January 17, 2006 |
| Balloon Cup |
| Results | |||
| Player | Score | Place | First Time? |
| Mike | 3 | 1 | |
| Erin | 0 | 2 | * |
Notes: I haven't played this in forever, but I thought it'd make a good filler until other folks showed up. Erin really enjoyed it, but she was hesitant in her decision-making and kept "forgetting" to hose me when she had a chance.
I think she was just too nice. I pretty much crushed her, netting 3 cups before she could get one (though she was close in green and gray).
| Royal Turf |
| Results | |||
| Player | Score | Place | First Time? |
| Mike | $2100 | 1 | |
| Annie | $1950 | 2 | |
| Dan | $1300 | 3 | |
| Erin | $1200 | 4 | * |
| Jamie | $1000 | 5 | |
Notes: After Balloon Cup I wanted to play Lord of the Rings, which Erin sounded into, but two factors worked against us: #1, Dan doesn't like it (though he only played it once 2 or 3 years ago), and #2, she didn't really have much table space, and it takes up a TON of table space - almost as much as Blackbeard or Formula Dé. So we were relegated to Metro or Royal Turf, and I felt that Royal Turf would work out better.
I may be off a bit on the scores, but they're pretty close. Dan had the lead after the first race, as I temporarily called off my "let's get Earl Gray" cry. The pace-maker was Sahara Wind, though, and he didn't finish in the top three. Earl Gray crossed before Caramello, who everyone had a bet on (except Erin or Jamie), and then Nougat made it across thanks to me. Dan had more bets on Earl, though, and snagged the most money. Albino took last with no bets on him.
Dan: $500
Mike, Annie, Jamie: $400
Erin: $200
The second race was awesome for Annie, as all three of her horses crossed the finish line: Sahara Wind in first (supported by Annie and Erin only), Othello (again only Annie and one other person - Jamie), and then Caramello (with Earl Gray, the pace-setter, just finishing out of the money thanks to being hosed by Jamie and Dan). I managed to get Dan to stop moving Earl Gray so far by putting two betting chips on him (my 2 and 1). Second round scores:
Annie: $1150
Erin: $900
Mike: $900
Jamie: $700
Dan: $600
In the last race, I had the two horses that finished in 6th and 7th: Red Fox and Albino. Annie, with a big lead, tried to make sure she'd finish in the top by placing her bets on horses with other bets (Earl Gray and Caramello), and then Erin joined her on Sahara Wind - which was no way to challenge her! We needed to leave her on an island! Then Jamie had the sole bet on Nougat, and Erin and I were on Red Fox, and I on Albino.
Well, Annie hosed Albino every time she rolled a horse-head, as she had bets on all the low horse-head horses except him. Fortunately, Dan and I managed to get a 7 every turn for Othello, and he not only set the pace, but a late round hosing on Sahara Wind reaped mega-benefits for me, as I got Othello across the line first. Annie managed to get Earl Gray and Caramello across, but she would have gotten more money if Sahara Wind had made it, as there were fewer bets on him. As it was, with the pace-setting money, my double bet (and Dan's single bet) on Othello, and the double payouts, I made a killing in the final round. I had to pay double for Albino's last place finish, but I made enough to cover him easily. Annie's bets were watered down by betting on the popular horses, and she only made $800 in the last round to my $1400 (minus $200 for Albino).
It was pretty sweet, and I completely did not expect to win.
| Circus Flohcati |
| Results | |||
| Player | Score | Place | First Time? |
| Mike | 55 | 1 | |
| Jamie | 38 | 2 | |
| Erin | 34 | 3 | |
Notes: Not much to say about this one. I made the quickest "Grand Display" ever and had more than enough points in hand to take the game. Erin and Jamie both kept getting hit with double draws (and losing their turns).
No one had more than 1 set (and I don't think I had any).
| Circus Flohcati |
| Results | |||
| Player | Score | Place | First Time? |
| Mike | 83 | 1 | |
| Erin | 82 | 2 (Tie) | |
| Jamie | 82 | 2 (Tie) | |
Notes: This game was epic. I kept collecting cards, though Erin ended the game with half the 7's! I managed a couple of them and a couple of us had cards in 8 or 9 colors, but we never managed the Grand Display.
Jamie had 4 sets and so did I. Erin had only 3 sets in front of her but the best cards. I managed to take it, though it was close, as on the last turn, Jamie took my red 6 away from me. It only boosted his score by 1, though it depleted mine by 5. I still held on to win.
| Circus Flohcati |
| Results | |||
| Player | Score | Place | First Time? |
| Mike | 89 | 1 | |
| Jamie | 84 | 2 | |
| Erin | 68 | 3 | |
Notes: I took the trifecta, again adopting my "Don't Draw Cards" strategy. Erin really pushes her luck in this game, and again ended up with the most sevens, but she also missed about half a dozen turns to double card draws.
Jamie played a great game, and whenever he got a "Ask for a color" or "Take a card" bonus card, he'd choose Erin, because she had the best cards. All he saw me take were 3's, 4's, 2's, and maybe a 5. Erin kept drawing until she got 6's or 7's. Once she also left a 7 out there for Jamie to pick up.
I managed to make 5 displays, though, and had a ton of cards to water down any damage I'd sustain from card draws or ask for a colors. I lost one card to Jamie, but it was a gray #1. Heh heh heh. Jamie managed the Grand Display, but as he only had 3 sets, my two extra (and better cards in hand) were able to overcome it. Erin was going for the grand display, too, but only had 2 sets in front of her and kept losing her good cards to Jamie and me when we drew the bonus draw cards.
I think I lost one turn in three games. I'd just much rather collect cards than lose a turn (and the one turn I lost was when there was one blue card out and I drew a blue card). Jamie lost a few turns per game - usually out of bad luck, though - and Erin paid for those 7's she drew with about half a dozen lost turns per game.