Anyone who’s followed my writing knows I enjoy discussing fundamentals, and enjoy writing beginner-friendly articles. Recently, however, some forum denizens – including my own editor, this teddy bear known as Ted Knutson – have accused me of going overboard on card advantage and it’s hullabaloos.
I’m a sport.
Last April, I wrote”Counting card advantage” as part of my”Back to Basics” beginners’ series. And I honestly think card advantage is so simple that the theory itself can be discussed in one paragraph; it’s the examples and clarifications that make up the bulk of an article on it.
I also think the theory has to be simple. Its point is to help you make good decisions to get to the real goal: winning games.
So I’ll put my money where my mouth is.
Next week, I’ll draw up an extremely short, one-paragraph checklist culled from”Counting card advantage.” Then I’ll prove that something so simple can count the card advantage for every in-game decision you have to make and tell you which choice is better (strictly in terms of card advantage only)-if you apply the checklist with a grain of common sense.
So what does that have to do with you?
When you read this, I’d like you to e-mail me the most confusing, perplexing, tooth-gnashing, ball-breaking card advantage conundrum you can think of. And I’ll do my best to explain it to you in one stroke, using a very short checklist. In other words, I’d like you to help me write the next column.
If I can’t – again, take note of the grain of common sense needed – then I admit defeat and will shut up.
(Caveat: I said confusing problems, but I don’t mean long ones. Keep the play short and simple, and don’t just string together a lot of independent plays.
As always, kindly include your full name, age, location, profession or major and what decks or format you play.)
Again, here’s the limited offer: Either you get me to shut up, or we conclude there’s nothing so”advanced” about card advantage after all.
As a Christmas gift of sorts to my”Back to Basics” readers, I’ll even promise to get it up on the next feasible site update. So send them in at rakso at starcitygames.com.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Oscar Tan (e-mail: Rakso at StarCityGames.com)
rakso on #BDChat on EFNet
Paragon of Vintage
University of the Philippines, College of Law
Forum Administrator, Star City Games
Featured Writer, Star City Games
Author of the Control Player’s Bible
Maintainer, Beyond Dominia (R.I.P.)
Proud member of the Casual Player’s Alliance