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Down And Dirty – Sizing Up Our Shifting Standard

SCG 5K Standard Open Comes to Minneapolis This Saturday!
Wednesday, June 24th – The Standard metagame is shifting week in and week out, and this is sure to continue with the introduction of M10. Kyle Sanchez examines the foundations of the format, and draws some interesting conclusions on the strategies required to succeed in our game’s most popular Constructed variant; Perfect timing for this weekend’s StarCityGames.com $5000 Standard Open in Minneapolis!

Positive EV – Elementals in Standard, Continued: The Matchups

SCG 5K Standard Open Comes to Minneapolis This Saturday!
Wednesday, June 24th – Last week, Manuel Bucher shared the details from hi impressive finish at Grand Prix: Sao Paulo. He provided his Elementals list for Standard… and today, he talks us through the trickier matchups and sideboarding plans. If you’re looking for something different for the upcoming StarCityGames.com $5000 Standard Open in Minneapolis this weekend, look no further!

Sullivan Library – Reflections from PTQ Indianapolis

Read Adrian Sullivan every week... at StarCityGames.com!
Tuesday, June 23rd – Adrian Sullivan is in a reflective mood. With the Standard PTQ season continuing apace, coupled with the StarCityGames.com $5000 Standard Open series, it seems that preparation is the key to ultimate success. Adrian contemplates the nature of preparation, and shares a few ideas to help us reach that ephemeral next level…

Black Magic – Processing Draft Results

Read Sam Black every week... at StarCityGames.com!
Tuesday, June 23rd – Since Pro Tour: Hawaii, Sam Black has diligently stuck to his draft plan, participating in at least two per day. Today, he talks about the lessons he’s learnt about the format thus far, and highlights the wisdom of mining your Magic Online replay bank for pertinent information. He shows us some of his more intricate game states, and explains where things went wrong…

Drafting With Olivier – Shards/Conflux/Reborn #11

Draft with Olivier Ruel... at StarCityGames.com!
Monday, June 22nd – Hall of Famer Olivier Ruel takes us through an 8-4 draft queue on Magic Online. He shares some comprehensive thoughts about both the picks and the games, and talks us through each step of the way! If you’re looking to improve your Limited game, this is the article series for you!

So Many Insane Plays – The DCI Strikes Back: The July 2009 Changes to the Vintage Restricted List

Read Stephen Menendian every week... at StarCityGames.com!
Monday, June 22nd – Last week, the regular update to the Banned and Restricted list threw a couple of irons into the Vintage fire. While Thirst For Knowledge was restricted, a host of cards came off the list to reenter competitive play. Stephen shares his thoughts on the changes, and wades in to the popular M10 debate.

Innovations – A First Look at M10

Read Patrick Chapin every week... at StarCityGames.com!
Monday, June 22nd – M10 is coming with well over 100 fresh cards looking to shake up Standard. Of particular interest is the rumored inclusion of a certain one-mana red instant. Patrick Chapin discusses some of the cards showcased thus far, before tackling the future of Vintage Magic…

Drafting With Olivier – Shards/Conflux/Reborn #10

Draft with Olivier Ruel... at StarCityGames.com!
Friday, June 19th – Hall of Famer Olivier Ruel takes us through an 8-4 draft queue on Magic Online. He shares some comprehensive thoughts about both the picks and the games, and talks us through each step of the way! If you’re looking to improve your Limited game, this is the article series for you!

Down And Dirty – Standard Smack and Bug Attacks

Read Kyle Sanchez every week... at StarCityGames.com!
Friday, June 19th – Last weekend, Kyle Sanchez rocked a Jund Cascade deck at his local PTQ. Things didn’t go to well for our hero, but, as usual, he has tales aplenty. Aside from battling with venomous critters, he also breaks down his cascade strategy in preparation for PTQs to come…

Feature Article – Pro Tour: Honolulu

Read Feature Articles every week... at StarCityGames.com!
Friday, June 19th – Brian Kibler returned to the Pro Tour for Honolulu, determined to do well… and he did! After an awesome start on Day 1, the wheels threatened to fall off early on Day 2, but he held his nerve and rocked out to a Top 8 finish. He tells his story today, in an article full of Constructed and Limited advice, fun stories, and fashion tips…

Reflecting Ruel – Rebuilding Self Confidence

Read Olivier Ruel every week... at StarCityGames.com!
Friday, June 19th – After a spate of less-than-successful performances at high-level events, Olivier Ruel is going through a crisis of confidence. Not one to shirk responsibility, he has vowed to pull himself up by the bootstraps and succeed! Today’s Reflecting Ruel sees Oli share a bevy of interesting tips on how to regain that critical self-belief…

Insider Information – The SCG $5000 Standard Open

Read Cedric Phillips every week... At StarCityGames.com!
Thursday, June 18th – With White Weenie rocking out some excellent performances of late, Cedric Phillips feels rather vindicated in his perennial deck of choice. Today, he explains why the winning list from GP: Sao Paulo is weak, shares his latest Kithkin goodness, and takes us through his excellent 12th-place finish in Atlanta!

PV’s Playhouse – Standard and Seattle Continued

Read Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa every week... at StarCityGames.com!
Thursday, June 18th – Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa and Faeries go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Grand Prix: Seattle confirmed that he is one of the premier Fae pilots in the game. Today, he recaps Day 2 of his Top 8 performance, with the usual intense level of play-by-play self-reflection…

Drafting With Olivier – Shards/Conflux/Reborn #9

Draft with Olivier Ruel... at StarCityGames.com!
Wednesday, June 17th – Hall of Famer Olivier Ruel takes us through an 8-4 draft queue on Magic Online. He shares some comprehensive thoughts about both the picks and the games, and talks us through each step of the way! If you’re looking to improve your Limited game, this is the article series for you!

Positive EV – Elementals in Sao Paulo

Read Manuel Bucher every week... at StarCityGames.com!
Wednesday, June 17th – Manuel Bucher rocked up to Grand Prix: Sao Paulo with one desire: to play a deck that ran the cards he enjoyed. After two days of grueling Standard play, he posted a creditable 10th place finish with Elementals. If you’re looking for a deck that’s sufficiently off the radar, look no further!