One New Result, No Creative Title Found

Current Challenges:

• Jon v. Dan Hyer (accepted, playing May 5th tentatively)
• Matty v. Dan Hua (challenge made 4/21, awaiting arrangements)
• James challenges Michael (accepted)
• Tripp challenges Jem (made 4/26)

Current Standings
(names in red are involved in a challenge, strike-though are in vacation mode)

1. Dan Hyer
2. Jon Jacob (2 - 0)
3. Rich Lau
4. Dan Hua (0 - 1 )
5. Chris Shaffer (2 - 1)
6. Matty Totonchy (3 - 1)
7. Michael Fiala (0 - 2)
8. Jem Lechner (0 - 1)
9. James Nye (1 - 0)
10. Tripp Ritter (0 - 1)
11. Jermey Antley
12. Josh Boren (1 - 1)
13. Dave Letzner (0 - 1)
14. David Thompson
15. Jonathan Hildenbrand (1 - 0)
16. Paul Goodsell

The hits keep on rolling....

Current Challenges:

• Jon v. Dan Hyer (accepted, playing May 5th tentatively)
• Matty v. Dan Hua (challenge made 4/21, awaiting arrangements)
• Josh challenges Dave Letzner (made 4/24)
• James challenges Michael (accepted)
• Tripp challenges Jem (made 4/26)

Current Standings
(names in red are involved in a challenge, strike-though are in vacation mode)

1. Dan Hyer
2. Jon Jacob (2 - 0)
3. Rich Lau
4. Dan Hua (0 - 1 )
5. Chris Shaffer (2 - 1)
6. Matty Totonchy (3 - 1)
7. Michael Fiala (0 - 2)
8. Jem Lechner (0 - 1)
9. James Nye (1 - 0)
10. Tripp Ritter (0 - 1)
11. Jermey Antley
12. Dave Letzner
13. David Thompson
14. Jonathan Hildenbrand (1 - 0)
15. Josh Boren (0 - 1) 
16. Paul Goodsell

Current Ladder, First 1-2 Challenge

Current Challenges:

• James v. Tripp (accepted, arrangements not announced)
• Jon v. Dan Hyer (accepted, playing May 5th tentatively)
• Matty v. Dan Hua (challenge made 4/21, awaiting arrangements)
• Josh challenges Dave Letzner (made 4/24)

Current Standings
(names in red are involved in a challenge, strike-though are in vacation mode)

1. Dan Hyer
2. Jon Jacob (2 - 0)
3. Rich Lau
4. Dan Hua (0 - 1 )
5. Chris Shaffer (2 - 1)
6. Matty Totonchy (3 - 1)
7. Michael Fiala (0 - 2)
8. Jem Lechner (0 - 1)
9. Tripp Ritter
10. James Nye
11. Jermey Antley
12. Dave Letzner
13. David Thompson
14. Jonathan Hildenbrand (1 - 0)
15. Josh Boren (0 - 1) 
16. Paul Goodsell 

We need more challenges in the bottom half of the ladder.   Some of you have less experience, and you may feel intimidated by either the game or your opponents.   Makes some challenges.   This is your chance to learn the game.

Current Ladder After Matty Victory... or How I Stopped Worrying Because Michael Seems To Love The Bomb

Current Challenges:

• James v. Tripp (accepted, arrangements not announced)
• Rich v. Jon (playing on Sunday 4/24)
• Chris v Dan Hua (challenge made 4/19, awaiting arrangements)
• Matty v. Dan Hua (challenge made 4/21, awaiting arrangements)

Current Standings
(new member added, welcome Paul!)
(names in red are involved in a challenge, strike-though are in vacation mode)

1. Dan Hyer
2. Rich Lau
3. Jon Jacob (1 - 0)
4. Dan Hua (0 - 1 )
5. Chris Shaffer (2 - 1)
6. Matty Totonchy (3 - 1)
7. Michael Fiala (0 - 2)
8. Jem Lechner (0 - 1)
9. Tripp Ritter
10. James Nye
11. Jermey Antley
12. Dave Letzner
13. David Thompson
14. Jonathan Hildenbrand (1 - 0)
15. Josh Boren (0 - 1) 
16. Paul Goodsell

