HISTORY REPORT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE MASTER OF BLIND GAME DURAN


    S1901

    As usual in this first phase, everybody has talked with everybody, all
of them very politely, and most of them asking if not an alliance, at least
a deal to pass each other information.

    In the previous blind game I tried to infere from their letters which 
were true and which false, and I failed terribly. So I have desisted to
repeat it.

    Once the movements done, there are already two countries who have made
a clear war declaration. One is England who has moved into ECH; it is always
much more neutral leave it alone. Even clearer is Turkey who has taken the
Black Sea and has put an army in Armenia. 

    The rest of powers have done a neutral openning. Well, some people would
not consider neutral the russian attempt for Galicia, neither the italian
one in Tyrolia, but both can be argued one side or the other.


    F1901

    What was apparentely clear in Spring, has become true in Fall. England has
attacked France in Brest and Turkey to Russia in Sevastopol. But while France
has lost his harbour, Russia has managed to keep his one, plus conserving
Rumania due to the discoordination of Austria and Turkey.

    Germany has also declared war to Russia and France by bouncing them
out of Sweden and Belgium respectively. But Russia has already put his feet
in german lands.

    On his own, Italy remains neutral (which is very wise for this country)
at this early moment. The usual for Italy would be now to see the enviroments
and decide his objective. The problem is that a blind game does not allow
a vision range enough. In fact, he does not see a single unit at this moment.
So he needs a lot of info now.

   England, Germany and Austria has all made a strong openning, but all them
have already declared a war. Austria could have avoided it with identical 
results.

	
    S1902

    This is an intermidiate season with some preparing movements. A second
English army in France, Germany also advancing towards France, and the
italian army in Tyrolia who changes objectives by moving into Piedmont.

    Maybe the greatest single attack is given by Austria into Russia by taking
Warsaw and supporting Turkey into Rumania.


    F1902

    This has not been an easy season. There has been a lot of mail among
players, and the word "stab" (explicitly or implicitly) was in most of such
mails. I was not even sure of who was going to stab whom until I saw the
orders, and there were also many changes of orders since the deadline
arrived.

    To resume: England stops attacking France and stabs Germany. Belgium and
Holland are the prize, but E loses Brest. His problem is that France may not be
happy enough as he has lost Paris and that E has also attacked Russia in Swe
while Russia was supporting an english attack into DEN.

    France has recovered Brest but has lost Paris in German hands. However, he
may recover it next season I think.

    Germany has run into troubles. Stabbed by England, he will not grow this
year. Moreover France will kick him out of Paris and Russia does not seem
very friendly yet.

    Italy has changed his mind again. His army in Piedmont has returned to
Tyrolia, he has renounced to attack France, and has decided for Austria, but
has failed as Austria has not left Greece as he expected.

    Austria has stabbed Turkey by attacking Rumania and Bulgaria, but 
everything was nicely supported (even by the russian fleet in Sevastopol). So
nothing has happened and Turkey will grow. Moreover, the austrian army in 
Warsaw is defeated but the retreat allows it to move to Moscow.

    Russia has played badly by wasting 3 units in moving the austrian army 
from Warsaw to Moscow. In this case it would have been better to occupy
Moscow first and after attack from there. There is nosense in using three units
to remain the same.

    Turkey has respected Russia and distrusted Austria, luckily for him. Now he
needs a shifting of alliances (as almost everybody else) but his position
remains stable, although somehow locked.

    Just counting units, England and Austria take the lead, but both have
stabbed his best friend and have not gathered a new one yet. 


    
    S1903

    England has just paid the price of his bid. France and Germany join forces
and stop every english movement. Worst than this, France has just moved to NAO
from where LVP is defenseless (although France does not know it for certain).

    Italy has not yet decided who is his enemy. He arranges peace with Austria
and his army in Tyrolia moves again to PIE. I know that the italian tactic
is usually to sit and wait before chosing an enemy, but he is putting so
nervous Austria and France, and even Germany, that this may become a little
dangerous.

