All Aboard

Tournament Format
The first round will be 4- (1st choice) or 5-player games. We may end up with 5-player games although we have enough boards because I want to ensure that the tournament is only three rounds. Last year we had so many players we ended up with four rounds and it didn’t work well. Therefore, please come prepared to play either way.

The semi-finals will be either 4- (1st choice) or 5-player games. All games will have the same number. The size will depend on the number of tables in the first round. All winners will automatically advance. Enough additional spots will be filled by runner-ups to complete the tables. The order in which runner-ups will be added is as follows:
1. Smallest difference—Winner’s dollars minus runner-up’s dollars.
2. Runner-up in a 5-player game.
3. Highest actual runner-up’s dollar amount.
4. Highest number of companies runner-up made money in during the final dividend.
5. Highest number of U.P. stocks held.

If all winners and runner-up don’t fill out the boards, we will take 3rd place finishers, then 4th place finishers, using the same priorities.

Only the winners from the Semi-Fimals will advance to the Final.

Tournament Officials

Bill Beckman will be in the Engineer’s Seat this year.

Special Tournament Rules

1. Optional Dividend card distribution with German 2nd edition modification of six non-dividend cards at the bottom of the deck. Here is a more detailed look at how the draw pile is built from the bottom to the top (or vice versa since it’s the same). The “remaining deck” is defined as all the stock cards minus the players’ starting hands and minus the 30 cards which will be used as buffers:

6 cards
1/4 of the “remaining deck” plus one dividend card shuffled into it
6 cards
1/4 of the “remaining deck” plus one dividend card shuffled into it
6 cards
1/4 of the “remaining deck” plus one dividend card shuffled into it
6 cards
1/4 of the “remaining deck” plus one dividend card shuffled into it
6 cards

2. To take a Union Pacific stock, you must discard FACEDOWN a stock from your hand. This stock is removed from the game and may not be examined by anyone. This trade is in addition to drawing a normal stock during your turn (German 2nd Edition rule).

3. Each player starts with five normal stock instead of four. (German 2nd Edition rule)

Late Arrivals, Didn’t Bring A Copy and Long Games

Group assignments for the 1st round will be started at 6 pm. If you arrive after that time, you may be forced to play in a group with your friends. Once all group assignments are complete, no latecomers will be accepted.

I will not be making 5-player games just because we’re short on games. If we don’t have enough games, the latest arriving people will not get to play.

Each round will be limited to 90 minutes from when the last group is organized. A 15 minute warning will be called. At the end of 90 minutes, the round in progress will be completed and then any dividend cards remaining will be resolved.