I analyze an online Azul game between two master players and explain the strategy behind the moves of the player with the screenname MissDong, who is currently the #1 ranked player on BoardGameArena by a big margin.
I think it is a great that you are venturing out to other games, makes your channel more interesting and let’s you get additional viewers. Would be cool if you can make a video together with MissDong where she comments on her games.
4:52 - that's very interesting. I would have 100% put the red in the 3rd row in that position. It's only 1 point now and is very far away, but will still contribute to scoring later (rounds 3/4/5). That seems to be a flaw in my game that I can patch up!
I know, it's quite counterintuitive! I forgot to elaborate that having only 1 red in the bottom row could lead to the row being blocked for too long, and hence less flexibility and more tiles in the floor line, which would likely negate the benefit from the completed third row in round 1.
A move you didn't mention, but feels wrong to me: when likechao puts 4 gold on the 4th row instead of 3rd row. (on the fourth round) It would score the same number of points (actually, 2 more points, but it would send another tile to the floor scoring minus 2, so, the same) but then they could place 2 white on the 4th row instead of the floor, not losing 4 points to the floor and also creating a good place for whites on the last round, considering that likechao will start last round and MissDong wants white tiles on their 3rd and 1st rows. Also, yellow on 3rd row would connect to the center blue (in case they manage to fill it) scoring one extra point.
Good point! I assume likechao at that time was planning to drop the two white on the floor so they wanted to minimize the number of lost floor points. But since there was an alternative to dropping the whites on the floor, placing the three golds on row 3 was indeed better.
Its honestly crazy to me how a 711 elo player didnt focus on completing line 3 like AT ALL. Every decent player knows thats where the main difference is made. Its okay if atleast he made plays that queendong couldnt complete her 3 aswell, but no.. he was just focussing on his 1-2-4 and the first player tile which looks like some 400 elo play to me tbh. He started 3 rounds and was second twice, and not once did he put tiles on line 3 in his first 2 moves. Im currently 780 elo and I basically always make sure first I get a decent 3 without losing a 2 or 1, unless it hurts to much or I have some real good/important moves for other lines I need to finish/opponent needs aswell.
wow. arrived here via another channel. Mind blowing the level of thinking there is. I didn't understand some of the move... and it seems to me likechao did multiple error. do we know if this was a turn by turn game or not ? (in turn by turn, iut is way more easy to count the remaining tiles)