    Austria has got a new success getting WAR. His position in Moscow is
wonderful as Russia cannot kick him out as a retreat into STP would leave
Austria unaffected. 

    And Turkey is also doubting who to attack. He needs help to attack Austria
and it is not clear who may give such help.


    F1903

    England is clearly an agressive player. Knowing that he was going to lose
Liverpool, and having an angry Germany in front, he offers support to Russia
into Denmark and take STP from him. This is making real friends!!!

    Italy has finally decided his friends and enemies. Taking POR from France
was something previously talked and could be acceptable, but the attack into
MAR is not a friendly action.

    Austria mantains his strong position as he keeps WAR without other losses,
and Turkey lies to Russia but gets nothing as his offer to move the fleet to
BLA has only served to get a cut support to BUL. Moreover, the return of the
army to ARM will not please Russia. 


    S1904

    The most relevant is the serious defeat of Russia in his homeland. Turkey
has not respected a deal he had and has taken SEV and the army in Ukrania
has been destroyed by Austria. Now, without annoying interfering units, the
field is opened to the Austro-Turkish war.

    Italy has joined Austria in his war against Turkey.

    In the west, there is some distrust between France and Italy. And in the 
north, Germany has exchanged Sweden-Denmark with Russia while England tries
to maneuver to recover LIV.

 
    F1904

    Turkey claims for peace among FEG in order to seek for help against AI.
Germany seems to agree but England does not (although he says the contrary).

    Austria gets two centers from Turkey (RUM and BUL). Turkey only mantains
SEV and bounces Italy out of Smyrna. 

    Finaly, it seems that Italy and France get an agreement around Iberia.

    But there is no agreement between England and Germany. They both grow 1
and it seems that they will continue their war. Also France seems willing to
put England out of the Low Countries.


     S1905

     England continues his war with France and Germany. Even he losses the
Low Countries, he is making progreses to recover LIV and win DEN. However,
the sudden appear of an italian fleet in NAO may disturb him a lot.

     Austria has ended the russian campaign and started a german one. But the
key point of this turn has been the italian stab into Austria by taking
TRI and removing his attack into Turkey. Without the italian navy, it will be
almost impossible for Austria to destroy Turkey. The south witch needs a
very compensated army - navy to be defeated and Austria does not have it.

     Italy has changed his mind once more. He is doing strange things but
he follows the standard italian policy of trying to mantain the balance of
power while taking one center from here and one from there. However, I think
that he is getting little profit from all this and once someone decides to
attack him he will suffer from all this. This may happen soon as Austria may
perfectely change his objective from Germany to Italy.

     F1905

     Austria has get rid of the annoying italian in Trieste, but this has
forced him to cover two of his centers, which, with the capture of Berlin, 
will avoid him to build the two units he deserves. Given this, I wonder if the 
capture of Berlin has been a good idea.

     Turkey is returned to his home, but Austria has not the correct 
combination of units to attack him. Italy is once more undecided. 

     England has recovered the unit he lost (he has not lost centers), but
he has gifted the North Sea to France. Well, when I started to learn this game,
I noticed that the last thingh that England must allow, is the lose of NTS.
Even the lose of LVP is better that NTS. If France knows how to exploit that
gift, the damage into E may be much worse that all he has done up to now.

     Austria is the big power now, and England second, but there does not 
seem to be any coordination to stop this.

     In this moment I have made a mistake and sent all info concerning number
of units and supply centers (but not position of units) to Turkey. Well, it
is a serious mistake, but I am very sure that it will not affect the result
of the game greatly. These things happen, and the only I can do is apologising
for it.


     S1906

     The most remarcable fact from this season is the lack of coordination 
between France and Germany. What was suposed to be a direct gift from Germany
to France of Holland and Munich may turn in nothing. How much easier would have 
been for France to play Bel - Hol and Bur S Hol - Ruh, so that in Fall both
german units would have supported Bur - Mun.

