[Conor Ryan]

Step 0: SCOUT. Know who is at your event and what they can do. Know who is getting lucky, know who is a victim of murphy's law. As the event goes on Mean Reversion will happen.

Step 1: Know what it takes to move between the different rounds. Know your capabilities, and know what you need to put up to move on.

At Greater Pittsburgh (its not remotely close to Pittsburgh) I knew it would take at least 60 points to move to Semis. About 100 to move to Finals. (Its week 2). We couldn't carry the alliance ourselves, so we needed 1) somebody who could stack high quickly, and 2) somebody to move cans on top and noodle if needed. We could be fairly flexible in our own approach to the game.

Step 2: Since you are picking, know WHERE you are going to be picking.

This year at Pittsburgh we were sitting in 11th after Quals. Knowing the capabilities of teams ranked above us and who was ranked below us, I knew we were going to be picking in the 8th slot. That cut off everyone ranked above us. And one or two obvious picks.

Step 3: Be realistic and know what you can do. Approach the teams, talk to their strategy guys ahead of time.

Step 4: Pick the teams that best fit your strategy and will maximize your alliance's points. If you aren't in the top 3, this will likely be a motley crew of 3 robots that have had a tough time but will come together and put on their best matches of the event.

Step 5: Execute on the strategy. Make sure the robots work. Pray Murphy's law doesn't kill you.