I've got to say that my favourite player is the AI.

Peace.

I must say I agree with the Impaller's comprehensive post.

-Waya

hmm... waya is here.. didn't think he frequented these forums anymore...

If the two current games on profile are not stuck ones from before then I'm really glad to see that Waya is back.

waya must be back. he changed his name back from "waya- retired"

The players who give me the most difficulty are Gaia, Ruthless and Impaller. There are loads of other players who beat me often (including all the ones listed above), but I don't think more than half the time. And loads of strong players I've yet to play 1x1. Ruthless's tournament of 1x1 champions has been an eye opener on the theory that a really good player will only win slightly more often than an average player (say 60/40, typical for Backgammon - ignoring skill with a doubling cube). Knowing all the 21 participants are very strong players, I predicted the winner would lose at least 3 out of 20 and probably 4 or 5, and the average player would go about 50/50. It hasn't worked out that way so far. It appears to be shaking out in a way that's indicative of who's better (like a ladder).

Thanks to everyone who listed me as a top challenger. The description of me as highly mathematical is deceptive. I enjoy optimizing every move to get the best odds on defense and offense and I like to expand in the most efficient way possible -- which is all math based -- but I think I become very unpredictable the more you play me 1x1 (ask Ruthless). I struggle the most playing another good player 1x1 for the first time, when I have no insight into how they like to play.

If there's one skill Imp and I exploit (he's better at it) that some otherwise excellent players ignore or underutilize, it's intelligence gathering. Reviewing the history a lot, checking picks everytime, looking at all deployment information over time and comparing it to bonuses, using attack results to determine stack size when fogged, etc. When I really care about a game, I get into trying to figure out what other players are doing and strategize accordingly. Not just attack/defense strategy, but big picture. Imp is excellent at it and, unlike me, doesn't forget it when his opp's take days between moves.

Incidentally, while I thought my typical game is to gain an early income advantage and then grind out a victory, that has not been the case in the 1x1 tournament -- I've fallen behind in income in almost every match in the first 5 turns, but turned it around. When I reviewed all the games I won, I was surprised to discover that I thoguht I was losing at one point in the early game in most of them. I do surrender the moment I think I've lost, I get very invested in games and hate to lose, but the moment the game ends it's forgotten, so I prefer to just rip the bandaid off and move on. Maybe that cost me a couple of possible comebacks, who knows.

I'm happy to take 1x1 challenges with zero luck, at least a day per turn and manual picks.

hm, would be great if Waya was back. I wish I could have added him to my Round Robin tournament.

Waya is playing in our 5x5 tournament now. Were still a man down (Mindgrapes), but Waya is defeinitely back.

Private parts!!!

I would say many guys I like playing w/ but not in opponent team. Think of Myhandisonfire and Dominator... actually too many to mention. Huangzhu is good as well as he is sitting next to me when playing in office :))))) can make perfect orders together.

Would like to add Black Panther as well :)))))

I'll throw out Frederick II's name, since he is a very good player who has yet to get a mention.

"Best" is pretty subjective.

duke i believe we're 50% lifetime, i could be wrong

amd frederick II has been AWOL for a while but was very good. also kb24>lj23 who quit was also very good.

and my best (in no order): randy, impaller, duke, ruthless, blue precision, DAMP (who i dont think is better than the rest on this list but i always lose to him), Gaia, waya, nathin, barney stinson, doushibag, les, hugo simpson

and my tier 2: Perrin3088, eitz, ahmed al falas, drkennethnoisewater, willkay98, braveheart, nuckluck

more probably that im forgetting

We are with your victory yesterday. 2:2

TeddyFSB is another really good player who hasn't gotten a mention.

I have a feeling that Fredrick will be making a come back soon. Just not sure when ;)

you know him offline?

Drafter was good too.

obviously me

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