     Moreover, if France was so sure that he would lose NTS, why supporting
 
from it? With Nts - Edi or Nts - Yor, he had 50% of chances of keeping Lvp.

     Also Italy has not got all he could from this season. One unit takes 
Greece, another supports an unexistent austrian move, and a third tries to
disturb Austria in Serbia when it was pretty sure that Austria also had another
unit in Rumania with nothing better to do than supporting Bulgaria.

     Well, if we do not see a much higher level of colaboration between the 
minor countries, this will be a race between Austria and England, although
Austria has quite advantatge.

     F1906

     France is the great loser of this turn. England has recovered all he 
needed (LVP and HOL) without losing anything, and even France has fleets
in NTS, WAL and SKA, his attack is voided. Italy has taken SPA from him and
he will disband two units. 

     The other loser is Germany who is eliminated, but that was already known.

     The third loser is Austria who has lost GRE and BUL. And he has nowhere
to go on growing from now on. He has no fleets and it will be very difficult
to build more. Turkey, even small is always hard to crack and Italy will
have enough units to stand him. In the north, England is the only neighbour
and he will not gift any center to him.

     England is the winner of this year. Gets 10 centers, and even he cannot 
build as much as he could, he has an easy task for 1907 and 1908. Just eating
France which will him 3 easy centers while Turkey and Italy mantain Austria
stalemated in the south. I doubt that Austria may distract some units to go
to north.

     Even Italy builds 3 units I am not sure to calify this as a victory. Now
he is 7, far from 10 England and 11 Austria. But he has stabbed France who
was mantaining England at bay instead of helping him. 

     S1907

     Austria starts to have serious problems. Even England does not disturb him
in the north, his lack of fleets makes him little more than useless against
Italy and Turkey. I think we all will learn about this problem along the game.

     Four austrian armies in a row have wasted their time by a single bounce
in Ankara. Moreover, the retreating army in Syria is reckoned with little use.

     France has managed to enter into Sweden, but he has no chance to remain
there in Fall. Moreover, Italy has taken Marseilles from him and he can also 
lose Brest this Fall. It is quite clear who will be the third eliminated
power.

     Diplomacy will be needed soon. Italy and Turkey cannot advance towards
Austria, and Austria cannot get anything from the south either. So, all the
jokers are in England's hand. If he gets the correct info and realises of
what is happening in the south, he should let AIT stalemated meanwhile he
prepares a complete attack which would allow him to get the best from the
situation.


     F1907

     England has done it right by assuring Sweden while entering Belgium. 
The option was to concentrate in ENG or in BEL. In Spring you better go for
position, in Fall you better go for centers.

     Big mistake of Turkey having let A SMY holding. A SMY - SYR would have cut
the support from SYR and would have avoided the bounce in the armenian-russian
border, thus giving SEV to him. This combined with the loss of BUL leaves Turkey
in a difficult decition since his only chance of mantaining 4 centers is 
retreating into GRE, owned by his new friend Italy.

     Italy has lost MAR but it was knonw that he could not hold both SPA and MAR
while taking BRE. His action has been better than MAO - GAS since GAS - MAR
with support from BUR would have left him 1 center down. Anyway, Italy may have
the surprise in the retreat phase to realise that he will not build for BRE as
he may lose GRE. I wonder if Turkey will aks permission or not.

     Austria has won one center (BUL) but he will not be able to build (another
mistake). The entrance into VEN was impossible, so VIE should better go to
BOH or GAL to free a home center.

	F1907R

	I do not use to make comments on retreats but this time it is worth
talking about it. Turkey has played as a lord and has renounced to take
GRE from Italy. The argument is that he needs to defend CON from BUL and
he in GRE would not do it. True, but tricky. The fleet in BLA was free to 
move there. Now he will have to disband a unit and his attack against Austria
will be lost. Anyway, Austria has neither any possible attack against T,
specially if T removes the fleet.


