6TAKES - Aqua's Game 23 - Hand 1 - DreamLyrics Play-by-Post

6TAKES - Aqua's Game 23 - Hand 1

Final board:

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  55 |  56 |  58 |  61 |     | xxx |      10
|  *7 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  42 |  63 |  67 |  77 |     | xxx |      8
|     |     |     |  *5 |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  57 |  76 |  86 |  87 |  88 | xxx |      9
|     |     |     |     |  *5 |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  90 |  94 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Final scores this round:
AJ 8
Argus 11
Exeter 12
Gypsy 15
Weez 21

Order of Play:

Argus - 31
AJ - 91
Gypsy - 96
Exeter - 98
Weez - 101

Argus aims for Row 1 while AJ, Gypsy, and Exeter pile on to Row 3 and Weez goes solo on Row 4.

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  23 |  31 |     |     |     | xxx |      2
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  62 |     |     |     |     | xxx |      1
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  82 |  91 |  96 |  98 |     | xxx |      4
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
| 100 | 101 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Order of Play:

Gypsy - 1
Argus - 37
Weez - 65
Exeter - 95
AJ - 97

There's an illusion of a lot of space on the board, but Gypsy decides to shatter that illusion by swiping Row 2 from play, claiming the minimum one point her 1-pip card had to take sometime. That left the majority of cards in play destined for the old Row 1, which only had room for 3. All four other players targeted that row, however. Argus lands comfortably where he intended on the old row 1, while Weez lands on the new row 2 a little further down the line as what she expected, but still safe. Exeter and AJ were playing the walkdown strategy, but in this case it was best not to be last. Exeter dodges a bullet by 2 pips and AJ collects 7 points.

An interesting board presents itself! Two 1-point rows, but no way to bust either of them; no cards can play on Row 2 and in theory any card played on Rows 3 or 4 would be guaranteed safe, if players are lucky enough to have such cards. Otherwise, it looks like a mad dash for Row 1, where the last one in will, in all likelihood, be a rotten egg.

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|   1 |     |     |     |     | xxx |      1
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  97 |     |     |     |     | xxx |      1
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  82 |  91 |  96 |  98 |     | xxx |      4
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
| 100 | 101 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Order of Play:

Argus - 5
Weez - 10
Exeter - 11
AJ - 20
Gypsy - 70

A petard is a small bomb used for blowing up gates and walls when breaching fortifications. It is of French origin and dates back to the 16th century. Interestingly, the etymology of the word derives from péter, to break wind. But we're not going there. Instead, we'll go to Shakespeare's Hamlet. The bard penned the phrase "hoist with his own petard" implying someone who tried to set a bomb but it blew up, hoisting them into the air.

To the surprise of absolutely no one, everyone heads for Row 1, hoping to not be last. Those with low cards play them.

Gypsy, unfortunately falls victim to her clever trick of the previous round, leaving her no option but to be last on the row... hoist with her own petard. To make matters worse, everyone plays cards with multiple points, so by the time the row is filled, it's worth 14 points.

At least her play sets up more options for tactical play on the next turn...

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  70 |     |     |     |     | xxx |      3
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  97 |     |     |     |     | xxx |      1
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  82 |  91 |  96 |  98 |     | xxx |      4
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
| 100 | 101 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Order of Play:

AJ - 22
Gypsy - 73
Exeter - 75
Weez - 78
Argus - 81

That '70s Row attracts a crowd, filling up with 8 points awaiting anyone with a card over 81.

AJ shuns that decade, instead setting up a speakeasy in the Roaring Twenties, for the price of a single point.

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  22 |     |     |     |     | xxx |      5
|  *5 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  70 |  73 |  75 |  78 |  81 | xxx |      8
|  *3 |     |  *2 |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  82 |  91 |  96 |  98 |     | xxx |      4
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
| 100 | 101 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Order of Play:

Exeter - 12
AJ - 26
Gypsy - 30
Argus - 38
Weez - 41

Another mad rush for the row with space on it. And once again, the 5th-person-bust is spared by someone going on their own with an intentional bust. This time it's Exeter claiming Row 3's 4 points and setting up either a cheap bust for someone under 12, or another place for the crowd to rush to like a bunch of 3-year-olds learning soccer, to avoid taking a full, high-point row.

