Grand Slam Comics, Fort Worth, TX
Saturday  Nov. 6
Five rounds, two out of three games per match
only about 35 players, so prizes were slightly chinzy today
First place 12 1st ed fossil boosters
Second place 4 1st ed boosters


Two of the top regulars were not here today. I used the same deck except
for a small modification. I had mentioned last week that my super
potions had been ineffective, so I wanted to put in plus powers instead.
After some testing, I went with defenders instead. The strategy was to
lay one down when thunderpunching with 'Buzz, and then not do 10 damage
to myself. And reduce opponents attack by 20 their next turn. This
helped a great deal. I also added Tauros.

Lately most opponent's competitive decks have been speed grass
hayvariants with Scyther and Pinsir. Today, there were fighting decks
everywhere!! I haven't played many fighting decks until now.

Fighting decks are hard to use. Why? Scyther!! I have never found a way
to use Chan against him, and I always have three or four Scythers.

My deck today:

Fossil Magmar   4
Buzz            4
Scyther         3
Tauros          2

fire energy     13
lightning        9
dbl colorless    4

energy removal   4
super er         4
energy retrieval 4
defender         3
oak              2
computer search  1
gust             3

With this deck, I have loads of energy. With retrievals, I rarely go
without. I need to consider going with 4 Scythers.

Last week the winner used a Lapras/Scyther/Farfetched/Pinsir deck. The
same deck/player won today also. I never played him, even though I
finished second. This deck/player has won his last three tourneys.

First match was against a fighting deck! A major change. These guys do
OK until they see Scyther, then I completely control the game. Even with
Hitmonlee, Scyther makes quick work of them. Magmar can hold them off
with smokescreen until Scyther takes the throne. I feel sorry for one
color fighting decks. As long as I am not stuck with 'Buzzes, then I do
well.

Second match was against a better deck. He had more trainers, and a
faster strategy. He fought fast with Machops and Lees, relentlessly
hitting my bench. I easily controlled the first game with my Scythers
and Energy removals. The second game I only had out a 'Buzz!!!!! He had
a Machop. Turn two, game was lost. No bench. On top of my deck was a
Magmar. This close to possibly winning two quick games.
Third game was a looong one. He got a good deal, and I had to scrounge
for my Scythers. He saved all of his energy removals for Scyther. I was
constantly retreated them, and he stretch kicked them on the bench. He
had three prizes before I got going. I had to fight with Magmar, and I
had to put 'Buzz on the bench when the Scythers were gone. It is not
weak to fighting on the bench, but Lee's stretch kick was taking its
toll. I was putting defenders on my bench pokemon!!!!
It came down to us both having one prize. He had a fully powered Lee
with 30 damage, but I had nothing powered up.  A couple of plus powers
would have been nice. I had to fight with a 'Buzz, and had a Scyther on
the bench with 60 damage. He had removed energy on  Scyther, and gusted
in my Buzz . If I could flip heads and paralyze, the game was mine next
turn. I removed one energy on his Lee, leaving two. I put a defender on
my benched Scyther. I flipped tails!!! Only way he could win would be
for me to flip tails, and for him to have another energy. He did, and
100 damage to my 'Buzz. Game over.

This is why I never played the winner today. He was undefeated, and I
won all my matches 2-0 except round 2. Lost it 1-2.

Round three. A great match. Two looong games, but I had control all the
way. He had a fighting deck with Slowbros. Hitmonlee, Machokes, and
Chans. He would put out Lees and damage swap all day long. He had
pokemon centers and scoop ups. I was slashing every turn it seemed.
First game turning point was after I had been removing energy like
crazy, he put out a powered up Lee and was out of damage removal
options. I had 60 damage on my lone Scyther, and slashed. But, I put
down a defender. He could only stretch kick my bench, attack with no
damage to my Scyther, or pokemon center. He centered, losing all of his
energy. After I had used all of my Energy removals, he could not afford
to be out. After that, if he powered anything up, it was dead before he
could attack. He was stalling forever, and he only took one prize.
Second game was like the first, only even longer. He was in full stall,
and never took a prize. Scyther ruled here.

Round four was a breeze. His deck was very bad. He had colorless
fighters weak to lightning. He was not thinking when he benched them. He
benches everything. I had to explain it to him. Even when I gusted and
killed, he didn't seem to learn. If I had six gusts, game would have
been six turns.

Round five was against a magazine copycat deck. Potpouri or something.
By some famous guy. (I am bad about names)
It had Chans, Mr. Mimes, Buzzes, and Scythers. Three colors! I do have
to work to beat these three color decks. Heck, I even tried them out for
quite a while! But, they just do not work against a good deck. He had
won everything until this match. I dominated, although both games were
long. He took three prizes each game. I used all of my pokemon in this
match. His mistake may have been to bench his Mimes. Gust every time I
saw one. With Magmar, dead in two turns. If he had no Mimes or purple
energy, and had more energy of the right color, maybe it would have been
a match. I always have a fight on my hands when against Chans. If my
Scythers are hiding, it seems my 'Buzzes are not.

Finished second. I still think I can be strong against the winning
Lapras deck. Will have to wait and see.

Stealthfighter       tuffhem@earthlink.net