White has a certain advantage in tis game (less so in other Espionage variants). There should be a slight rule change: white can in its first move only move 3 pieces instead of 5, after that the game goes on as usual.

My last game Espionage is long time ag :(

Styleone: i just recently got back into it a little bit

Nothingness:
Yes, I miss the good old days here.

its awfully quiet in here

Nothingness: Open Fast Espionage (Avun Jahei vs. Nothingness)

this is the moment of truth. Here I decided to protect something other than the base. I take the 1 instead of the more powerful 2. hoping that he will decide that a different piece is my base. ultimately it works. you have a 1-5 shot with this setup.. give your self a shot at 1 or 2 "?"and sacrifice them. 20% or 40% is better than 0%. I'm still not sure why he didn't choose a "?" to attack with the 3.. the key to the game wasn't the choice at the end, but that he was blinded early had had very little vision and wasn't quit sure what pieces were where.

After my opponent makes his move I said to myself i'm finished. I will have to move quickly to prevent looking weak . much like in poker if you show weakness your opponent will sense it and crush you. I have been in situations just like this where I allow the break through bc I want a more comfortable lead and I know he cannot get to my base so i'm looking for my opp to sacrifice carelessly. This was our 3rd game the past 2 months. I lost #1 won #2 and was well in the lead in #3 and nearly blew it.

Nothingness: Open Fast Espionage (Avun Jahei vs. Nothingness)

Here was where the mistake happens on my part and when you need to understand when a weaker piece is worth much more than a stronger one. I was on cruise control. After I made my move I wondered if my opponent understood that many people sacrifice their 5 for a 3 in the end game since it can render your opponents sabs unless.

Open Fast Espionage (Avun Jahei vs. Nothingness)

this was a very intense game. Mistakes on both sides and ultimately staying cool in the moment.

Nothingness: Welcome back!

Im back..... For now

furbster: I don't think it's necessary to play as cautious as that. There are ways to attack that lead to victory.

Unfortunately Espionage is one of those games that reward negativity. Hasami Shogi and Jungle are other examples.

rod03801: True. But there's probably just a few of us around by now, anyway.

pedestrian: That stinks for everyone else, since it's a prize tournament, I believe.

furbster: They both realized that cautious play is objectively the best strategy. As long as they're both healthy and feel capable of playing on for many years, there's no need to start playing more recklessly.

Small Espionage (Undertaker. vs. thisbeme)

I'm not expert but 118 moves in, in a small espionage game, shouldn't at least a piece have been removed from the board?

I tried several times to add SL-Mark and Sandoz as moderators, but now I found out they can't be because they're not paying members. Are/is there any paying member(s) willing to moderate this board? Let me know and I'll add you if the group agrees.

SL-Mark: I propsed both you and Sandoz as moderators. Since Sandoz declines because he stopped playing, it would be great if you want to become moderator! :)

Chaos:

Thank you, Chaos, for proposing me as a moderator of this board. But, I'm by far not the most active member of this community. In fact, I quit playing here and I finished my last game a couple of month ago.

Dear sabotage fellows, I wish you all the best. Take care!

SL-Bosse: I'll miss the idea of you on BK, eventhough we didn't play or speak anymore ;) I miss the days there was an active sabotage community. I really enjoyed that! :)

SL-Mark: Thank you. The espionage board was always friendly so there was never a problem :) Maybe both you and Sandoz want to become moderators? It's possible to have more than one moderator.

Chaos: I will stop playing on BK completely. Or at least a long break. I still have around 10 games running, which I'm finishing.

Sandoz: Thank you for the results and look forward to improving my game in Fast Espionage.

I have now prepared tactics against those who make all out blind lucky attacks

Chaos: I second that.
Sandoz as Moderator.


(Not because I don't think you have done a great job, because you have.)

Sandoz: Dear Sandoz, since you seem to be the most active in the espionage community, maybe you should take over the role of moderator? I don't play the game anymore and sometimes it takes a few days before I even notice there's a new message on this board (yes, I feel ashamed). Would you like to be moderator of this messageboard? You can set a description and there are a few other possibilities.

