In the 2009 BEST competition teams are collecting different elements to create different fuels. Now there are 4 basic things you can collect (H₂O, CO₂, a catalyst and energy) but you can't collect them randomly and hope to win. You obviously have to think about what you need and tweak your strategy to fit your needs.

In the first round it would be great to get at least one of the two floating CO₂ molecules along with several H₂O molecules and a few energy and catalyst pieces and after words be able to make a benzene molecule after the first round. That would be our best case scenario. But it will probably be the second or third rounds when we finally get the materials needed to make a benzene molecule. The reason for the difficulty in making benzene so soon is the limiting factor of the CO₂. It will probably be one of our top priorities.

So i guess the strategy in its most basic form is collect what you need for your next molecule and start collecting for the following molecule after you have your initial requirements and if there is reasonable time left over (get what you need plus a little extra).

The Base-4 Transfer System

Below is the system showing how you trade in collectible commodities for other more valuable commodities

• 4 H₂O are traded for 1 catalyst
• 4 catalysts are traded for 1 energy unit
• 4 energy units traded for 1 CO₂
• 4 CO₂ are traded for 1 C₂H₄
• 4 C₂H₄ are traded for 1 C₆H₆
• 4 C₆H₆ are traded for 1 C₆H₁₄
• 4 C₆H₁₄ are traded for 1 C₈H₁₈

The four fuels we are trying to make are

• ethylene-C₂H₄+3O₂
• benzene-C₆H₆+3H₂
• naphtha (hexane)-C₆H₁₄
• isooctane-C₈H₁₈