	S1908M

	Now I start to see that this may become an easy english victory. He
has had a complete turn of peace (and he may have more) in which he may
rearrange all his units to better positions while gathering Berlin from
Austria. He has also negotiated with France and this is willing to gift him 
his centers. Maybe the only mistake of England has been putting two fleets
in the BAL-BOT. He will have need of fleets soon and fast in the MID. He may
be fearing an austrian unit in MOS to attempt for STP but he has clues enough 
to know that Austria is far enough from there and his units are engaged in
more serious affairs.

	Only a quick peace among AIT could stop England, and this is far from
possible. 

	Turkey remains secure in his corner. Two armies (CON-ARM) are enough
to protect Turkey against armies, and only the austrian army in Syria forces
a third unit in SMY to defend. If it was not there, that third unit (a fleet)
could even play the nuisance against Austria.

	Austria has taken GRE from Italy, but if he losses BER he will not
grow. 


        F1908M

	England has proclaimed himself as KING of CONVOYS with three of them
succesfully landing (and one of them being double ranged). He has not earned
any center, but he has positioned well for next year. England had the option
of keeping BER but he renounced to it, or maybe he thought that if Austria
played MUN - KIE, he would mantain BER with full right.

        Austria has growed up one more center (GRE), and has lost another
unit (the army in Syria). This qualifies him for 3 units (one from the previous
year), but he can only build one unit. This delay may become critical for him.

	Italy is the only one who has to disband a unit this year. 



        S1909

	Italy is sadly trusting England and has given BRE to him (not that
he could defend it anyway), but now he may realise that England is not
precisely cooperating with him, and England has not taken the support 
given. If I were Italy now, and could see all the map, I would run to lock
the straits, and would arrange peace with Austria soon. 

	England has had another season of peace in which he has moved wisely
his units. He has looked for no quarrel with Austria. 

	Austria is trying to open himself a little (and try to build what he
deserves). Turkey mantains his country locked and his free fleet is starting 
to move to preassure Austria.

	Season after season, this is becoming more clearly an english victory.
In case the english player was new to this, he could still make a mistake, but
knowing him, I am pretty sure that he will disguise his real size as long as
possible, until a final strike become unstoppable.

	F1909

	England is trying to show himself as a peaceful power in front of 
Austria, but this is aware of the danger and starts mailing to Italy and
Turkey offering a draw.

	The problem is that Italy and Turkey have finally met again and they
may be willing to put Austria at bay for all the problems they have had lately.
This will simply flatten the english task.

	Maybe what Italy has just seen around Brest, and the english fleet in 
NAO may make him thinking of the wisdom of the austrian proposal.


	S1910

	France continues having problems with his E-mail, and moreover he does
not even answer to my private E-mail. Given his position, I have no will of
looking for a replacement, make him read all info of this game and be killed
in one or two turns. So I have decided that the army in Paris will hold unless
the french player gives me a concrete order for it.

	Regarding the game, Turkey has finally recovered Bulgaria with the
italian help. Had Austria had an army in Rumania, this would not have happened.
And this army could have been the recently built in Budapest which was won
some time ago but impossible to build given the terrible position of austrian
armies.

	England has started his movement towards Italy and has kicked him out
out of the open seas. However, I think that the italian fleets may arrive on
time to lock the straits. England has to play very cunningly next season to
break either in Spain or Marseilles.

       On the other front, England tries to appear as peaceful as possible 
towards Austria. 


	F1910

	England has managed to enter NAF. Will it be enough? Italy is running
to close his way in.

	Maybe the most interesting fact this year has been the attempt of 
Austria into Kiel, of course perfectly defended by England. Also with the
move into WAR of an austrian army which I guess, heads STP. The fact is that
England may defend now KIE or STP but not both. He will need to move his
fleet in NTH to HOL to assure both positions. So, I must declare the austrian
attack as a mistake as now England knows what he has to do. If Austria had not 
attacked now, then England would have met STP defensless next Fall. Now he will
stop it.

