Friday 1 January 2010

I thought I'd start 2010 as I'd like to continue it, by playing games.

In addition to the usual suspects, two Johns and Nigel, Nasia arrived from downstairs bringing her Christmas present, Tobago, and big plate of chocolate dipped strawberries. Tobago is a game where players play cards to narrow down the location of treasures on the island of Tobago, they also drive around the island in the 4WDs in order to be at the right spot when a treasure location is narrowed to one hex. We decided to split into 2 threes. With Nasia teaching John and John Tobago at one end of the table while I taught Nigel and retaught Anne China at the other end. China is a relatively simple game but with some important rules to remember. I don't think Nigel and Anne were concentrating as I explained the rules though Nigel blamed my explanation.

China results:

Ian   66
Nigel 53
Anne  48

Tobago results:

John R 44
John B 35
Nasia  27

There was probably enough interest in Tobago for another game with the same or different players but we decided to play a six player game and settled on Expedition for some reason. Nigel who has played often enough seemed to have trouble remembering rules. Somehow when we weren't looking John R was down to his last card, leaving some of us with rather too many cards in hand.

John R 13
John B 12
Nasia  11
Nigel  10
Ian     8
Anne    6

We decided to play again. This time Nasia got 5 points on her first turn, and she kept her lead for the win.

Nasia  16
Ian    15
John B 13
Anne   12
John R 10
Nigel   8

It was 11:30pm and we were looking for a short 6 player game (I probably should have pulled out For Sale, but it slipped my mind) and I suggested Hornochsen (the second Wolfgang Kramer game of the evening). John B played the "get out as quick as possible with a non-negative score" strategy while I played to stay in with more cards than other people to give myself options (which is risky but paid off this time). Anne started well with some good positive points but ended up with some bad piles. Nasia took no cards for a safe zero.

Ian     50
Nigel   16
John B   3
Nasia    0
Anne    -8
John R -16

The chocolate dipped strawberries were a great success and I think Nasia will need to bring Tobago back so more of us can try it.