GN Jeff Cornett (right) tangles with 1812 master Dave Metzger.	Overall, block games didn't fare well in 2007. After eight years of surprisingly steady participation, 1812 attendance fell precipitately.

Competition began with three rounds of Swiss play. In the third Swiss round, there were only two players who had won both games -- four-time champion Dave Metzger and defending champion Scott Cornett. Since both players were guaranteed to advance to the playoff rounds, this game was for bragging rights only. The game was tense and well played, but Dave occupied enough cities to outpoint Scott with one point to spare -- winning as the British in the second year (1813) of this three-year game.

Two of the other third round Swiss matches would send winners to the playoffs -- effectively serving as quarterfinals. Rob Doane and Jeff Cornett continued their game into the second year, but Jeff's Americans won major battles eventually forcing Rob to resign.

Stan Hilinski faced Frank Cunliffe in the other game. This time, the results were reversed with Stan's British overwhelming the Americans in the second year.

1812 is an easy game to learn but is a bit dicey, so even the best players can get whacked from an upset battle or timely initiative die roll. In the first semi-final, Jeff Cornett was randomly matched against 4-time champion Dave Metzger (a rematch of the finalists from two years ago). Against a better player, one should try to find some 50-50 chance for the upset. Having won the much preferred second initiative on the last turn of the first year, Jeff's Americans were able to barely eek out a victory point win at the end of the first year. To do this, he scattered his forces and managed to pass some desperation force march rolls to capture the last point needed. This was a major upset. Earlier, to position himself for the win, Jeff surprised Dave with an unexpectedly strong campaign out West aided by amphibous transport into Detroit shortly after Dave had just shipped his extra units East.

Defending champion, Scott Cornett (2-1) was matched against an undefeated Stan Hilinski (2-0) in the other semi-final. (Stan had skipped the second Swiss round in order to eat dinner. No problem, he returned from dinner to earn his second win and advance to the playoffs.) Stan played the British who usually cower in fear the first year just trying to survive against the stronger Americans. Not Stan, he whacked the Americans out West in Detroit activating his Indian allies. Feeling emboldened, he also invaded in the East. However, Scott's Americans massed for the counterattack and destroyed the invaders. On balance, it was enough for a first year military win for Scott.

The Final matched defending champion Scott Cornett, against his father whom he had never beaten in his lifetime (including three practice games during the plane ride up to the WBC). Jeff taught his son how to play this game when he was still in elementary school, and was never shy about teaching his son how to lose (but learn in the process). In the last couple of years, both Cornetts had done well in 1812 tournaments, but had never faced each other in tournament play. Scott was the defending champion. Jeff finished second the year before.

Since winning last year's tournament, Scott had explained his winning strategy to his father. Both Cornetts won their semi-finals game in the first year playing as the Americans. As a result, both finalists were determined to play the Americans -- even if it meant bidding infinity victory points (which only applied if the Americans did not win in the first two years). Rather than bid victory points for choice of side, the finalists agreed to bid step increases to the British for the right to play the Americans. Scott settled for 2 step increases -- turning two 3-point Brits into 4-point blocks.

Intimidated by the beefed up British, Jeff deviated from the family strategy of concentrating the Americans in Sackett's Harbor for a quick attack on Kingston. As he had done in the semi-finals to upset Dave Metzger, Jeff seized Lake Champlain on the first turn capturing the British fleet. He then naval transported a large force into Detroit and proceeded to invade Canada from the West. In the East, forces were well matched, but no major battles occured. Near the end of the first year, a double move allowed the Americans to occupy Montreal with Quebec open as a retreat destination.

By the end of the first year, the game looked grim for the British with an American victory point win near certain. Scott was ready to concede, but his father suggested he play it out since there were still some miraculous long shot possibilities. How prophetic. A lone British naval unit engaged two Americans in the Battle of Lake Champlain. The Americans were disabled with no damage to the British fleet -- a long shot, unexpected 4-point swing -- just enough to survive the first year!

Going into the second year, the Americans found themselves scattered across numerous victory point cities, had taken considerable forced march and combat step reductions in capturing these VP cities, and then suffered some horrendous wintering losses. The British were healthier and more concentrated with strong reinforcements entering Quebec and threatening weaker forces isolated in Montreal.

To make matters worse, by the start of the third year, the tide was turning out West. The British had wintered in Erie with four units -- losing two, but surviving with two 4-step units (including a pumped up unit from the step-increase bid). Meanwhile, the Americans had been reduced by failed attacks and severe Wintering attrition -- leaving six juicy 1-strength blocks in Sandusky. The two British fours quickly attacked the six American ones in Erie. The results were not pretty (except to Scott) -- wiping out the Americans.

The game went downhill quickly for the Americans the last two years. The Americans survived the second year in terms of victory points, but the only purpose to the third year was to see if the British could completely wipe out every last American block. One unit barely survived (in Plattsburg).

Scott earned his second straight 1812 title, and for the first time ever beat his father in this game. Life comes full circle: Scott has now taught his father how to really play this game, and also does not seem shy about teaching his father how to lose (but learn in the process?).

For more details on this tournament, see http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rabdwombat/war1812.htm.