No, I didn't go to Regionals. As I am in boarding school right now (but not for much longer, thank God), I can't really get farther than five miles from my room. All I can say is that I'm glad I'm going to George Washington next fall.

(By the way, if there is anyone from GW, please reply! I'd like to get in touch with any Magic players there.)

I can, however, play Magic Online.

I'm not pretending to be the best Magic player on Earth. I have a 1770 Limited rating online - good, but not great, and nothing really to brag about. At my high point, my rating was around 1845. However, eight months ago, my rating was 1520. Granted, I had just gotten back into the game and was quite rusty, but this kind of marked improvement from a below-average player to a moderately-strong player seems rare.

How did I do it? Let me tell you:

This is the number one way to improve, no doubt. Game replays are the best storehouse of knowledge you could possibly have. I wouldn't be as good a player if it weren't for game replays and my neighbor, Martin. He's busy, but he always wants to watch the replays of my games. (Maybe it's some kind of psychological defect - who knows?) Because of this, I've spotted innumerable errors in my play.

In all odds, at least one of the games will be decided by the cards. If someone has a better draft deck than you, it will probably take a game based on that alone. In Constructed, games can be decided by the matchups. Mulligans can also affect games dramatically.

But what that means is a good number of games, especially in Constructed, will come down to something other than luck of the draw, assuming both players have a basic competence. Sure, it might be something small - but many matches are decided on something small. There are almost always places to outplay your opponent, and places where you make can mistakes.

And if you miss your one chance to capitalize on that opportunity, missing that one tiny play that could have won you the game or failing to see the one mistake you could have avoided - well then, my friend, your Magic Online rating is probably below 1700.

The difference between me and a 1650 player is probably one mistake and one good play per game. That's really not all that much - but it is enough to make a difference. As someone wise once said, Magic is a game of inches.

It takes a lot of dedication, but I recommend rewatching every game you play on Magic Online because it helps you find your play mistakes. If at all possible, have someone else watch the replays with you to point them out to you. I may be lucky to have a friend like Martin, but he has helped my growth as a Magic player.

This does not only apply to Magic Online; it also applies to real life. At the end of a match with a good player, ask him what mistakes he thought you made. Try and get better players to watch you play, with a full view of your hand. Ask what they would do if they were in your shoes. Sure, you may have heard this stuff before, but it never hurts to hear it again.

Now, I'm not saying that you should go into every game fearing mistakes: That's a sure way to lose. Rather, if you see enough replays, you will start recognizing more situations that actually are problems. Magic is a lot like chess in this way - the more situations you see, the more often you will be able to see the right play. (By the way, those interested in getting better at chess should buy Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess - it's a Godsend.)

I truly believe that any Magic player has the potential to reach an 1800 rating online. The simple reason for that is that you really don't have to be perfect. Ken Krouner explained it best when he said that he didn't see himself as a great player - he just made fewer mistakes than his opponents. Ken Krouner is a great player, and the reason why is that he can spot his own mistakes better than almost anyone else out there.

So the next time you ever complain about topdecking or savage luck or what have you, watch the replay of the game. Not only that, watch the replay of the other games in the match. I'm quite certain that you will find places you could have done better. Luck balances out over time, but in the end, play skill reigns supreme.

Will Chamberlain
wchamberlainNOSPAM@thacher.org
Zephyd on MODO
Member of Clan Superstarsnet (39^th and falling!)

P.S. - I am not currently on any team for the upcoming PTQ season. If you are reading this, and are from the south bay or Cupertino area or go to Superstars every once in a while, I am very available!

P.P.S. - If you are wondering why I would ever consider going to boarding school, check out www.thacher.org. Pretty cool, eh?