ScarletRose: 122 at the moment...:)

how can I see the ponds that I already fell in the pond, but that they aren´t completed yet?

Pedro Martínez: OMG!!! I cannot keep up with that! LOL

ClayNashvilleTn: ***Yes, but when someone bids 1500pts in order to receive the 500 bonus points ever round and everyone else bids in the 200 range which are reasonable bids, then it removes from the strategy the chance to get the high bid from players that are playing to be competitive.***

You said that 200 points is a "reasonable" bid...
This game is not static, it is in constant evolution. Someday it may be reasonable to fall in the first round with a 3000 bid! There is nothing that says that the bhids have to be as low as they are currently.

Czuch Chuckers: I was using that example as if in one partcular round. Everyone bids in this particular round in the 200 range and one player bids 1500 in that same round. This person follows that procedure in practically every round and has a rating of 2100. They probably never have fallen early because of the constant high bid.

hehehehehe I guess what I was fussing about is I am only at 1800 because I play close to the edge hoping to win.

Did I miss it or has someone pointed out the feature where the last msg in each pond is showing in all ponds games now?

ClayNashvilleTn: I dont think the object of a multi player game like ponds is about winning. It seems to be more about doing better than more people than do better than you do. But like I stated earlier, this is not a static game, it is very dynamic, so eventually what will happen is that because people do bid high trying to stay in the game, but without any real chance to win, other people will start doing the same and soon the game dynamics will change and the bids will go higher and higher and the whole game will change. I think the higher rated players will eventually be the ones who are able to adapt and change when the game play changes. Just be patient and be ready to adapt and you will be just fine.

Czuch Chuckers: It has helped a lot with being able to go back and see how people bid. I agree it's all about out thinking the other players. I got started late but will improve, I hope.

im having some trouble with this scenario in ponds. here is a sample. 5 people remaining.
1. Vikings 6009
2. Pedro martinez 5990
3. Nothingness 5960
4. Thad 5800
5. Czuch Chuckers 5779

the last bet for each would be in the high 4000s. i would have no way to figure out what is the best bet for myself. in reality you should bet in the low 1000s but it never seems to happen like that while playing for real. I've been knocked out so much by undder bidding b/c others bid everything with 5 people left. instead of going for the win with a medium bid of say 4000. Do you go for the bonus? Does vikings go for the bonus by betting 5991? if that happend he is out if everyone bets only 4000. how do the elite here feel about this situation?

Nothingness: Now that is hard - everyone still close in points (everyone still has a great chance to win.... and lose), and at the same time the points left are still high.

As a rule for myself, when there are 4 players left, I almost always try to make sure my bid is at least 1 point higher then the last place person. But with 5 player left... that can be tricky.

As another rule/trend that I notice - as long as player have the points left - the bids will get bigger and bigger. So if the last bet was in the high 4000s, and everyone still has more then that - I would expect that the bids to be at least that much - if not more.

So back to the question - what would I do? Hum.... that is a hard question. I would probable play it safe - at least bid what the lowest player has. In Vikings case, if he is going to bid 5780 - he might as well bid 5991 and get the 500 bonus.

Of course if a couple of the players left were unrated/unexperianced, that might change the way I play a little also - not sure.

It is a hard question - it's hard to bid almost all your points when there is still 5 player left.... Can't wait to see what Pedro would do.

Nothingness: I think games like this are wide open. I can't see anybody going for a guaranteed bonus. Although they would ensure surviving, they would probably be in last place. One way of looking at the situation is to note that there are 4 rounds left and everyone would like to be leader after 3 of them. That gives some rough parameters, but the fact remains it's anybody's game.

1. Vikings 6009
2. Pedro martinez 5990
3. Nothingness 5960
4. Thad 5800
5. Czuch Chuckers 5779

Provided the last bet was in high 4000s, it would be a mistake if Vikings bet anything else but 5991 (in my opinion, of course). All of the players will bet more than 5779, that's clear. Now the second place is only 181 points above the last place so after this round, nobody should have more than 500 points, which is a proven win for the 1st place runner. If you bet lower than what Chuck has left, it's most likely you're going to fall in the pond.

