7 Habitos de los jugadores altamente efectivos

#1 – Study, study, study

Were you one of those kids in school who never had to study for a test? You’d show up in class and never take notes and yet still ace every exam. You never really had to work hard to succeed at anything. Well, you know what? The same is true of lots of Magic players, and you’re going to have to beat them to win a PTQ. Magic is a game that attracts very intelligent people, and the fact that you’re successful in other parts of your life without putting in much effort as others doesn’t mean you’ll find that same success when you’re competing against them.

Information is a powerful tool in Magic. There’s a reason people pay to subscribe to this site. But even beyond the premium side of StarCityGames or the columns on Magicthegathering.com, there’s a plethora of information out there. Just because you don’t recognize an author’s name doesn’t mean they can’t have great ideas. It’s up to you find them.

#2 – Prepare for the tournament you’re playing in

This may seem glaringly obvious, but it’s something many players miss. You study the results of last week’s PTQs across the country and come prepared with a deck perfectly suited to beat the field – except you’re not playing in last week’s PTQ, you’re playing in this week’s. Often players look at tournament results and see what the popular decks were and prepare to beat those decks. As I said before, you have to recognize that you’re up against other smart, thinking players who are seeing much the same information.

The takeaway from this is that it’s important to not only keep up with what’s gone on in the format you’re preparing for, but to stay one step ahead of your competition. Don’t think you’re the only one studying what’s been winning, because you’re not. You need to go the extra mile to get an edge.

#3 – Playtest!

And how do you get that edge? By playtesting, of course. But when I say playtesting, I mean something very different from what it seems most people mean by it. When I see most PTQ players "playtest," they pull out two relatively stock decks and bash them against each other a few times. Maybe they keep a running tally of the record between those two decks to see "what wins," and then they’ll use that record to decide which of their various potential decks they’re going to play.

While there’s some value in this, playtesting is much more effective when it’s done with a more critical eye. The key is really to ask the right questions while you’re testing. What are your best cards in the matchup? What cards do you have to watch out for? What cards aren’t pulling their weight on both sides? Playtesting is when you learn what cards to cut when you sideboard and, if you’re paying close enough attention, will give you an idea of what cards that might give you an edge that aren’t already in your deck or sideboard.

This kind of playtesting, of course, is how good decks are initially made – cutting and adding cards and tweaking numbers. Good deckbuilders are constantly questioning card choices. They find problems in playtesting and look for solutions. They identify underperformers and standouts alike and make changes as a result. They learn from their playtesting and apply what they find to give them an edge in the future. And that’s what you have to do too. Ask the right questions when you play, and worry more about what you’re learning than what deck is winning. "What wins" is much less important than why it wins. Pay attention to what matters.

#4 - Sideboarding

This is related to playtesting, but important enough to warrant its own section. When you playtest for an event, in what percentage of your games do you use sideboard cards? If you’re like the average PTQ player, probably less than ten percent. When you play in a tournament, what percentage of your games are played sideboarded? At a bare minimum it’s fifty percent, and in reality probably close to sixty percent. When so many more games are played with sideboards, why do players pay so little attention to them?

The fifteen cards in your sideboard should be designed as carefully as the rest of your deck. You should know what cards you bring in and take out against each of the major decks in the format, and optimally you should have varying plans for when you’re on the play or draw depending on how the matchup changes. You should know how your deck plays against other decks while both of you are sideboarded. Are there ways you can take advantage of the way you expect your opponents to sideboard against you? In the quarterfinals of PT: Chicago against Zvi with Red Zone against his Fires deck, I anticipated that he would bring in his 4 Earthquakes to give him extra direct damage and to help punch through my regenerating River Boa blockers. As a result, I cut Ancient Hydras from my deck after sideboarding, to avoid having too many creatures that he could easily Earthquake away, despite Hydras being otherwise excellent in the matchup to block Blastoderms and kill mana creatures. Thinking ahead and analyzing how my opponent would sideboard helped me minimize the impact of cards that might otherwise have been much more powerful.

So pay attention to sideboards – yours and your opponents. A well thought out, well tuned sideboard can make can easily be the difference between a PTQ Top 8 and a PTQ win. Play a few less games with your starting sixty and warm up your bench once in a while.

#5 - Don’t blame luck

Almost seven years ago after I punted a match playing for Top 8 at Worlds in Sydney, I wrote this article about how important it is for Magic players to take responsibility for their mistakes. If you listen to the stories between rounds at a PTQ, you’ll hear countless tales of mana screw and bad matchups and how lucky peoples’ opponents were. What you will hear much less often is "I made a mistake so I lost."

