By Jake Jacobs
My 6-1 was a great shot. With money rules applying, coming out rather than hiding the second blot, was clear. Tournament conditions made it easy for me, with 131 points in my account (Gerhardt, Andreas, and I had each re-entered once, so there were 235 points in the pool) it was easy to pass Andreas' double, though it would be a clear money take. Gerhardt was not so lucky. Having only 14 points, he was not allowed to double me, and had to play it out. He missed, and I came home cleanly.
The following night we six finalists, Paul Czapor, Marcus Michel, Berndt Schmude, and Andreas Martens, all of Germany, plus myself, and Joachim Johanssen of Sweden, started with 40 points apiece. There would be no buy backs.
Even on this second night there was confusion over some of the rules. For instance... Andreas, the Box, doubles to 8. Joachim and Berndt pass, while Marcus and I take. We are gammoned. Joachim and Berndt lose 4 each, but Marcus only loses 9 points, and I lose 8, though we have plenty of points in our respective accounts. This is because Andreas started with only 25 points, and so was only entitled to win 25.
Among the points of dispute: if he started with 25, could he double to 32 (8 x 4); if two people dropped, could he win 33 points, since he would now have "8 more in the bank"; since Marcus and I could not lose 16 apiece, should Joachim and Berndt have their losses prorated to some lower figure than ~ after the game ends; if we gammon him, do we win 9 and 8, or 13 and 12? The respective answers are: yes; no no; and 13 and 12 (he would start the next game with only the 8 points won from Joachim and Berndt).
If you are not sure of why all this is so (in fact, if you don't understand all of the questions), imagine getting a ruling at 3 a.m., after downing six or seven beers, from someone speaking French!
This time around we were "only" starting on 32 when Joachim, on a 7-game Box run, knocked off Andreas. Guy, shunning standard trophies, purchased statuary to present to the winners. For 3rd, Andreas received the "insect," a foot long preying mantis. Joachim was now sitting on 164 points, to my 76. We agreed to an equitable split of the prize money, with Joachim claiming the title. We then played a 3-point match to see who got the "fish," and who the "bird." I won the match, and got the bird. (Did that come out right?)
I am now the proud owner of a 16 inch, 8 pound wooden peacock. I have shipped it on a slow boat FROM China, at a cost greater than that of the statue itself. The Pattaya Cup starts tomorrow. First place receives the elephant. At these shipping rates, should I be so lucky, I don't know if I can afford to win.
Page 1 - Shoot the Chouette
Page 2 - UN Rules
This article published with permission of Kit Woolsey's GammOnLine
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