If I was Chuck, I'd bet everything.
If I was Thad, I'd bet everything also.
If I was Nothingness, I'd bet 5780 hoping that Pedro would bet at least 30 points more than me.
If I was Pedro (), I'd risk it and bet 5471, trying to pass Vikings to the 1st place.
And Viking's bet is clear, 5991.

Player 1 : 10000
Player 2 : 9956
Player 3 : 9668
Player 4 : 9599
Player 5 : 9597

In the previous round, Irishrose fell in the pond with a 2500-point bet (bet everything she had left), and the round before, the bets were varying between 3000 and 4000...

Pedro Martínez: 5-6000 i say.

Bry: Too high I think...

Pedro Martínez: me too, but everytime i dont bet like that at such a stage i fall in !!!

id probably go with 5050 or 5300. id be more than 50% of my remaining pts.

Well I would probably bet something like 4889 but it seems I might end up at the bottom of the pond... LOL

Player 1 : 10000
Player 2 : 9999
Player 3 : 9887

The last bets were in the 4000s...

What happened to Stevie?????

Pedro Martínez: I think it would also depend on the players (if it's not a dark pond). If they don't know what they are doing, they may only bid a little higher (500-1000 points) more then the last bid. If the remaining players have been around for awhile, then it may be higher.

Czuch Chucker: He is no longer a moderator.

Czuch Chuckers: Well, if you mean this pond, I have no idea, and if you mean this one, he's doing quite good.

BIG BAD WOLF: It's just a theoretical situation, no real pond...I only wanted to post it here in order to show what I consider as real hard situations to resolve...

Pedro Martínez: 9888 - and guarantee 2nd place....

BIG BAD WOLF: LOL.... you dont have enough to do, so you took over another moderating job?

welll eventually i can see collaborating on ponds and having alliances to ensure winners and loseres. in that situation, if you be in the high 4880s and others bet 100 or 150 your finished. big leads are imposssible to protect if you team up.

Nothingness: Who would team up?

Anyway that leads to a good variation. Teams! 4 players per team, winning team is the team with the winning player. Collaboration would be encouraged.

that is a good idea... we should set up some teams.

Bry: Nah, second places are for quitters...:)

BBW, will you be keeping this board? What happened to Stevie? I would like to moderate this board.

I believe soon we will be taking "applications" for new moderators - to hopefully get some users who has not had a chance to help the site much - a chance to help moderate - which of course you, or anyone can apply for. (I will post details when we are ready.)

BIG BAD WOLF: What was your application process like? Or any of the other globs for that matter?

Czuch Chuckers: I'm currently working on the details (and since I know there are going to be many questions - trying to get it right.)

But quick overview - will announce what boards need moderators - need to send me (or another global moderator) and note letting us know what board. Don't have to be an "expert" at the subject, but at least need to have knowledge of it. After a week or so, I will list all people who applied to Fencer & the other Global Moderators which at that time we will try to find someone who is the best for the job.

Again, that was just a quick overview - I'll include more details hopefully in the next few days maybe. :-)

Pedro Martínez: true - but not whilst the BKR works like it does......

are ties for a pond possible?

yes i have had a tie in the game no one wins it ;)

Congrats to Monica on her 10th win...:)

And to Barb..:)

congrats Barb and Monica also :)

Thanks Fencer. Very useful.

Anyone knows where are the rules for the "pond in the rain"?

Andre Faria: Why don't you click on show rules?

they are with the rules for the regular run but highlighted in red

Fencer: oh, my fault... Thanks Filip :)

how is a rain pond with an even number of participants to finish?
when only 2 stay in the pond, both automatically lose
with an even number left, normally 2 will go away each round, leaving 2 for the final round.
I forsee a lot of draws here

rabbitoid: no, there will be many draws for 1st and last bets (as it is in regular ponds).

rabbitoid: More than 2 players can fall in a round.

As I see it, most games will come down to either 2 or 3 players left. If 3, there's a fair chance of a winner. If 2 there cannot be a winner. Is this right?

Fencer: my bet still stands on about 50% draws in this setup.

Mike UK: Absolutely.