SIRKNIGHT: alright lets do this, pretty neat that u can invite and the game notifies u that u have a mag in a game

SIRKNIGHT: ready to learn

MATT: jousting ground. it's hard to say what the best opening is here. In a way it's a rock-paper-scissors decision.

SIRKNIGHT: Thats usually a good one

MATT: It's aggressive, and one where there isn't really an "oh crap" moment on round two. Your IC and INF*5 for example is slightly "oh crap" against a LRNUKE, but really it's only a $5 difference since the LRNUKE costs $25 and you get one round of $10 on the IC.

MATT: Still, $5 is $5 so if you consistently did that you'd have to start expecting some nukes. That's why you'll see people buying IC+INF*1 (or *2 or *3) so they can still afford a patriot. That may be old news to you, of course, and you were simply predicting that I wouldn't buy a LRNUKE, but I'll just throw it out there anyway for anyone reviewing the game.

MATT: This now is a game of expansion versus economy, of space versus fuel. The two strategies hinge on the element of time: the longer you can hold that IC, the better for you, while I need to act quickly while our tanks are roughly even.

MATT: (I should add, MRNUTE is an interesting play against quick expansion, since it disuades me from Rozz and instead have to move to R2 or R6, but from there I can only reach B1 ... so establishing a doorstep can take more time.)

MATT: (I mean that as a first move, e.g., IC+MRNUTE. I really haven't seen that much if at all, but that is an interesting opening. One downside is that you lose another $6 against LRNUKE because you can't even move the nuke.)

MATT: (cannot move the nute, I mean.)

SIRKNIGHT: now well this isnt good for me, even if l wasnt gonna move, but needed to some how defend my base

MATT: It's unlikely that you will be able to hold the IC indefinitely, but you'll almost certainly hold it until round 5 (where it will have essentially paid itself off), but I'll have some initiative.

SIRKNIGHT: I didnt have a good start lol but what do l need to work on

SIRKNIGHT: when l first played l was a bit better, now seems a bit rusty or could be the fact my work schedule affecting my full attention to think this fully through. Working on it though

MATT: In Jousting Ground the first couple of moves make a big difference and I'm playing a very aggressive game. Ultimately my gut feeling with this scenario is that best play leads to a contest over Rozz.

MATT: In general, look to create situations where I have to guess right. The more options I have to consider, the bigger chance I will guess wrong.

SIRKNIGHT: know l should of went with my 1st guess

SIRKNIGHT: well...l was partly right lol

SIRKNIGHT: wait, l thought l left one at Brax, well this might be even more trouble for me

MATT: I could use more money ...

SIRKNIGHT: lol it's gonna take a while to get up to ur level

SIRKNIGHT: Havent played in a while so, lm not as good as l was, doing alright, though. Duh and l are playing a practice game, but l've lost. I am holding my ground pretty well as u can see in the game (round 32, now) Had a chance of redeeming myself again by shooting a srnuke at him at r6, but decided against it, which l see now was a mistake and cost me my chance of surviving lol

MATT: You had the right idea: with your bank advantage, the main thing I have to fear is a transport.

MATT: (had)

MATT: One thing you have to weigh is the level of desparation in your opponent: on round 6, although I was at your doorstep, you had $55 to my $10 so you still had good fighting chances with a transport, and as a result you were less likely to leave your HQ unguarded. Even so, of the options I thought you might choose, P: TRANS -> R4 and M: all INF from B1 to R4 seemed too dangerous. I had to play against that even though I didn't really expect you to leave your HQ undefended.

MATT: (desperation even)

MATT: Nice move. My main alternative there was moving in on your hq with armor and an INF, which you could only stop trading the Armor, but it wasn't a clear win.

SIRKNIGHT: lol that was a good game, how'd u lose an inf at my hq

SIRKNIGHT: never mind u sent one not two

MATT: Good game! I thought maybe with the previous rounds you might be overlooking the ARMOR+INF move so I figured what the heck.

MATT: Really quite ironic you moved all the INF out of there. A rather picturesque board, with the single man sitting there.