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  12 |     |     |     |     | xxx |      1
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  22 |  26 |  30 |  38 |  41 | xxx |      11
|  *5 |     |  *3 |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  70 |  73 |  75 |  78 |  81 | xxx |      8
|  *3 |     |  *2 |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
| 100 | 101 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Order of Play:

Exeter - 18
AJ - 28
Argus - 57
Gypsy - 76
Weez - 90

Look at all that space on Row 1! All you need is a card between 13 and 40.... calling all takers! Exeter, AJ, welcome! Anyone else? Anyone? No?

Alas, despite plenty of room three players ended up in the nosebleed seats, a narrower range worth only 8 points and a wider swath worth 11 but with a chance to avoid by playing high. Argus ends up taking Row 2's 11 points (ouch) leaving Gypsy sighing in relief. Weez is alone on Row 3, taking 8 points.

Lots of space now -- if you have the right cards, that is.

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  12 |  18 |  28 |     |     | xxx |      3
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  57 |  76 |     |     |     | xxx |      2
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  90 |     |     |     |     | xxx |      3
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
| 100 | 101 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Order of Play:

Exeter - 32
AJ - 69
Weez - 86
Argus - 87
Gypsy - 94

The calm before the storm. The eye of the hurricane. The spread out high cards and plethora of space provided ample targets for players. Exeter played conservatively on Row 1 while AJ took a risk there; both are safe. Weez and Argus find solace on Row 2 leaving one more spot for the owner of the 88 (if there is one). And Gypsy is all alone on Row 3.

A lot less space now!

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  12 |  18 |  28 |  32 |  69 | xxx |      5
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  57 |  76 |  86 |  87 |     | xxx |      4
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  90 |  94 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
| 100 | 101 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Order of Play:

Weez - 42
AJ - 63
Gypsy - 67
Exeter - 80
Argus - 88

Weez earns the right to choose a bust row, and targets the neglected Row 4, claiming 4 points. AJ and Gypsy follow behind.

Exeter wanted a 4-point row but gets a 5 point one instead with the old Row 1.

And Argus claims the spot he set up for himself on the old Row 2.

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  42 |  63 |  67 |     |     | xxx |      3
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  80 |     |     |     |     | xxx |      3
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  57 |  76 |  86 |  87 |  88 | xxx |      9
|     |     |     |     |  *5 |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  90 |  94 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Order of Play:

Exeter - 34
AJ - 40
Weez - 48
Argus - 50
Gypsy - 77

Exeter didn't want to be first, but unfortunately he doesn't have much choice in the matter with the lowest card still in play. And while he doesn't have a choice to bust, he does get to pick which row, and chooses Row 2, collecting three points. AJ, Weez, and Argus follow behind, while Gypsy lands on the old Row 1.

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  34 |  40 |  48 |  50 |     | xxx |      8
|     |  *3 |     |  *3 |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  42 |  63 |  67 |  77 |     | xxx |      8
|     |     |     |  *5 |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  57 |  76 |  86 |  87 |  88 | xxx |      9
|     |     |     |     |  *5 |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  90 |  94 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Order of Play:

Gypsy - 54
Weez - 55
AJ - 56
Argus - 58
Exeter - 61

The final cards occupy a very narrow range, skipping only 3 cards from bottom to top. And here Exeter's choice of row end up making a big distinction. Had he chosen Row 1, Gypsy would have capped off the first row in the previous round and then taken a 4-point bust in this one for an anticlimactic finish. But by choosing the higher row, deflecting Gypsy's card, Row 1 now tops off at 50, and all the final cards fall onto that row.

With one free spot, the task is to not be second, a spot where Weez finds herself, losing by a pip in either direction and collecting 9 points.

Code

 START                          BUST   CURRENT
 CARD                           ROW    ROW TOTAL
   V                             V
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |
|  55 |  56 |  58 |  61 |     | xxx |      10
|  *7 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  42 |  63 |  67 |  77 |     | xxx |      8
|     |     |     |  *5 |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  57 |  76 |  86 |  87 |  88 | xxx |      9
|     |     |     |     |  *5 |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------
|     |     |     |     |     |  x  |   
|  90 |  94 |     |     |     | xxx |      4
|  *3 |     |     |     |     |  x  |      
 -----------------------------------

Final scores this round:
AJ 8
Argus 11
Exeter 12
Gypsy 15
Weez 21

Amusingly, I forgot to change the sort from alphabetical to numerical when pasting the scores... but it made no difference!

Funny how that works out sometimes!

And looks like we are all still in contention.

Aqua- Some of us find that less than amusing.

You should have an A handle like the cool kids!