This year's tournament featured some new and original game strategies. Players bid step increases for choice of sides, resulting in pumped up French armies that were bold in their attacks.

In the first semi-final, with eight step increases added to French cavalry and artillery, Lane Newbury attacked on a broad front. Scott Cornett's Allies concentrated their counterattack on the French center army, decisively defeating and killing Napoleon for the win.

After a bid of seven steps, the other semi-finals featured a rematch of last year's finalists. Early in the game, Matt Calkin's Prussian and British cavalry combined to force-march across the board to defeat a strong French probing force advancing on Ghent. Meanwhile, on the other side of the board, the French mounted an effective campaign to capture Liege and eventually defeat the Prussians. The game was called with six French turns remaining and the French sitting in the middle of the board facing a swarm of British pickets. Players agreed to make a 50-50 die roll to decide the outcome - awarding the win to the French.

The final featured a father-son duel between Scott Cornett and his dad, defending champ, Jeff Cornett. A bid of ten French steps gave the Allies to Scott, yet left the French supremely confident. In practice games at home, the bid had never gone higher than eight. Scott then introduced his new and patented "Autobahn Defense Version 2.0" into tournament play. Jeff had faced Autobahn 1.0 on three occasions at home - having won only one of three times, but winning the last time against this defense.

With ten steps to pump up the French cavalry and guns, Jeff introduced his "Meet Me in Namur, Don't Hold Me Back" offense. Against the Autobahn, this strategy could better be labeled the "Where Did They Go" offense. Upon arriving at Namur with most of the French army, there was no enemy in sight. The overconfident French did not even bother posting defensive pickets as they slept for the French night turn. Imagine their surprise when they woke up to the sight of the entire Allied army poised for a dawn attack (after having force-marched for two straight turns).

Scott's battle plan was equally decisive. While leaving only the Allied artillery to defend the center and left flank, more units than could fit on the battle board advanced to attack the right flank. The French flank was overwhelmed with a devastating cavalry charge supported by strong infantry formations. Game, set, match, and household bragging rights for the year! The entire game lasted only 45 minutes.

For more tournament details, visit http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rabdwombat/nap_review_2003.htm.