Playskill improvement?

Orlandu · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 195

I'm a slightly above average player, been playing "competitvely" (i.e. I try to get to at least two or three PTQs every season, go to regionals, try to grind into nationals, states, etc..), and I've been really frustrated lately while trying to tighten up my play.

I know that I need to, I make play mistakes all the time, nothing REALLY glaring, but they exist nonetheless. I played in an FNM friday with the intent to make no play mistakes, and I ended up making at least two or three over the course of the night. I did catch that I made the mistake but not until after I had already done it. Most of these mistakes were about what cards to play and when, what cards to counter and when to let things through, things like that.

My question to those of you out there better than myself, people that may have gone to the tour, done well in GPs, etc.. is how do you stop yourself from making these mistakes in a game? How did you learn to tighten your play up?

I'd appreciate any constructive input anyone has to offer.

Thanks!

TheRedWizard · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 142

I know that for me personally, playtesting was the most important step towards making less mistakes. Although most playtesting was innitially done to try to improve decks or matchups, you will play so many matches that many situations will become second nature, so that you will be able to avoid thinking on most situations and know what is correct, this will allow you more time to spend on the tougher decisions. In magic, practice really is incredibly key for those not finkel, Kai spent 6 hours a day testing, it helps.

-Bouncy

Herik · Joined: 01 Feb 2005 Posts: 49

Playtesting obviusly, experience because you learn from your mistakes over time, you learn to see the diference between a situation froma slightly different situation, and sometimes you even need more money than you expect you will need, for example i went to a GP that was at my hometown, i entered with a blue-green aggro/control deck, and i went pretty well the first 4 rounds, i even get to play at table 1 for 5th round, but i played against a white weenie deck, it was kamigawa block, and i lacked enough money for making a 100% deck so i didnt have umezawa jitte and pithing needle, which would had gave me a better chance againt weenie, my point is, that e ven with the skill, training and experience, sometimes you really need certain card, no matter how expensive it is

Orlandu · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Posts: 195

Thanks to everyone that's offered great advice so far, though it would probably be helpful for me to point out that I have or have easy access to every card I could possibly want to use so yeah..

Hank333 · Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 256 Location: San Antoni

Having friends who are as good or better then you helps, playing with them casually and everyone asking questions and being open with one another will improve you mtg skills greatly.
Magic is very difficult to play perfectly.

ILikeBananas · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 157

try to understand the rules rather than just memorize them based on situations. I have distinct memory of playing someone who said he gets to draw off a fizzled Repeal because it's a "separate trigger". He was clearly misapplying a different set of rules.

Get some good rest before any events, much like how you should get some sleep before exams in school.

Keep a sporting attitude. Never get cocky because you win. In magic, there's always a chance for you to lose. Just by acknowledging the possibilities, you understand your options better. Don't treat your opponents as enemies. Think of them as opportunities for learning. From experience, people that call people noobs and bitch about losing often aren't the best players.

Read various magic articles. They open up discussion on strategy and theories that you may or may not have thought of. Even if you don't think the article is "good", critically review it and explain to yourself why it's not good competitively before moving on.

tcook589 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 57

Like Hank333 said, it helps drastically to ask questions in any given situation. There are plenty of times when someone makes a play that you may not understand completely and simply asking the question will help significantly.

If he knows why he make the play, then he can explain it to you and you'll learn his reasoning. If he doesn't then you can discuss the possibilities and discuss what would have been optimal. Almost certainly, both situations will draw some attention and likely discussion from spectators.

This almost requires a comfortable play-group because, unfortunately, there are plenty of assholes out there who will be annoyed by constant questions, whereas a teammate would gladly discuss strategy.

sc4rs · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 405

The fact that you're admitting you make mistakes is a huge, critical step to take. Every single loss is a learning experience and knowing that you made a mistake instead of blaming it on luck is a really important start on making yourself a better player.

The most important pieces of advice I ever have been given by a professional player were always ask yourself "Is this your final play?" before you make a play, and to slow down, not to the point where you're being accused of stalling, but don't always do the first thing you think you should do just because you can. Sometimes stopping to consider alternatives for a good 30 seconds is the right thing to do, and nobody can really fault you for it, especially if you say out loud something like "This is a complicated situation, give me a second to do some math."

Conkisstador · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 291

indeed, most tips have already been said. it only comes from experience the knowledge of what spell to counter... key cards in amtchups etc. many times denial counters (countering mana ramp) doesnt work but against izzetron is was perfect because they relied heavily on the artifact to get rolling and produce color.

playing aggro with red... normally killing an elephant to get 2 elephants thru is the right play... but when waiting for wrath it's practice that tells you when u can just run into blockers unfavorably because odds are burn will finish it out.
practice will tell u this.

a great way to maximize the benefit u get from practice is to replay the game with your opponent and talk about decisions. the best palyers know whether playing the viper or the troll is correct and why... or when to drop the goyf. go over the game and see where u could have made different plays and see how the game evolves from there.

eat a lot during big oturnaments and process all events. yesterdya at ptq i saw top4 match lost because someone autopiloted into "ok attackers- NO WAIT" but it was too late.

Johnno3k · Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 47

Or you can always do what they do in the animes for games in general. Work out your body, run many miles, get in shape, and when that is all done you play a game and get all tired out from it and have to rest or else you won't be able to play more another game after that Very Happy

go anime

Craze · Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 5432 Location: Indiana, U

I think a large part of it, is knowing your deck and metagame. If you know every odd and end to your deck your a lot less likely to make a mistake, because you know whats in your hand, what your working for and how you normally do it. Theres a certain strategy to playing a deck, reasons for each card choice, knowing when and where to use a card and overall knowing the eventual desired ending is very impotent.
At the same time its deck building and knowing what your opponent is going to do. Against blue, if you know he has three cards in his hand and his deck generally doesn't run more then a few counters, you know its safe to play your big spell after a diversion. Knowing the decks of those most played around you, is key to being able to read your opponent and way your overall options.
Someone once told me that you never really play to your decks max potential, you just play the best you can with the little you have.

str8 · Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 18

I think you should also loosen up a bit. Try not to get very anxious and just chiiil. And slow down your plays. Seeing those mistakes right after you make them means with a bit of slowing down you can see them before you make them. Try to think what your opponent could have for the play you are making.

Revik shold read this thread :/