Whether it's called Categories or the old 3M/AH Facts in Five, the quick general knowledge game provides a welcome respite from more serious fare.	GM Arthur Field continues Richard Irving's role as emcee and researcher of the categories. By eliminating subjective scoring decisions, the game is less controversial.

36 people played five rpunds of Facts in Five, including past champions Winton Lemoine and Richard Meyer. Once again, there was much humor in the room and lots of funny questions and outrageous responses by the GM. And, again it was proven that a good showing in every puzzle is better than winning just one.

Puzzle 1 challenged players to name symphonic musical instruments, major league baseball team home cities, Oxford University Colleges (somebody said Cambridge!), common bagel flavors and Harry Potter character last names, across the letters c, h, p, s and w. There were roughly 84 correct answers possible for the 25 slots. Matt Amitrano led the pack with 19 correct (the best score for the night), followed closely by Eric Brosius, Englishman Ed Kendrick and Paul Bean.

Puzzle 2 honored the start of the 2008 Olympics with the category of Olympic Host Cities. It was joined by Casinos on the Vegas Strip in 2007, Maryland Counties, Walt Disney Co. feature movies, and nonmetals/metalloids on the periodic table, across a, c, h, p and t. The Hard Rock is not on the Strip and Aladdin's closed in 2006. Eric Brosius knew his elements and Rich Fetzer knew his Disney and Olympics and both scored a 15, followed by Paul Bean with 14.

Puzzle 3 had a historical twist seeking Nazi Field Marshals (no 'von') and Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives along with counties in Scotland, Harry Potter character first names and English Premier League Soccer teams in 2007, across the letters b, l, m, p and r. In soccer, only Liverpool worked for 'L', as Leeds dropped out of the Premier League in 2006 for the very first time. Over half the field was able to name the current Speaker Pelosi, including Larry Lingle, who also knew every Field Marshal. Paul Bean scored a 17, closely followed by Ed Kendrick at 16.

Continuing with a historic and geographical theme, Puzzle 4 sought African capital cities, Asian capital cities and major political party Presidential election losers. These were joined by Beatles Album Titles and, as they lived there: the boroughs of London, across letters h, m, r, s and t. Rob Winslow knew four of five Beatles albums, including 'Meet the Beatles', all the losers, four Asian capitals and three African capitals to score a 17. Rich Fetzer was right behind him with 15, followed closely by Ted Drozd and Andy Latto at 14; Amitrano at 12 and Bean, Meyer and Kendrick at 11.

The final puzzle was a four-minute lightning round with general knowledge categories of baseball 300-game winning pitchers, Disneyworld Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions, AKC Terrier Dog Breeds, Countries without extradition treaties with the United States and Madonna Album Titles, across letters a, c, m and w. For a twist, the final letter was a wild card of "j, l or p". Winslow pulled this out again with an 11, shared with Eric Brosius. Francis Spencer scored 11, as did Paul Bean, who knew his AKC breeds and pitchers, but not a single Disney ride, and needs to get out more!

The winner was Paul Bean with a total score of 69 of a possible 125 (55.2%). Rob Winslow was hot on his heels with 66, followed by Eric Brosius, garnering team points with a 62 for third. Matt Amitrano racked up a 60 for 4th, Ed Kendrick a 58 for 5th and Rich Meyer a 57 for 6th. My thanks to assistant GM Kate Taillon who helped keep things moving (so we finished in exactly one hour) and then tallied all 180 answer sheets in the wee hours. Next year promises similar fun.