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by Russell Mirara (rusta@hotmail.com).
Web posted December 12, 2000.
Unfortunately, I couldn't fit all I wanted into the title. What I really
wanted to say was … proper play, sideboarding tips, tournament tips, and more.
Proper Play
Yes, there is a proper way to play in tournaments. Tournaments are not casual
play sessions. People get out there and play in tournaments to get points
added to their rating and to win prizes. But if you are like me, I like to just
get out there and play; I play to get better and generally have fun while I do
it. However I play properly and I play to win. Proper play is not some written
rule, it is the way you act and play during the game.
Some Tips on How to Play Properly During the Game:
- Lay your lands out clearly and in some order. This not only helps
you keep track of your lands but it also keeps your opponent from having to
always ask you how many lands you have, and how many of them are untapped.
- Announce everything you do, and name the cards as you play them.
This also keeps your opponent from having to bother you, and asking you
silly questions like, "What are you casting?" It also helps
you keep track of what you're doing. Don't forget you should also mention
which phase you're in whenever you move into the next phase
- Keep your own life score. This is so important because this allows
you to see your own and your opponent's life scores, which are vital when
calculating what you are going to do next. Check your life score sheet with
your opponents life score sheet whenever any amount of damage is dealt. It
stops cheating and makes sure every point of damage is counted for.
- Last of all, keep everything neat. It keeps everyone happy. Keeping
your play area neat keeps judges from suspecting cheating, other players
know where everything is so they don't suspect anything, and it keeps you in
line because now you know where you've got everything.
I think a great way to get yourself to play properly is to think of yourself
as a professional. You're here to win (because only by playing your best do you
know where you're going wrong), so play your best.
General Tournament Tips
- Always give your deck a good shuffle before you begin the game. If I had a
booster pack for each time I saw someone just give their deck a few ruffle
shuffles then begin to play, I'd have more cards than Richard Garfield. It
is essential to give your deck at least one magic shuffle. The magic shuffle
sorts out huge mana clumping, and gives you a pretty even distribution of
cards. I will bet anyone that if you give your deck a few good shuffles and
one magic shuffle you will see the quality of your hands are much better.
And every little advantage counts in a tournament.
- Pre-plan everything you do (this is something I learnt at the World
Championships). Always plan for your whole turn. After drawing a card for
your draw phase sit and think about what you are going to do this turn. Read
the card again and make sure you know what it does and what you are going to
do with it. This stops you from making silly mistakes by misreading the
card, and it helps you see any flaws in your play before you play them.
- Work around your opponent's deck. When constructing your plan, plan for
what your opponent might be holding in his hand. For example: if your
opponent is playing blue and he/she has two blue mana untapped, they could
be holding a Counterspell. Or if your opponent is playing black
he/she may have a Snuff Out or a Vendetta (which kill
creatures). If you have reason to believe they are holding these cards or
other cards that could affect play, plan around those cards. This means
thinking what your response would be if some of these cards were played. For
another example: if I thought my opponent had a Counterspell and I
had two creatures in my hand, I would play the worst of the two creatures
first, wait to see if he counters it. If he does, that's OK because you sill
have another one to cast and it's the better of the two. This will help you
to get the best out of your best cards.
- Play slow. I don't mean play excessively slow, I mean think after every
move you or your opponent makes. Take your time to come up with a response
to something and way out the consequences of doing it. This needs no
explanation it just is the basics of high level tournament play.
- USE HIGH-QUALITY PLASTIC SLEEVES TO PROTECT YOUR CARDS. TRUST ME, THEY ARE
AMAZING.
Sideboarding Tips
I have noticed that not very many people are using sideboards in tournaments.
A sideboard is a terrible thing to waste.
- Anything is better than nothing. A sideboard is only 15 cards even if it's
4 disenchants (in case of killer artifacts) and 11 land (if you're facing
land destruction) at least it is going to do something.
- Your sideboard should contain cards to deal with certain decks or colors
that beat your deck. For example: if you are playing black and you have
problems beating white weeny decks. Put things like Massacre and Light
of Day in your sideboard. If you're playing white and you have a problem
beating black put in some protection from black creatures.
- When sideboarding cards in and out, make sure you identify which cards you
took out of your deck and which cards you put in from your sideboard. In
most cases this is done by memory. But if you have a really bad memory just
write it down some where, where no one can see it.
- Sideboard out cards that are keeping you down. This means taking out cards
that are not working against that particular deck. You will know what I
mean. Some cards just don't cut it when it comes to facing a certain deck or
color. In that case you chuck out the cards that aren't serving you so well
and throw in those that have the chance to be game winners.
Well that's all on the theoretical side from me for now. Be sure to be there
at the Year-End Blowout tournament. If you are reading this after the tournament
has gone, you missed a great tournament I'm sure. And you also missed me giving
my little talk on deck construction and the little things you got to know to get
a smooth running deck.
Ta ta for now
RussTa TBS |
