Predicting your opponent?

[Daddy]

It dosent drive me crazy at all really

 

[Mora]

Eh... Not really, you will drive yourself crazy if you worry to much about what could, would, and should counter you. Besides im a very skilled player that is able to win with terrible decks simply because I understand the game to its fullest. Like the guy in the park who beats everybody at chess, no matter what moves his opponent makes.

But that's exactly what chess is, calculating to extensive detail EVERY possible outcome. The reason people lose chess is because their opponent saw further ahead into the game; it's often the smallest details that change the game. Chess, Tic-Tac-Toe, and Connect-four all have the same basic strategy: calculation. In order to effectively calculate a few moves ahesd, you have to theorize what your opponent might do. In Tic-Tac-Toe, you go for the center square. In Connect-Four, you set up four on odd squares on the y-axis if you go first or even squares if you go second. In order to do that, you need to know what your opponent will do if you make this move. Pokemon is no different. While you can't know exactly what your opponent will do due to their hand, deck, and prizes not being public knowledge, you can still prepare for the threat. If your opponent has only played one N the entire game, maybe you shouldn't Ultra Ball that Random Reciever. If your opponent used Junk Hunt for a Catcher, maybe now would be good time to play your N or at least start searching out another Eel. You think a 30 minute game of Pokemon would drive you crazy? Try a three hour game of chess.

 

[PokePhD]

It's a really huge advantage when you get to see your opponent's hand. That way you know what they can do on their turn. Anyways, when you play you should not be playing in that turn only, if that makes sense. You should be thinking of that turn most importantly, but also keeping in mind the next couple of turns. It's good to keep a back-up plan in case something unexpected happens.

I'm not an expert but I couldn't agree more with this.

I don't plan my game around how I can take the next prize card. I always plan how I can put my opponent in a position where I can take all the prizes I need to win. This usually means playing Catcher to set up a KO on something crucial to their strategy instead of taking the free prize.