What would you do?

[Bruceswar]

So I was just in this game. (Still am) Anyhow I was faced with a situation and thought long and hard about. Here is a screenshot.



I had 6 cards and 2 sets I cashed one set because I had to. It was worth 20. Now we were at the other set. Cash or hold? Kill Orange or Go for Gray? Why not Kill Teal? Cash both and kill gray? What would you do and why?

Gray had 18 armies
Teal had 27 armies
Orange had 28 armies

[Timminz]

I would have not cashed the second set, and gone for grey. Keep in mind, I don't play freestyle, so my advice might not be applicable, but since no one has 5 cards, there's not much sense in using all your cards unless you think you can go for a double kill. If you keep the 3, kill grey, take his 4, you'll have 7, and most-likely be able to double cash then while still holding a card, and then take orange and clean the board.

[geigerm]

I think I'd probably target teal first--you had more armies in a position to help you with that kill (9 on Venezuela, 8 on Eastern U.S.) and once you're done with that one, whatever you have left is in a good position to help you finish off orange once you cash again. Gray might have fewer armies, but most of them are concentrated in Australia, and you've only got 1 army on Siam--most of the armies you place therefore have to go there.

I wouldn't cash both, because then eliminating one player doesn't give you the chance to play again, whereas cashing one and eliminating that first guy lets you play another set and re-evaluate where you need those armies. If that works out, you win the game. Of course, with my typical luck, I'd end up leaving one teal army for an easy kill for my opponents and screw myself out of the win.

[detlef]

I can only find 15 of gray's armies. That one in iceland looks neutral. If I'm right an he's only in Oceania and South Africa, I may lay off the second set, take him out, then cash twice, take out orange and finish the game.

You'd have about a 70% chance of taking out gray.

No, screw that. I cash twice, and take out gray. The sets aren't worth so much that you'd need to worry about orange cashing in and messing you up too badly even if he had a set and you're going to to have 5 cards for your next move.

Cyan (not teal) is not worth looking at because he's only holding 2 cards and is at least a turn a way from messing with anyone.

Edit to add: now I see that last gray in North America. Well, in that case, I certainly cash twice and take the bird in hand. Odds are off the chart good that you'll get him and, while you wont be able to run the table, you'll be virtually assured of winning. One turn later and you'll have 5 and cyan will have 3. Orange will either also have 5 or sets will be up to 35 armies so you'll likely win on that turn.

[Bruceswar]

I would have not cashed the second set, and gone for grey. Keep in mind, I don't play freestyle, so my advice might not be applicable, but since no one has 5 cards, there's not much sense in using all your cards unless you think you can go for a double kill. If you keep the 3, kill grey, take his 4, you'll have 7, and most-likely be able to double cash then while still holding a card, and then take orange and clean the board.

I thought about doing just what you explained, but what if I come up short on grey. I only had 20 to drop. So I would need 5 at least on Ont and 4 at least on East Africa leaving me 11 for Aussie.. I did not like those odds.

[poo-maker]

Cash your second set, take out grey. Start your turn first the next round and sweep the board.

[Timminz]

I would have not cashed the second set, and gone for grey. Keep in mind, I don't play freestyle, so my advice might not be applicable, but since no one has 5 cards, there's not much sense in using all your cards unless you think you can go for a double kill. If you keep the 3, kill grey, take his 4, you'll have 7, and most-likely be able to double cash then while still holding a card, and then take orange and clean the board.

I thought about doing just what you explained, but what if I come up short on grey. I only had 20 to drop. So I would need 5 at least on Ont and 4 at least on East Africa leaving me 11 for Aussie.. I did not like those odds.

Very good point.

So, what did you do? Did it work?

[Bruceswar]

I can only find 15 of gray's armies. That one in iceland looks neutral. If I'm right an he's only in Oceania and South Africa, I may lay off the second set, take him out, then cash twice, take out orange and finish the game.

You'd have about a 70% chance of taking out gray.

No, screw that. I cash twice, and take out gray. The sets aren't worth so much that you'd need to worry about orange cashing in and messing you up too badly even if he had a set and you're going to to have 5 cards for your next move.

Cyan (not teal) is not worth looking at because he's only holding 2 cards and is at least a turn a way from messing with anyone.

You missed Greenland. which has 3 armies. and 12 in Aussie. 3 in Africa. 18 armies. Had Greenland not been there this was an easy choice...

[Bruceswar]

I would have not cashed the second set, and gone for grey. Keep in mind, I don't play freestyle, so my advice might not be applicable, but since no one has 5 cards, there's not much sense in using all your cards unless you think you can go for a double kill. If you keep the 3, kill grey, take his 4, you'll have 7, and most-likely be able to double cash then while still holding a card, and then take orange and clean the board.

I thought about doing just what you explained, but what if I come up short on grey. I only had 20 to drop. So I would need 5 at least on Ont and 4 at least on East Africa leaving me 11 for Aussie.. I did not like those odds.

Very good point.

So, what did you do? Did it work?

I double cashed and killed gray. I forted up after that. This is a freestyle and now really does not matter if orange cashes before me or not. I have 80 armies total left and he could not kill me, and if he kills teal that will leave him hung with 4 cards and no cash. I made sure I won the game.

[poo-maker]

Cash your second set, take out grey. Start your turn first the next round and sweep the board.

I checked the game and thats what you did...

You could've forted better though.

[Bruceswar]

Cash your second set, take out grey. Start your turn first the next round and sweep the board.

This is what I did. I am not worried about starting first but it would be nice.

[MOBAJOBG]

Cash your second set, take out grey. Start your turn first the next round and sweep the board.

PM is right and that's the best move.

[detlef]

I can only find 15 of gray's armies. That one in iceland looks neutral. If I'm right an he's only in Oceania and South Africa, I may lay off the second set, take him out, then cash twice, take out orange and finish the game.

You'd have about a 70% chance of taking out gray.

No, screw that. I cash twice, and take out gray. The sets aren't worth so much that you'd need to worry about orange cashing in and messing you up too badly even if he had a set and you're going to to have 5 cards for your next move.

Cyan (not teal) is not worth looking at because he's only holding 2 cards and is at least a turn a way from messing with anyone.

You missed Greenland. which has 3 armies. and 12 in Aussie. 3 in Africa. 18 armies. Had Greenland not been there this was an easy choice...

I edited my post above when I realized it was there. That said, I still don't think it's an easy choice. Taking the bird in hand only slows down your inevitable victory by maybe a turn. Even without greenland, your total odds are only about 70% of pulling off the elimination. Which are great odds if you're not in the stellar position that you're in right now. However, I'd take the basic sure thing.

[poo-maker]

Cash your second set, take out grey. Start your turn first the next round and sweep the board.

This is what I did. I am not worried about starting first but it would be nice.

That shows how much i depend on BOB... I had no idea how many men you had on the board so i just assumed that there was a possibility of orange being able to take you out with a set.

[detlef]

Cash your second set, take out grey. Start your turn first the next round and sweep the board.

PM is right and that's the best move.

Too bad he was the second guy to say so.

[Bruceswar]

Cash your second set, take out grey. Start your turn first the next round and sweep the board.

This is what I did. I am not worried about starting first but it would be nice.

That shows how much i depend on BOB... I had no idea how many men you had on the board so i just assumed that there was a possibility of orange being able to take you out with a set.

I played at work one day without BOB, and damn I was soooo lost. Never again. Bob is a must. Btw the game just ended and I won it. That was a tougher choice than I thought when it got to that point.