[EricH]

Originally Posted by SSMike

Actually, I think that just the opposite will be true. The 3rd partners will make or break the alliances, and a strong 3rd partner is essential to reaching Einstein. I believe that you are underestimating the power of a lap bot that can play defense against an elite hurdler. Even if all they can do is stop or delay a team like 1114 just once, that may be enough to win the match (provided that the other members are effecient hurdlers).

You're dead on about the third pick. What Looking Forward didn't say about 503 in 2005 was that their strategy (and automode) was very good in the Championships. In the final round, a tetra landed cockeyed in auto, knocking down the hanging tetra below it. They left the tetra cockeyed all match, even though it was worth three points properly placed. The tetra below was only worth one...but because it owned that goal unless the one above was upright or off, it was worth 11, pretty much permanently.

Ever since the three-robot matches started, the third pick has been the key to victory, unless one alliance is so lopsided they could win a 3-on-2 easily. And that almost never happens.