The Ilan Strategy

FIELDS OF VALHALLA - And with a joyous glint in her eye, Vixen clutched the Jack of Clubs close to her heart, and so sealed the fate of her opponents. Any hope that Puff Daddy and Lone Star had of reversing their downward spiral ended with the aborted 'nil' bid by Lone Star. And with that, Vixen and Godking made a resounding statement: "Any victory celebration is premature. We may be old, but we can still come with the thunder." Since May of 1998, countless contests of daring and bravado have taken place in the friendly confines of Arlington, VA. Over the months of action, both sides of this epic struggle have seen the tide turn in their favor, only to see it just as quickly turn against them. With 1998 now behind us, and 1999 a year of new opportunity, the intensity is back to its fever pitch. Spades is once again king, and only the victors can walk tall and proud. This is not a game that rewards those who are the runners-up - it is concerned with winning and only winning. So may the best team be victorious... Recent Ilan Strategy Stories: Lone Star, Puff Daddy Finally Taste Spades Triumph Euchre Makes Its Long-Awaited Comeback

Scores Star/Puff 599 Godking/Vixen 293 The Players Godking Lone Star Puff Daddy Vixen

Code Name: Vixen
Style: Passive Conservative

Strengths: Spade Usage, Strong Leads
Weaknesses: Partner Protection, Fresca

Vixen, a card-playing veteran of many years, is still learning the finer nuances of partner play. Paired most often with Godking, Vixen has been known to occassionally get into heated shouted matches involving low diamond leads and the two of Clubs. Formerly possessed of unbelievable luck, which led to some early demolishings of her opponents, Vixen has of late returned to her conservative card-playing roots, tossing partner Godking and his aggressive style into disarray.

Career Highlights: Background is closely guarded, though rumors abound regarding Vixen's solo career in the everglades of Florida. No information prior to 1998 has been recorded.

WARNING: Vixen is known to horde the Ace of Hearts, evoking vulgarities from her partner, has an aversion to Squeeze-a-Cheese, and is known to consume large quantities of Fresca while playing. (Quantities increase as losses mount.) Also rumored to have "a bladder the size of a pea." Approach with caution.

Code Name: Godking
Style: Aggressive Aggressive

Strengths: Going Nil
Weaknesses: Likely To Steam at Partner, Low Diamond Leads

Godking has proven to be a highly competent Spades player, capable of turning the tables on his opponents at any time. A frequent partner of Vixen, Godking has become a master of "going nil." He has an uncanny ability to either have every winner in the world or to have none at all. He can conjure instant points for his team seemingly at will. Approach with caution - Godking is rumored to have studied the fine arts of "stacking the deck."

Career Highlights: Originally considered only a marginal talent due to his excessive tendency to stack the deck, Godking's true skill lies in the game of Magic^®, yet he has recently risen to the rank of #1 Spades Player, Courthouse Division.

WARNING: Godking has been known to snap at his partner after inexplicable low diamond leads when he is attempting to "go nil." He is likely to sulk quietly in his chair, muttering under his breath about what one should or should not do when their partner "goes nil." Highly tempermental.

Code Name: Lone Star
Style: Psychic Aggressive

Strengths: Extra Trick Avoidance, Verbal Abuse
Weaknesses: Stopping Those "Going Nil," Country CDs

Lone Star has proven to be one of the most enigmatic Spades players ever, showing a flair for the dramatic, yet faltering in many a game due to communications errors with his usual partner, Puff Daddy. Lone Star has exhibited an uncanny ability to strategize perfectly with regards to stopping his opponents, specifically Godking, from "going nil," yet he has not been able to close the deal. Lone Star has recently overcome an early problem of seriously underbidding, a strategy devised as a countermeasure to Puff Daddy's initial overbidding tendencies.

Career Highlights: As protege to Pete "The Original Guru" Gillen, Lone Star has emerged as the reigning champion of Hearts, yet his Spades skills are growing. Best known, however, for a 1994 Euchre victory over the highly-touted duo of Avon & Legend.

WARNING: Lone Star, himself somewhat psychic, has a tendency to expect his teammate to be able to read his mind. When his teammate does not foresee the grand designs Lone Star has constructed in his mind, Lone Star tends to slam tables and hurl objects.

Code Name: Puff Daddy
Style: Passive Random

Strengths: Stopping Those "Going Nil," Early Tricks
Weaknesses: Classic Overbidder, Verbal Abuse

Puff Daddy, a veteran of many years of Spades playing, may not have frequent playing partner Lone Star's gift for Hearts, but what Puff does, Puff does well. After overcoming an early tendency to grossly overbid, forcing his partner to forever doubt his ability to take his tricks, Puff has arrived at a more sound playing style. Not one to play too many risks, Puff has been known to take his tricks early and often, lest his partner begin to doubt him.

Career Highlights: Paired with Lone Star, Puff Daddy has established himself as a star to be reckoned with on the Spades circuit. With shrewd skill and a growing confidence in team play, Puff is one of the role models of the future.

WARNING: Puff's ability to remain calm in the eye of a storm is greatly exaggerated, and Puff becomes quite irritable when his partner doubts him. Prone to some unusual leads, Puff's methods are often called into question, and the temper (or worse, Garth Brooks CDs) may soon follow.