I'm still staggering after the tournament this afternoon.

    We played a four round standard constructed at the sentry box.  Constructed has never been a popular format in Calgary, so to spice things up, I brought a litre of vodka and a shot glass and promised that I would take a shot for every turn any of my opponents took.

    Being a conscientious person, I entrusted my car keys to a friend before the tourney started-- I might be an idiot, but I'm not a complete idiot.

    I knew I was in for a rough ride when I faced my most difficult opponent first round and he won the coin toss. As I slammed back the first shot, I thought "If I wait long enough for the alcohol to hit my system like a shock trooper, I'm done for. Brent is on the ball, once I start to falter, I'll keep faltering."

    Fifteen minutes, and two shots later I had managed to eke out a victory.

    On a strategy note, if you decide to do this, make absolutely sure your deck is fast, like stupid fast.  I was playing the barzan-dooby deck that I posted a few weeks ago.  (Editor's note: due to technical problems, that deck has been reposted here) My second game I went first and managed to win without giving my opponent a turn. I was starting to reel from the alcohol from the first game.

    I went outside and smoked four cigarettes to steady myself, but more importantly to sit for a moment without letting on how weak I was feeling.

    As I staggered in for my third game, I realized that it had been a bad idea to begin with. I was fortunate enough to win the coin toss. He seeded five PNZs, and I knew I had him-- I play with espionage cards and Plans of the Tal Shiar. A two turn (after grabbing a Horaga'hn) win was pre-ordained as I had no difficulty grabbing the PNZs.

    In the fourth round, I faced the last remaining undefeated player, Mike Rosebush.  Mike's deck is an interesting Borg assimilate homeworld deck that can win without giving me a turn. I was unlucky again and didn't get to go first. I knew my traditional 6 combo scows wouldn't slow down Mike at all. He always goes after the nebula first (for the particle). I seeded my own Rascals/Ooby Dooby combo under his first mission, knowing that that would stop Mike just the one turn I needed to use my pregame downloads to waltz through the measly 6 dilemmas he had seeded (a man after my own heart, Mike-- only seeds 6 dilemmas like I do.)

    I had to take a five minute break after my first turn (the one where I scored a Horaga'hn) to get my head together and to violently empty my stomach.

    I got back and scored 6 missions that turn (including two of his) before I could wrap my head around the fact that I had over 200 points.

Cumulative score: 8 + 400
Cumulative inebriation: 5 shots of Smirnoff Vodka
Olav's alcohol tolerance: Pathetic