No ladder changes, challenges listed

Current Challenges:
1. James v. Tripp (accepted, arrangements not announced)
2. Matty v. Michael (accepted, arrangements not announced)
3. Rich v. Jon (playing on Sunday 4/24)
4. Chris v Dan Hua (challenge made 4/19, awaiting arrangements)


Current Standings

1 Dan Hyer
2. Rich Lau

3 Jon Jacob (1 - 0)

4 Dan Hua (0 - 1 )

5. Chris Shaffer (2 - 1)

6. Michael Fiala (0 - 1)

7 Matty Totonchy (2 - 1)

8 Jem Lechner (0 - 1)

9. Tripp Ritter

10. James Nye
11 Jermey Antley
12 Dave Letzner
13 David Thompson
14 Jonathan Hildenbrand (1 - 0)
15 Josh Boren (0 - 1)

Latest Ladders, two matches today -- two new additions

New Standings

1 Dan Hyer
2. Rich Lau

3 Jon Jacob (1 - 0)

4 Dan Hua (0 - 1 )

5. Chris Shaffer (2 - 1)

6. Michael Fiala (0 - 1)

7 Matty Totonchy (2 - 1)

8 Jem Lechner (0 - 1)

9. Tripp Ritter

10. James Nye
11 Jermey Antley
12 Dave Letzner
13 David Thompson
14 Jonathan Hildenbrand (1 - 0)
15 Josh Boren (0 - 1)

(Names in red are currently involved in a challenge.   A person cannot be challenged until their match is resolved.)

Welcome Josh and Jonathan.

.... and Matty challenges Chris..... its a grudge match if I ever saw one.

Latest Standings, Chris is on a roll

1 Dan Hyer
2 Rich Lau
3 Jon Jacob (1 - 0)
4 Dan Hua (0 - 1 )
5 Chris Shaffer (2 - 1)
6 Michael Fiala
7  Jem Lechner
8 Matty Totonchy (1 - 1)
9 Tripp Ritter
10 James Nye
11 Jermey Antley
12 Dave Letzner
13 David Thompson

Chris Learns To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

The story from Chris v. Michael seems to be that Michael just couldn't dump the evil CIA card.  Part of what makes this game so wonderfully complex.  Hand management can be difficult, but is one of the keys to the game.  

Lots of Activity Yesterday. New Ladder Arrangement, New Memeber

New Ladder

1 Dan Hyer
2 Rich Lau
3 Jon Jacob (1 - 0)
4 Dan Hua (0 - 1 )
5 Michael Fiala
6  Jem Lechner
7 Chris Shaffer (1 - 1)
8 Matty Totonchy (1 - 1)
9 Tripp Ritter
10 James Nye
11 Jermey Antley
12 Dave Letzner
13 David Thompson

News and Challenges

The big news is that Chris Shaffer and Matty Totonchy played a double header yesterday.  Matty smoked Chris in the first game, as I expected him too.  Not because Chris is bad, but Matty is that good.  For those who don't know, Matty has only lost once previously and that was to some guy in Florida because of a Wargames.   (Matty plays on a regular basis, so his record is impressive.)  

I checked up on them to find they had already started their second game.  This was at the Lucky Lab on Hawthorne.  It was loud and rambunctious as usually.   Kids running around the tables, yet there they were playing another game of TS.  When all of a sudden.... BOOM!  Pieces go flying everywhere.   One of the little kids ran into the tray that holds the pieces and they went EVERYWHERE.   I am thinking this disrupted Matty (it was his copy), because he went on to the lose to Chris, who was playing the USSR.   Apparently, Chris racked up the points early and was able to get an auto-victory during the mid-war.   Good job Chris.   So, he regained his #7 spot.  Matty moves up to #8 since he had moved into #7 with the the first game's win, but then drops a slot to #8 after suffering the loss.

In other news, we have three challenges, which need arrangements:

• Matty (8) challenges Jem Lechner (6) to a match.   

• James Nye (10) challenge Tripp Ritter (9).  

• Chris Shaffer (7) challenged Michael Fiala

Arrangements need to be made within a week.   Use the mail list to announce time, date, and place, but please make your plans off-list.

