Competitive Azul - Beginner to Master Video Series

[Priptonite]

I haven't watched any videoes yet, but have you touched upon tile counting? Is that perhaps pretty basic stuff? Like, I know there are at most 4 red left, so big risk leaving 2 red in row 5 for next round.

Yup! I actually suggest keeping exact track of tiles by writing them down somewhere. I know not everyone is comfortable with this but at the higher levels of play most players are doing it.

[F1000003]

I'm a casual Azul player who wants to improve I started watching your videos. (I've watched four so far).

Just wanted to say that they are excellent. Your clear explanation of the "baseline strategy" has been a real help, it makes it clearer what to do in the early game where I was just sort of stumbling about not sure what to do, and watching you explain your moves has really helped cement some concepts in my mind. Great work - really useful!

Do you encounter games often where you might decide to pivot away from the baseline strategy? e.g. am I likely to encounter opening distributions where I should also be considering alternative approaches?

Thanks

[Priptonite]

I'm a casual Azul player who wants to improve I started watching your videos. (I've watched four so far).

Just wanted to say that they are excellent. Your clear explanation of the "baseline strategy" has been a real help, it makes it clearer what to do in the early game where I was just sort of stumbling about not sure what to do, and watching you explain your moves has really helped cement some concepts in my mind. Great work - really useful!

Do you encounter games often where you might decide to pivot away from the baseline strategy? e.g. am I likely to encounter opening distributions where I should also be considering alternative approaches?

Thanks

Glad your enjoying the series!

I would say that I’m unlikely to deviate based on the first round distribution, but it’s possible that in subsequent rounds I will pivot to building a 2nd column or full color at the expense of a top row. This could happen if the tiles I need for a top row get grouped together but I have row 4 or 5 of that color open or if the tile distribution is such that I can’t possibly complete row 2, for example.

[Priptonite]

I would add however that this is possibly a flaw in my game. Perhaps I could be more consistent with better identification of when to switch strategies. But you can certainly get to Master by following the baseline plan

[DoctorFianchetto]

Recorded two episodes tonight! We're up to 400 ELO now so things are getting spicier.

Episode 7: https://youtu.be/mSZcLlAuOFs
Episode 8: https://youtu.be/fbj0JVSIZio

I just watched episode 7 and the third game against ryojujutsu was a real eye opener. I've never seen a game played like that before, a heavy defensive game where both players score few points until the end, and it even went to round 6. The moves you make diverge a lot from what I would have done, particularly the number of times you refuse to take two or three tiles of the same colour.

As a novice player my decisions are mostly short term based but you're great at seeing the bigger picture and breaking things down. I feel I need to play turn based to make effective decisions at that strategic level - I wouldn't be able to make those type of decisions in the two minutes a real time game offers you.

[Priptonite]

Which is totally fine! I’ve had 4700+ games to develop the intuition to identify and make these decisions more quickly. I hope the videos help to expedite that process for viewers but it’s expected that it will still take time to get comfortable.

[Priptonite]

Episode 13 is live! https://youtu.be/pVtw6B1LM0k

[Priptonite]

Episode 14 is out! https://youtu.be/Ydr7azy0mYY

[Priptonite]

Episode 15 is live! https://youtu.be/JA6ipTxsSp4

[Priptonite]

Episode 16 is live! https://youtu.be/s2532G9pwOc

Youtube creator showdown in this one, we play a game against Alexey_LV!