    
	S1911

	Austria has finally put his army in LIV to attack STP, but this will 
help little now as he has to worry about the turkish fleet in BLA.

	England has also decided to get rid of the french, but he has been 
removed out from North Africa. His entrance in the MED is really complicated.

	But Italy has not arranged his mind regarding Turkey, and continues
supporting both Turkey in BUL and Austria in TRI as sign of good will. But
this policy only helps England.    

	So we have that this turn may mean a serious defeat for England in the
military field, but a great victory in the diplomatical one.


	F1911

	Austria has mistaken by using MOS to support SEV. It was almost sure
that that support would be cut from STP. Instead, using it against STP, now
that would be his, and he would have also noticed that there was noting behind 
to fear for a couple of turns. 

	Turkey has done the wrong selection by attacking RUM. SEV was a sure
option while RUM was only conditional.

	Italy has managed to kick England out of MID (specially thanks to the
english maneuver to take SPA). But this is not serious for England as he
can build two units now (PAR and the disbanded one) and may lock the seas
in short. On the other side, Italy continues willing to be friend of Turkey
and Austria, and this policy brings him nowhere. He is for the draw, but
his support to Turkey only enlarges the war.

	S1912

	Really curious season. One could say that England has been defeated now,
with the loss of STP and GAS, but I would say that he has won as he will 
recover STP easily, even without the help of Turkey, and has secured the line
around KIE. Italy is dreaming awaken if he thinks that he has improved his
position. Yes, he has won WME, MAO and GAS in the last three turns, but this
puts him even three turns far from getting any new center. 

	Austria has really lost this year battle, and he has done it because
of being too obvious. It was so clear that Turkey would try for SEV after so
many attempts that Austria should have played RUM - BUL supported from SER.
Given the neutrality of Italy in this affair, this would have kept Austria 
balanced.

	Even more curious are the diplomatical attitudes. Italy delights for a 
draw, but is doing the opposite to what is needed, that is, attacking Turkey.

	Turkey only wants revenge against Austria, and is ready to lose the
game if needed. 

	England is just sitting and waiting. Turkey is working for him.

	And poor Austria just despears seeing that he cannot convice Italy to
do what is needed.

	F1912

	As expected, England recovers STP destroying the austrian army while
mantaining the position against Italy. As improvement, another army has arrived
to the continent and is ready for action in Germany.

	Turkey has risked the loss of BUL, but luckily, Italy has supported
him while he didn't do last turn. Now Turkey will get a unit and he will need
no more the italian help to hold, but will need it to advance.

	Italy has played once more nonsense. He is playing as if the draw he
so often insists, were at easy reach, but every one of his actions puts it
further, as he is simply affecting the only one player that agrees in the draw,
and benefying Turkey who does not want it, and simply holding England whose
victory does not depend on how much he advances in the dotless territories
of the western.

	I think that Austria is close to loss his patience and ready to throw
the game. And who will gather the profit of this?  Guess:  England.

	If I were Austria now (and maybe some turns before), I would pass
my complete status to Italy, so that he could have an almost complete look
of the map. Maybe this way, Italy would realise of what is really happening
with England and Turkey.


	S1913

	Matters are developing faster. Now Austria has got on Turkey by winning
back SEV while keeping RUM (had he done it before!!). Austria completely 
renounces to the north, and his letter to England explaining the situation
has allowed him to deal with Turkey and Italy without being bothered by
England.

	Curious that Austria and Italy have bounced in TYR and TRI after many
years of peace there. Now both can feel offended again. The bounce in TYR has
affected up to BER where England was going to take his buttiny. I wonder if
England will believe that Austria has been bounced by Italy. Well, maybe
Italy himself explains this to England unaware that by doing it, he will
only make England more confident of the Austrian intentions.