As is the case for almost anyone who engages in activities that are part skill and part luck, Magic players are often blinded by agency fallacy. That is to say that we tend to believe that our success is due to our skilled play, while our failures are due to luck. Although luck certainly plays a role, I would argue that more games are decided by mistakes than by misfortune. When you’re looking for something to blame, luck is easier.

After the match, onlookers tried to console me about my misfortune, but I would have none of it. I lost that game because I let my opponent attack me with three creatures with two Windbrisk Heights in play when I could have prevented it by killing one pre-combat with Scarblade Elite. Was I mana screwed? Yes. But I did not do everything I could to put myself in a position to win, and that was my fault.

The only way you will ever improve is if you admit that you’re wrong, and you’ll never be able to do that if you’re always blaming something else for your loss. After any match I lose, I go over in my head everything I could have done differently. Sometimes it’s glaringly obvious, like "Don’t let your opponent attack you with three creatures when he has two Windbrisk Heights in play," and the lesson is only to play more deliberately and pay better attention. Sometimes the lesson isn’t so clear, and you need to discuss the game with other players to figure out if there’s something you could’ve done that you missed. But it all starts with admitting that you made a mistake.

#6 - Take care of yourself

Writers of Magic tournament reports love to regale their readers with tales of debauchery. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve read about how little sleep a player got because he was out drinking and cavorting the night before the event, I would be able to play against Stephen Menendian without proxies. Even players who avoid the bottle seem to make a habit of staying up until all hours gaming the night before, as if they’ll have some sudden epiphany at 4am that will invalidate all of their previous testing. A few hours later maybe they blearily sleeve up the same 75 they were playing before their all-night gaming session, or maybe swap decks in a sleep-deprived haze because they kept losing, but either way they’ve already hurt their odds of doing well in the tournament.

A PTQ is an absolutely grueling ordeal, starting early in the morning and lasting late into the night. To win, you need to keep yourself mentally focused for that entire time. A typical seven-round PTQ plus Top 8 takes upwards of ten hours with few (if any) real breaks. That’s a long time to keep your mind sharp, especially if you’re running on little sleep. Why not give yourself the best opportunity to win by taking better care of yourself?

Taking care of yourself in this sense isn’t limited to just getting sleep before the event. Keeping yourself in shape can have a positive effect on your performance as well. It may sound absurd to suggest that you should hit the gym to do better at Magic, but our bodies have an impact on the sound operation of our minds over extended periods. You’re less likely to be physically tired at the end of a long tournament if you’re in good shape, which means you’re less likely to be distracted by fatigue. My best strings of tournament finishes have always been during periods I’ve been working out regularly. And hey, you’ve gotta look good for the feature match pictures when you make it to the PT too!

Last, but certainly not least, is nutrition. Just like staying in shape, keeping yourself well fed and hydrated during an event helps keep your mind focused on what you’re actually there for. Loading yourself up with caffeine or energy drinks in the morning to wake you up will just make you crash in the late rounds when you really need to concentrate. Most PTQs don’t have lunch breaks these days, and few are in locations with good, easily accessible food, which can leave you hungry and distracted. I try to bring snack bars and bottled water with me to tournaments to stay fed all day. Bill Stark wrote in a recent tournament report about putting his uneaten sandwich on the table during a match to distract his hungry opponent, and I don’t doubt for a second that it impacted – at least slightly – his opponent’s focus. Don’t let that happen to you!

And finally…

#7 - Add additional numbers to your lists to make them seem more impressive and synch up with popular book titles.

En respuesta:

Los siete Hábitos de los jugadores de Magic Altamente ineficientes:

1.- Leer los 7 habitos de los jugadores altamente eficientes que postio memo, lol.
2.- Aún despues de pasarte estudiando el metagame, sacarle todas las cartas a tu deck, sacar las tierras, y meter bosques y kilos de elfos que hacen mana y nada mas, ah si para jugar tu par de might of oaks.
3.- Pedirle consejos al Dr. Luis Morio 5 min antes de que comienze el torneo, y hacerle todos los cambios que el sugirio.
4.- Querer hacer un sideboard contra todo ya que te das cuenta que tu deck es una shit.
5.- Perder y encabronarte con tu deck y aventarle lejos muy lejos, recordemos hay un grupo de neuroticos anonimos cerca de su tienda de magic favorita, el primer paso es aceptar que apestas y no sabes jugar.
6.- Hacer Mulligan de 5
7.- Hacer topdecking orestes o mal pagar tu maná.

mmmmm te falto tu preferida memo:

*Drenar horriblemente las carpetas de tus cuates/guilda para conseguir cartas carisimas aun a costa de sus propios decks para hacer tu deck tan "mortifero" que sea barrido como una vil y sucia perrita esteparia en el primer torneo que se presente y te des cuenta que tu sux, tu deck sux, presuety sux y que te prepares para hacerlo de nuevo.

