Algernon Pulls It Off! is a card-driven activation system, which introduces a wonderful degree of uncertainty into every dogfight. Rather than following a predictable sequence in which each player moves and fires all their aircraft, the game uses a shuffled deck of cards to determine when individual aircraft or formations can act. Crucially, movement and firing are controlled by separate cards. This means that even if you maneuver your aircraft into a perfect firing position, there's no guarantee you'll get the opportunity to shoot before your opponent moves away. Equally, a timely fire card might allow you to unleash a devastating burst of machine-gun fire before your enemy has a chance to react. This creates considerable friction and forces players to think ahead rather than simply react to their opponent's last move. There are a variety of card types in the deck, including cards that allow movement, firing, bonus moves, or cards limited to skilled pilots or named characters.

​

One of the most important mechanics in the game is tailing. If your aircraft successfully gets onto the tail of an enemy, it can follow that aircraft as the defender attempts to escape. You effectively ignore your own movement card while maintaining pursuit, moving with your target instead. This is enormously valuable because it increases your chances of drawing that all-important fire card while still occupying an excellent firing position. Of course, the defending pilot can attempt evasive maneuvers to shake off his pursuer, with the difficulty depending on the skill of the pilots involved. The result is a game that strongly rewards historical aerial tactics. Get your best pilots onto the tails of your opponent's least experienced airmen, and you're well on your way to victory!

​​

Pilot experience plays a particularly important role in Algy. Pilots are divided into five categories, ranging from inexperienced Sprogs to Regulars, Veterans, Junior Aces, and Top Aces. Better pilots are more capable of performing difficult maneuvers, maintaining pursuit, and making the most of firing opportunities. A skilled ace can be considerably more dangerous than an inexperienced pilot, even when flying a less impressive aircraft. Aircraft themselves have different characteristics, including speed, maneuverability, climbing ability, robustness, and firepower. 

Altitude also matters. Aircraft operate in different altitude bands, and gaining height can provide a valuable tactical advantage. Players can perform a variety of maneuvers, including dives, sideslips, loops, and Immelmann turns. The rules even allow for concealed formations that must be spotted before their aircraft are revealed, opening the possibility of surprise attacks from an unexpected direction. Although dogfighting is the main attraction, the game also includes rules for bombing missions, observation balloons, and anti-aircraft fire. These additional elements provide opportunities for more varied scenarios beyond a straightforward encounter between opposing fighter formations.

​

There is one important caveat to any discussion of how the game plays...Algy was originally written as a free PDF rather than a fully polished commercial rulebook, and it shows in places. Some passages are ambiguous, and there are occasional contradictions that require players to exercise a little common sense. My advice is to play the game in the spirit intended rather than getting bogged down in arguments over minor details. The Facebook group is also an excellent resource for resolving questions, many of which have probably been asked before. ​​