Nothingness: So then we'll no loger hear from you here?You'll be missed!

SL-Bosse: stop playing espionage or stop playing at BK completely? I've stopped playing espionage quite some time ago, but am still playing other games at BK.

;) happily retired as soon as my last game of backgammon ends..

Chaos: Thanks. It's a pity that I now stop to play here

Congratulations, Bosse. Quite an achievement! A treu master of Espionage!

Sandoz: (y)

Dear participants,

I'm happy to announce the finish of the first Espionage Masters Tournament. Hooray!

The challenge started on:
5. September 2011, 20:05:11

And the final move was made on:
19. October 2015, 20:05:03

Hence, it took us just around 4 years to finish this beast. :-))

My congrats to SL-Bosse for winning the Espionage tourney!

Nothingness, my congrats for your victory in the Small Espionage tourney!

And last but not least, congratulations to SL-Mark for actually winning 2 tourneys of the Espionage Masters I: Open Fast Espionage and Small Fast Espionage. You really kicked our a****!
However, in the Fast Espionage tourney you lost miserably.

Thanks to everyone for taking part in this event.

Currently, I'm preparing for the Espionage Masters II.
So stay tuned guys ...!

Cheers,
Michael

And here is the link:
Espionage Masters I

dude Id love it but im trying to stop playing all together..i hate it when I see another rd has started from soo long ago... I used to move 20-30x per day now im lucky if I move 2x per week. now I got stitches in my hand today. love the game just no time with my career change...

Sandoz: You could get away with a bishop membership (1 tournament of each game type) if ouna and I finish the game Championship continent 2012 - Europe and I win, before the Nothingness Retirement Tournament starts! If I lose, there will be another round and you will still be stuck in an Open Fast Tournament and a brain rook membership will be required.

SL-Mark:
An incredible idea, Mark!

And a great way to complete an impressive sabotage career.

Do I have to become a member again to join the Retirement Tournament?

This gives me an idea. As there is some appetite for a new tournament (see posts below), why not create a Nothingness Retirement Tournament:

Open Fast Espionage on Fischer clock of 2d/1d/5d.

Nothingness, you could host this game and even join in, comfortable in the fact that it will finish before the current round of Espionage Masters I

Sandoz: Started 5 Sept 2011
Fortunately only the faster players left, but it is still a 2 wins match. At an average of one move a day, 100 moves per game, and 3 games to decide the winner, we are still at least a year from finishing :)

Nothingness, rereading your retirement post on the 2 Jan 2013, I hope your wife is understanding!

rod03801:
thank you, Rod. But, the tournament I was talking about started in 2011 or 2012, hehe

Sandoz: No, once a tourney is started, there is no changing the time limits.
Actually, once it is created, it is not possible to change the time limit. So if the tourney is created (and not yet started) and you have changed your mind about the time, you will need to re-create it. (Unless things have changed, but I doubt it)

Nothingness:
Don't know if it's possible to change the game speed after a tournament started but I doubt it.

Anyway, I make a move at least once per day

can we change the game speed? shorten it for the espionage master tourney? even though its already started?

as soon as I thought I was done all my espionage games forever another one started.. grr. will do my best to plat fast

SL-Mark:
It took a while but now I understood that you mean all variants whith an Espionage Masters II. Perhaps its better to play one variant, because we have a lot of non paying members here and want a strong field?

I look forward to a new big tournament!
My preference is for open fast.

SL-Mark:
I prefer 3 days, no vacation or 2d/1d/5d on Fischer clock. Other opinions?

Styleone:
What about:
2 days, standard vacation
3 days, no vacation
2d/1d/7d on Fischer clock

Espionage would be nice. For that game we need a good time control.

Styleone: Sounds great, may be an Espionage Masters II?
Many players have let their membership lapse, so doubtful of a strong field.