Luis Sosa

De las reglas de Memo NO lestas creo que la mejor es la dos, por mucho.

De las reglas de memolestas:

Memolestas escribió:

En respuesta:

Los siete Hábitos de los jugadores de Magic Altamente ineficientes:

1.- Leer los 7 habitos de los jugadores altamente eficientes que postio memo, lol.
2.- Aún despues de pasarte estudiando el metagame, sacarle todas las cartas a tu deck, sacar las tierras, y meter bosques y kilos de elfos que hacen mana y nada mas, ah si para jugar tu par de might of oaks.
3.- Pedirle consejos al Dr. Luis Morio 5 min antes de que comienze el torneo, y hacerle todos los cambios que el sugirio.
4.- Querer hacer un sideboard contra todo ya que te das cuenta que tu deck es una shit.
5.- Perder y encabronarte con tu deck y aventarle lejos muy lejos, recordemos hay un grupo de neuroticos anonimos cerca de su tienda de magic favorita, el primer paso es aceptar que apestas y no sabes jugar.
6.- Hacer Mulligan de 5
7.- Hacer topdecking orestes o mal pagar tu maná.

Jajajajajaja

El punto 2 no tiene madre. Así lo haré.

jajajaja, bueno os falto:

"Hacer un deck contra todo y que no le gane a nada..." ah! espera, lo posteo Luis Sosa de manera màs refinada.

Saludos.

Haguen escribió:

mmmmm te falto tu preferida memo:

*Drenar horriblemente las carpetas de tus cuates/guilda para conseguir cartas carisimas aun a costa de sus propios decks para hacer tu deck tan "mortifero" que sea barrido como una vil y sucia perrita esteparia en el primer torneo que se presente y te des cuenta que tu sux, tu deck sux, presuety sux y que te prepares para hacerlo de nuevo.

Luis Sosa

Si yo ya llegue al paso de la aceptación sigo en rehabilitación, la ira sin embargo la manejo muy bien, y pos no importa lo de las drenadas, digo son cosas materiales, vil carton etc etc, jajaja ya ya, cuando encuentre la combinacion ganadora entonces, alguien mas jugara mi deck.

Memolestas escribió:

Haguen escribió:

mmmmm te falto tu preferida memo:

*Drenar horriblemente las carpetas de tus cuates/guilda para conseguir cartas carisimas aun a costa de sus propios decks para hacer tu deck tan "mortifero" que sea barrido como una vil y sucia perrita esteparia en el primer torneo que se presente y te des cuenta que tu sux, tu deck sux, presuety sux y que te prepares para hacerlo de nuevo.

Luis Sosa

Si yo ya llegue al paso de la aceptación sigo en rehabilitación, la ira sin embargo la manejo muy bien, y pos no importa lo de las drenadas, digo son cosas materiales, vil carton etc etc, jajaja ya ya, cuando encuentre la combinacion ganadora entonces, alguien mas jugara mi deck.

suerte

me pregunto si el punto 6 y 7 lo sacaste de las experiencias de cierto draft en donde flacoman expropio tu cartera o del domingo pasado ???

Juannnn escribió:

me pregunto si el punto 6 y 7 lo sacaste de las experiencias de cierto draft en donde flacoman expropio tu cartera o del domingo pasado ???

Carajo, que no la expropié, la robé. (lo escribí o lo pensé)

Jejeje

NTC memo, sería incapaz de comprar 20 boosters de lorwin con tu dinero. Solo me salió un Jace y un Ajani Goldmane que inmediatemante despues cambié por un charcan bol.

flacoman escribió:

Juannnn escribió:

me pregunto si el punto 6 y 7 lo sacaste de las experiencias de cierto draft en donde flacoman expropio tu cartera o del domingo pasado ???

