Young Nick defeats Boron 4-2!An interesting match with lots of good games and plenty of sub-optimal play.
Game 1:
YN 57 - 29 B. Key cards: Haggler, Mandarin. We both open Haggler/-. I then proceed to play a relatively BM + Haggler. Boron messes around with Possession and Outpost, both of which I think are unnecessary diversions. Mandarin helps us line up Province buys late in the game when our economies are less consistent.
Game 2:
B 37 - 32 YN. Key cards:
Duke,
Ambassador, Sea Hag. I was so sure this game was going to be an enormous slog fest, but it
only lasted 30 turns. I made a common mistake of opening Ambassador/Ambassador despite there not being much of an engine available. He opened Silver/Sea Hag, opting to pick up the Ambassadors soon after. He somehow hit $5 several times in a row and took the Duchy split 5/3. After that, I knew there was little hope of me winning. We both hammered Estates at the end, but I don't think either of us remembered we had the official Iso Point Counter on. I was down 5, yet inexplicably thought I was winning. Poor play on my part, for sure.
Game 3:
YN 43 - 31 B. Key cards:
Jack of All Trades, Tactician. I go for a relatively simple JoaT/Oasis game. Boron opens Sea Hag/Silver (again!), which I think to be a poor decision against the JoaT. I play a simple game, buying some IGG, as well, and cruise to a comfortable victory. His Sea Hag and Cutpurse can't slow me down and his Tacticians aren't enough to overcome Jack's speed.
Game 4: B 27 -
33 YN. Key cards:
Embassy, Court Yard, Bishop. I open Courtyard/Silver to his Bishop/Silver and we both pick up an Embassy. His two Inn purchases are definitely a mistake in my book and I buy money the rest of the way and let my two actions do all the work for me.
Game 5:
B 50 - 36 YN. Key cards:
Conspirator, Oracle, Treasury. I figured I would go for an Oracle + Tunnel approach to this game. I chickened out and shifted to BM + Oracle because I thought my original strategy would be too slow. Meanwhile Boron goes for what is, in retrospect, a winning strategy in Conspirator + Treasury. Better strategies are more likely to win than adequate ones, which explains this game.
Game 6:
YN 24 - 23 B. Key cards:
Grand Market, Jester, Laboratory,
Platinum & Colony. This was easily the most heated game of the set. Having said that, it played out most peculiarly. I opened Quarry/Silver in hopes of rushing Grand Market. I never was able to buy said GM's, though, so I picked up Laboratory after Laboratory. Boron bought more money and some Jesters. After realizing Jester's value, especially with Platinum and Grand Market on the board, I picked up some of those. With a noticable lead, Boron looks for the 3-pile ending by hammering Jesters after GM's and Laboratories are gone. Yet I wait for his deck to stall and then sneak out a win by buying the last two Jesters while up one point.
Thanks for the games, Boron. You're a pleasure to play against and I look forward to seeing you around.
