I'm trying to understand how pick order exactly works.
I know the order works in this way - ABBAABBA...
We can have three picks, random move order. Let's say the opponent and I have the following pick orders.

Me
1 xxx
2 East US
3 West US
4 xxx
5 xxx
6 xxx

Opponent
1 xxx
2 East US
3 West US
4 xxx
5 xxx
6 xxx

Our second and third picks conflict with each other, but the other picks have no conflicts.

Please check if I get it right.

If I am the first to pick, first round I get my first pick. The opponent gets its first pick.
Second round, the opponent gets its second pick (East US). Then I gets my second pick, but the system switches to my third pick (West US) since the second pick (East US) has been taken.
Third round, the opponent gets its third pick, but since I has taken it already, the system switches to its fourth pick. Then I get my fourth pick.

So the final distribution is:
Me - 134
Opponent - 124


If I am the second to pick, first round the opponent gets its first pick. Then I get my first pick.
Second round, I get my second pick, so I get East US. Then the opponent gets its second pick, but the system switches to its third pick (West US) since the second pick (East US) has been taken.
Third round, I get my third pick, but since the opponent has taken it, the system switches to my fourth pick. Then the opponent gets its fourth pick.

So the final distribution is:
Me - 124
Opponent - 134

Am I right?

Thank you.

Edited 9/8/2015 22:34:57

As long as neither of your 4th picks coincide with the other player's 1 and 4 then yes, that is what would happen in this scenario.

I see. Thank you for your reply.

Also, just a note, when you are playing with 3 picks each you are told to always make 6 picks right? Well something that not everyone knows is that if you get your 6th pick then the opponent has to have gotten your 4 and 5 and then 1 of your first 3 picks. So it is a good idea to use it as a counter to either of those 2 or both or make it safe since you know where the other player is.

Yes I know to choose 6 picks, but no one tells me. I figured it out myself.

I have another question. Let's say I found the best 3 spots on the map, but I might lose my first or second pick (but you can't lose both. Is it correct?), so my third pick is the one which counters the first pick (in case if I lose it), and my fourth is a counter pick against second best spot. My third best spot is down to my fifth pick. My sixth is a counter pick against my third best spot.

1 - first best spot
2 - second best spot
3 - counter against first best spot
4 - counter against second best spot
5 - third best spot
6 - counter against third best spot

Did I do it right?

P.S. To clarify, I'm talking about picks in Medium Earth.

Edited 9/8/2015 22:29:28

Didn't Fizzer add something where equivalent picks get bumped based on player level?

E.G.: inquisitor and I are playing, we have the same first pick, but I bump him by being lvl56 over his lvl52.

Not the most eloquent way of saying it, but too lazy to reword it. :P

I wouldn't pick your 3 as a counter to 1 or 2 because you might get 1, 2 and 3 which means they'd all be in the same area, which in my experience isn't usually a good idea.

These two pick strategies seem to work for me:

1/2
3/4
as two different combos
and then 5 as a long-term counter to 3/4
and 6 somewhere safe

1/2 as a combo
3 somewhere else
then 4/5 as a combo
with 6 as a counter to 4/5

since you only get 6 if they have your 4 and your 5

@Cat, levels have nothing to do with pick order.

You're right you can't lose both your 1st and 2nd in a 1v1
I wouldn't pick like that though, it is much better to change your picking depending on how the map looks. I'm a big fan of going for a 1,2 combo and then 3,4,5 around another good area. This way if I get my combo and one of the picks in the other area I can fight with a nice advantage in the first few turns if we have a border. If we split the combo and split the good area then it is down to reading the opponent, also not a problem. The worst thing is if you split both combos but you get 1,4,5 and they get your 2,3 and a safe quick income somewhere else

Thanks for all those replies.

To clarify, I'm talking about picks in Medium Earth.

Under what situations do the cases of 145 happen?

I think I need to know more about the possibility of each combination. It might help me to formulate better pick strategies. The sixth pick should be the least important, since you seldom get it.

Edited 9/8/2015 22:48:33

145 only happens when you have first pick and 2 of their first 3 picks are your 23 (as long as the other is your 1, if not it must be their 12)