	Of course, once more the victor of this turn has been England. He has
rearranged his armies in north Russia undisturbed, and he has managed to put
four fleets around MID. Italy has once more misvalued the power of England
and has thought that he could relieve one fleet to attack Austria. MID is lost,
but he will need that fleet back to NAO or WME to hold the line there.

	From the point of view strictly militar, there is still a chance that
Italy may turn his mind and decide to help Austria against Turkey and force
a 3-draw. But the question is if there will be enough trust from Austria now
to believe it. The other question is how long this military chance will hold.

	F1913

	One more step towards english victory. He has gathered what Austria
gifted him (Berlin) and also what Austria did not (Warsaw). Moreover, he
has got his rights over MID. I have never been able to hold MID from south.

	The defeat in Gascony has been a minor inconvenience for England, and
it cannot be considered but a mistake. A simple BUR - MAR would have left
him in even better position. If his objective was to keep BUR, such move 
almost guarantee that as it was impossible for him to enter MAR. Never HOLD
when you have something to do.

	Italy has twisted one more his mind. The fleet in TYS has had to turn
back to WME to close the straits. He will get it, but his fleet in GAS is
useless except to return to Spain. He mailed Austria friendly saying that
he could attack Bulgaria. That made me though that there was still a chance
to stop England, that Italy would turn finally onto Turkey and that the units
around Trieste and Venice would serve to force the draw.

	But the expected support into BUL has become a neutral HOLD, and Italy
has tried once more for Trieste. This is not the way to make friends. Turkey
will blame Italy as he has lost BUL (plus SEV this turn) and Austria will
continue against Italy to blame him for all his pains.

	Turkey has been the great defeated this year. Will he realise that 
England has forgotten his promises of attacking Moscow? He is now back to
his home centers. Having armies in CON and ARM, he will disband a fleet which
is free to bother Austria either in BLA or BUL, but without external help, he 
will do little else. Maybe he has the key point now to bring the draw. 


	S1914

	This year promises to be interesting. In the previous negotiations 
there has been an intensive comunication between Austria and Italy. Italy

	Confirmed. Italy and Austria arrange peace and seems to go to stop
England. Italy has played wisely this time allowing the destruction of his
useless fleet in Gascony which will allow him to build a new unit. But this
means that he must retrace his fleet from Greece to close the straits and
the new fleet will replace it in TWO years. Will it be on time?

	England had to guess the free territory to enter. This time was NAF
and he missed it.

	In center Europe, England has opted by the agressive move. Even he has
lost WAR, he is now in GAL menacing several austrian centers.

	Austria had the option of defending both SEV and BUL or risking one
of them at 50% chances. He decided the second option and he lost. This may
become critical for his defense as he cannot rely on italian fleet which is 
fleeing towards west.

	F1914

	This is the beginning of the end. A couple of precise mails between
Turkey and England have allowed the latter to get a global picture of the
map and suggest the perfect moves to the former. This way, Turkey has managed
to get SEV while being kicked off from BUL will allow him to enter SER. No
problem about leaving CON undefended as he will get two builds this year.

	Italy has moved his fleet from ION back to GRE (to do nothing) and
from now he will have TUN menaced. All these movements for and backwards 
from Italy since the beginning have carried him to nowhere. This would only 
have had sense if Austria had retreated to SER instead of GRE. Then SER - BUL 
and ION - GRE would have hold a little more Turkey.

	It is incredible to see how Turkey has been able to recover from the
defeat last year and grow up to 5 so quickly. Just a support cut from STP,
the discoordination between Austria and Italy, and the simple standing of
the english army in GAL have been enough to break all the austrian lines in
the south.

	England has renounced to recover WAR. Instead he has assured MUN, thus
opening space for a new army from his homeland. In the seas, this time England
has chosen for the sure option and has put his feet again in the Mediterranean.
 Now he sees TUN open and good chances to force the entrance in WES. He has not
won any center this year (WAR for MUN) but his victory has been complete. He
has an ally who is willing to gift him the victory, and he knows it. So, it
is better for him to help Turkey destroying the austrian lines that win himself
any center this year. In 1915, Austria will not know what to defend (with two 
armies less).