Also, Jon (3) has challenged Rich Lau (2) to a match.  We have already made arrangements to play on the 24th since Rich is out of town.

Not sure this is clear,  arrangements for a match, once accepted, need to be made within a week of the challenge.  You need to set the time and date within a week, not play within a week.   Play must take place within a timely fashion.   I know people's schedules can be tight, so I don't want things to get bogged down because of it.  Also, I would rather not have challenges missed just because a time and place could not be made within a week.  As long as there is an arrangement within a week to play, its fine.    You still need to actually play three matches with three months, so arranging something within a week that plays in a month may jeopardize your position on the ladder.  (Remember, if you have have a challenge in the works, then you are frozen from other challenges.)  Basically, I want to keep this loose and trust that everyone will have good judgment and play fair with the time constraints.

I would think it would be best to contact the person you are thinking of challenging and seeing what their schedule is.  This may save a lot of grief.

And finally, we have a new addition to the ladder.   David Thompson asked to be added to the group.  Welcome, David.

New Member Added

Dave requested to be added.   Like life in general, he must start on the bottom and work his way up.  The new ladder is as follows:

1 Dan Hyer
2 Rich Lau
3 Jon Jacob
4 Dan Hua
5 Michael Fiala
6  Jem Lechner
7 Chris Shaffer
8 Tripp Ritter
9 Matty Totonchy
10 James Nye
11 Jermey Antley
12 Dave L.  (what is your last name, Dave?)

Newest Ladder

1 Dan Hyer
2 Rich Lau
3 Jon Jacob
4 Dan Hua
5 Michael Fiala
6  Jem Lechner
7 Chris Shaffer
8 Tripp Ritter
9 Matty Totonchy
10 James Nye
11 Jermey Antley

Initial Seeding

Initial Seeding for the ladder.   Anyone who joins after this will come in at the bottom.   

1 Dan Hyer
2 Rich Lau
3 Dan Hua
4 Jon Jacob
5 Michael Fiala
6 Jeremy Lecher
7 Chris Shaffer
8 Tripp Ritter
9 Matty Totonchy
10 James Nye
11 Jermey Antley

Seeding The Ladder and General Rules

If you have come to this page, you are more than likely aware that we have starting the process for setting up the ladder for a local Portland, OR area Twilight Struggle tournament.

Thus far we have the following people expressing interest (in no particular order):

Jon Jacob (me)
Rich Lau
Chris Shaffer
Michael Fiala
Tripp Ritter
James Nye
Matty Totonchy
Ken Southerland
Dan Hua (probable)

Once we reach ten, I will officially seed the ladder.   This will be done randomly.

Some ground rules for challenging on the ladder:

1. After initial seeding, new additions will start at the bottom.
2. Players on the ladder can challenge others on the ladder no more than X spaces above them.  The amount of spaces that you can challenge above you depends on what section of the ladder you are on.  If you are in 1-3, then X = 1.   If 3-9, then X =2.  If > 9, then X = 3.    So, the 3rd seed can challenge #2, but not #1.  8th seed can challenge, #7 and #6. 
3. Winning a challenge moves you to the new seed.   Losing the challenge moves you down to the seed below. 
4. Refusing to take three challenges within three months or making less than three challenges in three months will cause you to fall to the bottom of the ladder.
5. The challenger and the player who is being challenged will determine time, place, and location for the match.  The challenge must be done publicly.   A challenge that is not responded to within a week is considered refused.  The time and place and result must be also be done publicly.   Announcements need to be done to the mail list (set up separately).
6. Online games do not count.   Only face-to-face matches
7. All games must use the optional cards.
8. The Chinese Civil war variant must be used.   Review these rules in the TS rule book, if you are not familiar with them.
9. Tournament rules as set forth in the TS rule book apply.   This includes bidding for sides.

I am still waiting to hear back from Angel about publicly displaying the ladder at Guardian, but regardless of her response, I will create a plaque with the leader.   When the leadership changes hands, then the plaque will be updated.

If you are interested and not signed up, send an email to me at jonjacobmoon AT gmail dot com or put a comment here.   I will send you an invite to the mail list.