Carajo, que no la expropié, la robé. (lo escribí o lo pensé)

Jejeje

NTC memo, sería incapaz de comprar 20 boosters de lorwin con tu dinero. Solo me salió un Jace y un Ajani Goldmane que inmediatemante despues cambié por un charcan bol.

Jajajajaja ta bien flaco eres inocente hasta que se demuestre lo contrario, jajaja. Y en cuanto los puntos, si fueron del finde pasado por varias razones.

Memolestas escribió:

En respuesta:

Los siete Hábitos de los jugadores de Magic Altamente ineficientes:

1.- Leer los 7 habitos de los jugadores altamente eficientes que postio memo, lol.
2.- Aún despues de pasarte estudiando el metagame, sacarle todas las cartas a tu deck, sacar las tierras, y meter bosques y kilos de elfos que hacen mana y nada mas, ah si para jugar tu par de might of oaks.
3.- Pedirle consejos al Dr. Luis Morio 5 min antes de que comienze el torneo, y hacerle todos los cambios que el sugirio.
4.- Querer hacer un sideboard contra todo ya que te das cuenta que tu deck es una shit.
5.- Perder y encabronarte con tu deck y aventarle lejos muy lejos, recordemos hay un grupo de neuroticos anonimos cerca de su tienda de magic favorita, el primer paso es aceptar que apestas y no sabes jugar.
6.- Hacer Mulligan de 5
7.- Hacer topdecking orestes o mal pagar tu maná.

EL punto "2" y la primera parte del "7" me han funcionado a toda madre solo chequen la tabla de ranking ^^

Dominante de la suerte escribió:

Memolestas escribió:

En respuesta:

Los siete Hábitos de los jugadores de Magic Altamente ineficientes:

1.- Leer los 7 habitos de los jugadores altamente eficientes que postio memo, lol.
2.- Aún despues de pasarte estudiando el metagame, sacarle todas las cartas a tu deck, sacar las tierras, y meter bosques y kilos de elfos que hacen mana y nada mas, ah si para jugar tu par de might of oaks.
3.- Pedirle consejos al Dr. Luis Morio 5 min antes de que comienze el torneo, y hacerle todos los cambios que el sugirio.
4.- Querer hacer un sideboard contra todo ya que te das cuenta que tu deck es una shit.
5.- Perder y encabronarte con tu deck y aventarle lejos muy lejos, recordemos hay un grupo de neuroticos anonimos cerca de su tienda de magic favorita, el primer paso es aceptar que apestas y no sabes jugar.
6.- Hacer Mulligan de 5
7.- Hacer topdecking orestes o mal pagar tu maná.

EL punto "2" y la primera parte del "7" me han funcionado a toda madre solo chequen la tabla de ranking ^^

El único punto que no comprendo es el 6, digo, hasta joselo ha ganado matchs con mulligans a 4.

Saludos.

[quote="Dominante de la suerte"]

Memolestas escribió:

En respuesta:



EL punto "2" y la primera parte del "7" me han funcionado a toda madre solo chequen la tabla de ranking ^^

UY UY, tres hurras para charcos yeiiiii.



JAJAJAJAJA

es broma yo solo puse ese punto porq no me agrada q despues de q con trabajo controlas el juegoy obligas a topdeckear a tu oponente, resulte que al topdeckear saque la unica carta que pueda salvarlo.

Charcos no me has llevado las comunes que dijiste que tenias, y ademas no has liquidado tu cuenta.

[quote="Memolestas"]

Dominante de la suerte escribió:

Memolestas escribió:

En respuesta:



EL punto "2" y la primera parte del "7" me han funcionado a toda madre solo chequen la tabla de ranking ^^

UY UY, tres hurras para charcos yeiiiii.



JAJAJAJAJA

es broma yo solo puse ese punto porq no me agrada q despues de q con trabajo controlas el juegoy obligas a topdeckear a tu oponente, resulte que al topdeckear saque la unica carta que pueda salvarlo.

Charcos no me has llevado las comunes que dijiste que tenias, y ademas no has liquidado tu cuenta.

He estado un poco mal de salud , ni a jugar fui la semana pasada, pero apenas me recupere te paso las cartas que nesesites y saldo lo que le debo a la forta.

posdata: lo del punto no me molesto solo se me hiso gracioso y quise seguir el chiste ^^

El único punto que no comprendo es el 6, digo, hasta joselo ha ganado matchs con mulligans a 4
claro que si