Overall Dueling Tactics

I will provide certain tactics or things someone can do while dueling. While these things are almost obvious and some people might even do them, they might be deciding factors to a victory that most people might not realize or use to their advantage even though one might not have game-breaking cards.

# 1 - Read!

Though you might have seen the card a hundred times always read a card's text if there is any doubt. I have been in many duels where either myself or my opponent lost because the text was misread leading us to making decisions based off of the error of the card. I was dueling with a Dark/Fiend Deck and I brought out "Dark Ruler Ha Des". I attacked and destroyed my opponent's face-down Sangan and he thought he was to get it's effect. "Dark Ruler Ha Des" specifically states that when an effect monster is destroyed by him their effect is negated. My opponent had thought it would get it's effect because of Sangan resolving in the Graveyard, but regardless he didn't get the effect. Always read a card's text so that your decision will be more accurate.

# 2 - Watch!

No matter what kind of duel it is whether it's a casual or final match, Watch! You should always watch your opponent carefully. In this area you'll prevent cheating maybe theft, but most importantly you'll know what your opponent's up to. If your opponent is careless you might even see a card or two. There has been many times where someone drops a card accidently from their hand completely revealing to their opponent or they activate their card and thinking that it's a "Mirror Force" they reveal a "Imperial Order"; that's the benefit from observing you can see what someone has. Therefore watch your opponent so that you might have the advantage of knowing what he/she has.

# 3 - Silence!

In Yugioh you are required, when asked, to let your opponent know the amount of cards in your side deck, the cards in your graveyard, and even the amount of cards in your hand, but leaking anymore information is just insane. Your success is higher if your opponent knows less, and lower if having your opponent know more. Only let your opponent know info. when you are required. That means if they destroy your "Sangan" and you get a "D.D. Warrior Lady" and they say "Oh man, Chaos Emperor Dragon". Even though you may not have CED don't say "Well, I don't have CED". If you say that, it might make them less careful. I only recommend you giving info. to your opponent, info. you wouldn't necessarily want your opponent to know, when you're bluffing. Which brings us to our next...

# 4 - Bluff!

Bluffing can pay off at times. In most cases, bluffing is a 50/50 chance to your opponent - you bluff and your right or you bluff and your wrong. In tournament play you want to win, and so you want to evade as many traps as possible. This is where bluffs is at it's largest. What if that's a Mirror Force or Magic Cylinder both powerful traps that if I attack I will probably lose, you think to yourself. See, bluffing is huge. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't, and going back to # 3 don't tell your opponent your new and you don't have good cards. Bluffs are only as useful to you as to what your opponent knows. Don't try bluffing if you just topdecked a card and shouted a "Crap" knowing it's a card that can't help in your current situation. When bluffing you have to use tact and make it seem like it's real, because if not it's useless when against a good opponent.

# 5 - Life Points

Yes I said "Life Points". Perhaps the most important part of the entire game and the most important advice I'm giving you. You should know each player's Life Points at all times when making decisions. The Life Points is where the game in most duels are decided; it's the basic rule to winning or losing. Again, I've been in many duels where a player gets so mad because they didn't play a certain card because they didn't know the Life Points. A word to the wise ALWAYS KEEP TRACK OF AT LEAST YOUR OWN LIFE POINTS. Don't forget that it's always important to know your opponent's as well. I in particular always keep track of both my opponent's and my own Life Points, but you should always keep track of your own whether it's by pencil and paper or calculator; just know your Life Points. **Note** - Sometimes there are conflicts when keeping track of your opponent's Life Points, so if you are just do your best and always add to or subtract from the correct amount of Life Points when keeping track of the Life Points.

and the last....

# 6 - Anticipate!

This one depends on experience as a player. For you new ones to the game this isn't going to help a whole lot, but for some of us who know the current status and use of cards in tournament play we should use this one. When making decisions try your fullest to anticipate how your opponent will respond or what your opponent might activate or choose. Acquiring as much knowledge as possible is your best way when anticipating your opponent's actions, so use all the resources you can; your hand, both Graveyards, and the field; even the removed from play pile. In most cases, the best way to do this is to put yourself in your opponent's place. Try to see how you would respond if your opponent gave you the option that you're giving your opponent. (Example: Painful Choice)

Also, remember that Yugioh is a game! It's for fun and you should always have fun when playing. The actual last hint I can give is the simplest and most important...RESPECT. At all times respect your opponent and his/her cards. Treat your opponent as you would want to be treated. Most of these tactics I've shared are purposes for winning, but if you show your opponent RESPECT, even though they may not deserve it, you really won.

Thanks - Travis DeLoge. Comments? Email me. travisdeloge@yahoo.com