hwango

My opponent has a huge city, nearing completion. My intruding knights have been edged out, and I don't have enough left unplayed to try to tie him for control. I start trying to block the opening so it will be hard to finish and be worth nothing (it's got a cathedral tile in it). He plays a tile that will make it tough to block with any certainty. New plan? I finish it for him, and give him 72 points. This gives me King, and it's not likely to be taken from me, since the city had 20 tiles in it, and the giant city nets me 2 fabric, a grain, and 3 barrels. It's a bit of a gamble, but I think it's a better move than just hoping he won't get the piece he needs to finish the city.

At game end, King turns out to be worth 19 points, and I'm tied for fabric and winning on barrels. I win the game 215 to 164. If my opponent had placed the last tile in that city instead, he'd have the points from King instead of me, win on all 3 goods, and I'd have lost 176 to 183. It feels good to be right. = )