have mattered.  DG got to use my deck right when I was ready to transition into green mode.

I really don't mind what happens in regard to the starting seat of game 5.  I'm having fun just playing the games.  However, if I follow my usual trend I'll lose game 5 regardless of seat and be down 3-2 just like the first 2 series.  And then it's time to continue some clutch dominion playing while facing elimination :-)

[Mean Mr Mustard]

Very nice job, Dstu.   At the time of seeding Winder was ranked first on the leaderboard and would have been ranked number one overall but for my arbitrary decision to give the seat to shark_bait following his victory in the first tournament.  I know first-hand that Winder is a superb player, so it is a great accomplishment.

Kudos to Rabid for knocking out the guy <s>that felled me in round two and</s> who has studied the game probably more than anyone.  And califax, we all know you are the real deal and a monster in your own right.  Ehunt is no slouch, one of the best around.  Gratz fellas.
 

[Geronimoo]

MMM, you're confusing me with DG. I never played against you in this series.

[Mean Mr Mustard]

Yeah, that's what I get for posting after my bedtime.

[philosophyguy]

As we're getting closer to the finals, I'm wondering if the players in the finals might be willing to do a write-up of their matches (or maybe the most interesting 2 matches) at the level of depth that the blog had with the annotated games feature. I, for one, would love to hear how the players thought about some of the key turn-by-turn decisions, and this seems an easy way to generate some more front-page content for the blog. Would the players left in the tournament be interested in doing that?

[DG]

I've finished my series with Shark_Bait and it went his way 4:3. All close games here.

DG 65 : 59 Shark Bait :http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/22/game-20111122-081549-b57ef658.html
DG 31 : 42 Shark Bait :http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/22/game-20111122-083158-e7291d49.html
DG 38 : 39 Shark Bait :http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201111/22/game-20111122-084103-f36a69ef.html

First (fifth) game had a hoard-venture-masquerade combo but I carried it further with masquerade and goons. Shark Bait took  philosopher's stones from the start and that looked good too. Always looked like it might turn on a 7 hand or first turn advantage and it did.

Second game was tactician-coppersmith-bank. I seemed to get a good start but Shark_Bait did too and I found myself struggling to even tie. On the penultimate turn I gambled by throwing away a province buying hand with the tactician and bought two coppers, looking for the unlikely perfect draw next turn to tie. I then actually got that draw and lost it by misclicking to play all the money. Keeping the gold back would have left duchy, farmland, gold->province for the tie.

Third game was trader+wharf. I added a second wharf. Shark_Bait added a watchtower that put silver onto his deck early. Very close in the end. Not much more to say.

So thanks and well played Shark_Bait. Too good an opponent to let a game slip away on a misclick, that's for sure!

[shark_bait]

I don't have much to add to what DG already said.  In my opinion game 5 was the most interesting due to our divergent strategies.  I thought that this was a perfect board for philosophers stone due to hoard and duchesses.  DG took that victory as both of us had multiple turns with the last province available.  Both of us were curious how this game would have turned out if we had played it again and both played the same strategies. 

In game 6, as DG said it was a tactician/coppersmith/bank type of a game.  Ironically, the first victory card I purchased was an estate.  On turn 8, I had played 2 oasis's as well as a tactician.  I figured that the game would be ending rapidly and with tactician as the only plus buy source, I decided to start early with lower VP green cards.

The last game was a BM-wharf game with traders.  DG picked up a second wharf, and I used watchtower to top deck silver gained from trader and other bought cards.

All in all, it was a fun and very close series.  Thanks to DG for playing and for being a good sport about the misclick in game 6. 

[DG]

As we're getting closer to the finals, I'm wondering if the players in the finals might be willing to do a write-up of their matches (or maybe the most interesting 2 matches) at the level of depth that the blog had with the annotated games feature.

Perhaps if you find one or two interesting games you can ask people to comment. Different people find different things interesting or enlightening. Some games the players just want to forget.

[Mean Mr Mustard]

<b>Round Three Results</b>

<b>North Conference</b>
<b>1. shark_bait (1)</b>
vs
<s>2. DG ( 8 )</s>

<b>South Conference</b>

<b>1. califax (4)</b>
vs.
<s>2. ehunt (5)</s>

<b>East Conference</b>

<s>1. Wandering Winder (2)</s>
vs
<b>5. Dstu (19)</b>

<b>West Conference</b>

<s>4. geronimoo (13)</s>
vs
<b>3. Rabid (10)</b>

[painted_cow]

Good luck to the remaining German players! Win this tournament 

[shark_bait]

Good luck to the remaining German players! Win this tournament 

Perhaps for a future tourney we could split up the participants between Europe and America and have a clash of hemispheres for the finale.

[Jimmmmm]

Perhaps for a future tourney we could split up the participants between Europe and America and have a clash of hemispheres for the finale.

But you're all in the Northern Hemisphere... where does Australia fit in...?

[DStu]

I thought Hemisphere is just the half of a sphere? You are not forced to split it at the equator.

[shark_bait]

I thought Hemisphere is just the half of a sphere? You are not forced to split it at the equator.

Yeah, my original thought was along the lines of eastern/western, but splitting the globe in 4 and making each section a different part of the bracket could work if enough people from the various regions played.

[Jimmmmm]

I thought Hemisphere is just the half of a sphere? You are not forced to split it at the equator.

Well technically yes, but I'm still nowhere near either Europe or America.

[Mean Mr Mustard]

Maybe the English-speaking countries on one side and everyone else on the other?

[Buggz]

Maybe the English-speaking countries on one side and everyone else on the other?

All 59 of them?

[Mean Mr Mustard]

Ooooh, we get India!