How to become better @ Magic the Gathering

If you want to improve as a Magic: The Gathering player, there are six simple tips and guidelines to follow. Although it is commonly believed that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert, these tips can help you quickly improve. The following is a list of these tips:

1. Know when to keep a hand or mulligan: The opening hand is crucial to determining whether you will win or lose a match. If the land balance is incorrect, or if the first seven cards do not contain key cards for your deck's strategy, don't be afraid to take a mulligan.

2. Always remember efficiency and value: Efficiency plays a significant role in games with finite resources, and in MTG, Mana is that resource. Making efficient plays can increase your chances of winning, and a better MTG player can evaluate the value gained from the current turn and the next turn to maximize efficiency.

3. Don't give up so easily: Variance and luck play a significant role in determining the winner, and no player can control luck. A better MTG player will often make better moves and fight until the very end.

4. Better MTG players cast non-critical spells only after attacking: Unless a creature has Haste and can attack immediately, a better MTG player will hold off casting non-critical spells until after the Combat Phase.

5. Keep mana open for some interaction bluffs: Keeping mana open during your opponent's turn can lead to interaction bluffs, which can make them think twice before taking a particular action.

6. Don't rush to play out all your cards: A better MTG player knows when to hold back and wait for the right moment to play their cards, which can help them gain an advantage over their opponent.

These tips are nuances to the game that players typically realize after playing for a few months or up to a year, rather than the commonly cited 10,000 hours of practice. By following these tips, you can quickly become a better MTG player.