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Why Do You Lose?- Grey Wolf

From: Christian Fong <greywolf_306@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 00:26:33 -0700 (PDT)


Hi, I'm kinda new to the CCG thing but I am quite familiar with Yugioh, since I've played for 3 years now. I'm only 13, but I've seen a lot of people lose, and have lost A LOT myself. I used to do this too (but not now), but I will see a lot of people put on a speach like this:

"Jeez, I don't know how I lost. I have all the best cards and I built this great deck but somehow I lost to this f***ing noob! I don't know how he always pulls the right cards when he needs them. I'll bet he's a cheater! Hah, wait till (insert tourney organizer here) hears. HAHAHA!"

If you've found yourself reciting this speech I have news for you. Either you're a beginner that THINKS he has all the cards but doesn't, or, more likely, you suck. The truth hurts. If you really want to help yourself, your defeat speech should sound more like this.

"Wow, I suck. I got my parents to buy me every card I can think of and I copied this deck from a high profile North American duelist and lost to some guy that is better than me. I wasted all my cards in the first turn and he didn't. I suck. I think I'll hang myself. HAHAHA!"

Face it. If you're certain you have a better deck, but you consistently lose, you are not a good duelist. Here are some terms you should familiarize yourself with.

Hand Advantage- Having more cards in your hand than your opponent or cards that let your draw more or force your opponent to discard.

Control- Limiting your opponents options with your cards.

Field Control- The condition of having cards on a field in such a manner where your opponent has to counter you.

Card Advantage- (cards that provide) Cards that destroy or provide more cards than they cost.

Ok, so these are the terms. But, what do they do? What are their advantages? Simply put, maintaining hand advantage will give you more options. The more options you have, the more likely you will be able to counter your opponents moves. Extreme negligence of hand control will lead to topdecking (being forced to try to draw the cards you need).

Using control as you play your cards will limit the amount of cards your opponent can use effectively. Cards with high control value are harder to counter, and provide your opponent with more dead draws. Cards with high control value include Jinzo, King Tiger Wanghu, Gravity Bind, Sasuke Samurai, and Imperial Order. Complete lack of cand control will lead to dead draws (drawing cards that are completely useless in the current situation). The opposite extreme will lead to the same end.

Field control is something that beginners will often overemphasize. Forcing your opponent to counter your moves is a much stronger strategy than countering your opponent's moves (which is why spells are favored over traps). Monsters with high attack/defense values and powerful effectins in addition to having face down spells or traps or continuous ones will provide field control. Over emphasis of field control will lead to hand disadvantage. Extreme lack of field control will lead to an open field for your opponent (a field in which your opponent is free to attack your life points).

One of the most important concepts is card advantage. When you use less of your cards to neutralize more of yout opponents, you have effectively used card control. Card advantage comes into play in building your deck as well as individually playing your cards. Using card advantage can never hurt you, but not using it will quickly deplete your hand and field. Beginners generally have the hardest time with card advantage. Here are some tips for commonly used cards to lead to card advantage.

Always play Pot of Greed and Graceful Charity when you get them.

Almost never use Lightning Vortex on less than 2 monsters.

Never use Jinzo if you have 3 or more traps in your hand/field.

Only use Torrential Tribute if you are destroying at least 1 more monster than you are losing.

Only use Cyber Jar when your opponent has more cards than you do.

Only use Swords of Revealing Light for when your opponent is attacking, not to reveal monsters.

Only use Heavy Storm if you are destroying one more card than you are losing.

Almost never use Tribe-Infecting Virus if you are only destroying one monster.

Only use Mirror Force on 2+ monsters.

Only use Snatch Steal on a 1900+, for a very effective tribute, or a very effective monster.

Rarely play Sinister Serpent on the field.

Well, follow these tips and you should become a better duelist quickly. Good Luck.

Grey Wolf