Playing Pattern

[Shadilicious]

Why is everyone with a score of 350 a petty player. Being petty doesn’t always win you the game but you lose on having actual fun. Picking tiles you don’t need and putting them in the waste space is so unnecessary.

[Suoivax]

but you lose on having actual fun.

And who are you to dictate what 'fun' is for other people?

[rpm002]

2 player Azul is an extremely cutthroat game. Every point you block your opponent from getting us just as valuable as earning an additional point for yourself. The goal is not to maximize your points, the goal is to finish with more points than your opponent. If you don't like that aspect, I would suggest sticking to 3 and especially 4 player Azul, where the blocking aspect is still present at times, but not nearly as commonplace.

[aaronbshockley]

Why is everyone with a score of 350 a petty player.

I think you are assuming the only way to score more points than your opponent is by offense. It's absolutely worth losing 3 to prevent your opponent from gaining 7/8/9. But there is a balance, being petty (and to me that means taking things your opponent needs with no other strategy involved) won't get you very far, and definitely not 300+ ELO.