Absolutely Aces (12)

Previous:
Next:
Tags

Schlock and Tagon are at it again.

I'm just getting this game set up at lunch as I'm going to start using it as my "end of day" ritual while working from home (under house arrest).

Actually I have already been using it as a de facto end of day ritual over this past week.

Let's get going!

Round 1

Schlock bids with Break 5, Kaff with Joker.

  1. Kaff opens with Scissors 2.

  2. Schlock blocks with Climb 6.

  3. Kaff blocks with Ace.

  4. Schlock blocks with Roll 8.

  5. Kaff blocks with a pair of Scissors for +2.

  6. Schlock plays Roll 10, which Kaff cannot block. Schlock +11.

Score: Schlock 11, Kaff 2.

Round 2

Schlock bids Ace, Kaff Joker. Ace to Kaff's Reserve.

  1. Kaff opens with Roll 10.

  2. Schlock blocks with a pair of Breaks for +2.

  3. Kaff plays Swoop 9, which Schlock cannot block, Kaff +9.

Score: Schlock 13, Kaff 11.

Round 3

Schlock bids Break 5, Kaff Joker, Break 5 to Kaff's Reserve.

  1. Kaff opens with Scissors 2.

  2. Schlock blocks with Climb 6.

  3. Kaff blocks with Ace.

  4. Schlock blocks with Roll 8.

  5. Kaff blocks with Scissors 3, which takes the round.

Score: Schlock 13, Kaff 14.

Round 4

Schlock bids Break 5, Kaff Joker, Break 5 to Kaff's Reserve.

  1. Kaff opens with Scissors 2.

  2. Schlock blocks with Ace.

  3. Kaff blocks with Scissors 3, and that's the win.

Score: Schlock 13, Kaff 17.

I think I'm getting the hang of this. It's about forcing the opponent to do what's in your interest, and requires being able to look ahead more than one move to play well.

The double card combo is especially interesting. With two a card which an opponent can only block one of, you can force the round provided he plays something which can be blocked, like an Ace. Thus an Ace can be a liability as well as an asset.

Previous:
Next:
Tags

What to play next?

Deciding what to play next is always a tough call when faced with a closet full of games, all of which were purchased with intent to play. Here's one I'm dealing with the decision.

  • Something New: this means both something new to me and a game which has been published recently, within the last two or three years.
  • Something Classic: I've acquired a number of games properly considered "classic" which haven't yet been played. The current example would be PanzerGruppe Guderian.
  • Something Again: mastery requires constant practice, which means playing games many, many times to allow nuance to appear.
  • Something Vietnam: as I'm on a Vietnam binge. I don't have all the Vietnam games ever published, but I can say that I have a lot of them, and probably more than most people.
  • Something Obscure: as it's fun to poke around in the dustier corners of game design.
  • Something Different: break away from the same old publishers and try a game from one of the new kids on the block. Or, conversely, dip into legacy with a classic tried and true.
  • Something Light: once in a while it's nice to actually finish a game all the way through in one sitting, in an hour or two.
  • Something Heavy: if possible, it's nice to set up something big and complicated which can be left out for days or weeks or even months, for a leisurely stroll through a very large or long game.

There are surely many more ways to choose, but the above method keeps me busy enough, helps me get both breadth and depth into my play, and provides me with a sense of progress.

The odd man out

When there is an odd man out:

  • Have a solo game ready to play.
  • Keep score or advise on a game in progress.
  • Referee a game in progress.