Tactics/tips/approaches to beat my gf's high score.
So my gf and I have a standing competition for highest score. We play online mostly (we live in separate cities). The loser has to buy the online expansions whenever they come out. Not the highest stakes, but stakes non-the-less. So I'm currently playing single player vs 4 AI and cherry picking/restarting games to set myself up with as favourable starting conditions as possible to save time. From what I've found myself as well as taking note of other high-score posts, there are certain conditions that lend themselves a lot more to high point games. The score I'm trying to get it 159 or higher, (thought I really want to absolutely crush her). Sadly controling all 5 players is against the rules (and my pride won't allow it). Here are some of the conditions/notes I've noticed make 160+ point games likely. They are as follows:
- "No goal" as first (maybe second) round goal.
- Having decent and playable birds in all 3 habitats in my starting hand. Any turn used to get a single food/egg/card is a wasted turn.
- An early pink bird that gives you an egg lay when others lay eggs.
- What I call "cross-pollination". Birds that give another action that it's habitat. Food/cards in Grassland, eggs/cards in Forest, eggs/food in Wetlands.
- Bonus card points. All the mega big scores have 30+ bonus card points. It can really maximize that per-turn point gain.
- Power birds that are usually a smart pickup and/or make a major contribution to points. These I typically pickup regardless of the situation: Gallah, Bonelli's Eagle, Kakapo, Eastern imperial eagle, European Goldfinch and/or Snow Bunting, North Island Brown Kiwi, Abbott's Booby, Kea, Ravens (if you're playing them), Wrybill, any pink birds that give eggs for another player egg lay as well as the Sacred Kingfisher and Spangled Drongo.
- Honorable mentions of power birds. These I'd keep an eye out for or strongly consider if the situation is right: Carbird/mocking bird (with another power bird brown power), Common Chiffchaff (if a killer water tuck engine seems possible), many of the turquois birds in the right situation, Red-Legged Partridge, Maned Duck and/or Mute swan (big baits though I find), California Quail and/or Chipping sparrow for that food+egg combo, the vulture pink cards if 2+ opponents have high probability predators.
So thoughts? I'd appreciate any words, feedback, and/or additions to my approach on crushing my gf's high score (and smugness) in this amazing game.
edit: I did it guys! Thanks for all the help.
[Scorecard](https://ibb.co/Bs2mG20)
[Gameboard](https://ibb.co/5GLCwZm)