	W1914

	Another time to make some comments about mails sent. Turkey mails to
Austria offering a truce while also mailing to England explaining this and
saying that he will betray such truce to force a fast defeat of Austria and
english victory. He even sends advanced orders for such a stab.    

	But before Winter is resolved, a mail from Austria explaining how
close is english victory, makes him clear his orders for Spring. Has he changed
his mind now? Is still possible to stop England? The answer: next year!!!

	S1915

	No, Turkey has not changed his mind. He simply has showed one hint more
of cruelty offering Austria a truce in order to stop England, but he simply
has gone directly to hit Austria once more. 

	I realised time ago that this game (Diplomacy, not Duran) is impossible
to win on your own. You need to look for friends, stab them later, apologise,
ally again, and stab once more. But even the best of this tactics meets at the
end a set of angry players who even cannot destroy you can avoid your victory.

	What you really need at the end of the game is someone whose enemy is
not you, but another one, and who by many and different reasons is prefearing
your victory than a draw if this means the complete defeat of his real enemy.

	This is what England has found now in Turkey. 

	F1915 

	End is closing at fast speed. Austria has lost all hope and is just 
moving south to hit Turkey, and gifting the north to England.

	On his own, England has not taken all that he could but only Moscow.
In fact, the only thing that delays him is the line on non supply centers that
splits Germany from Austria.

	Anyway, most possibly, we will see the end of the game in 1916.

	S1916

	Just two curiosities to point in this season. Turkey has taken
Greece from Italy (just to show the trust in "friends" :-) ), and England
has mistaken/joked (!?) in suporting a russian fleet from Rumania into
Sevastopol instead of a turkish one. 

	England has got Warsaw and needs two more centers. He can only assure
one. Will Austria gift two in order to shorten the pain?


	F1916

	Yes, he has done it. Austria has gifted Vienna to England while the
albion has entered Marseilles by his own force, kicking Italy from there.

	Austria has prefered to recover the "always" austrian center of Serbia
and get rid of this pain. Well, it has not been an epic end, but it was the 
one expected since several turns ago.


	ENDING WORDS

	Now that I read these my words written along so much time, I myself
enjoy them. I may be a little rude a some times, for which I wish to apologise.
I just wanted to put at every time what I saw (or foresaw) of what was 
happening and I have prefered not to self censure, but have a closer point
of view of the right moment instead of making an overall review now.

	Just want to congratulate the winner, England, who by the way, is the
same winner of the two previous blind games. This is the advantatge of gunboat
games, as you do not know anything outside game from your opponents, and he also
cleverly showed himself as novice at the beggining. 

	He was also very brave when decided to fight against all his neighbours
but he got most advantatge of the blind fact as the enemies could not see what
was happening, and they all could not trust all that was said. Eric (England)
has become profident in this after several blind games and gets the most from
it. Of course, he must always trust a bit with luck, even luck in this game
depends highly in the fact of your words convincing or not your enemies, so,
"luck" is subject of manipulation.

	He was also "lucky" in having a turkish player willing to gift him 
the game, but this situation is reached after several "years" of diplomacy, 
and this is not an instant fact, so the gifting player may change his mind
and it is matter of words getting him to mantain it.

	Well, I also want to thank the rest of players, those who have survived
up to the end, and those who were eliminated. I think we have had no 
replacements (or very few, I have to check it yet), so this means that all
players that started it, have mantained. This is very great, as this have saved
all of us (specially me) a lot of time and efforts.

	I also want to thank the observers for their patient waiting. As always
 offer myself for a new blind game (if there is no other volunter) which could
start, let us say, next January. I am already open for volunteers to play in it.
Observers will have preference, and after, the current players. In case of need,
I may look for more players outside.


	Please, send me more EOG reports.

					Merry Xmas to all.