During the last week of the calendar year, many of the major Magic: The Gathering content websites re-post some of the best articles from the year past.

I have decided to do that on a grand scale.

I have gone back through the articles of all the other major (non-Quiet Speculation) Magic websites from the past year and have found the most timeless pieces that discuss important facets of Magic strategy that aren’t specific to a certain format or snapshot of time.

These articles are written by some of the smartest and most experienced minds in Magic. Each of these articles is insightful in its own way, and reading through any of them will help one think about competitive Magic at a higher level.

(I should note that many of these are Star City Games Premium articles, but after a month passes, they are unlocked.)

Deck Construction

Much of the work of winning a tournament comes well before the event begins. These articles explain how to optimize the process of deckbuilding.

• Reid Duke covers some basics behind building a manabase: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/level-one/building-mana-base-2014-11-24 
• Frank Karsten has a PhD related to game theory, and in the following two articles he applies his mathematical approach to the science of deckbuilding: Article One; Article Two.
• Ever considered playing 41 cards in limited or 61 in constructed? Frank lays out the reasons one would want to play more than the minimum: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/frank-analysis-is-playing-more-than-60-cards-always-a-bad-idea/

Playtesting

Work before a tournament also includes preparing for the expected metagame by practicing with the decks and learning the intricacies of a given format.

• Gerry Thompson shares his method for playtesting accurately and effectively: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29357_How-To-Playtest-Correctly.html
• Patrick Chapin explains common pitfalls that often sabotage playtesting sessions: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29745_13-Pitfalls-To-Avoid-When-Playtesting.html
• Brian Braun-Duin explains how he playtests for an unknown metagame in a new format: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29499_Testing-The-Unknown.html

Hidden Information/Bluffing

Magic: The Gathering is a card game, and there’s a ton of hidden information at play. The following articles provide an extensive look at how the Pros protect their own information, gather information from their opponents, and how they use this information to glean insights on the game in order to make the correct plays and well-timed bluffs.

• Conley Woods explains the concept of hidden information in Magic: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=11610
• Owen breaks down the basics of reading the opponent by taking advantage of the many scenarios where they give free information away: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/owens-a-win-reads-and-tells/
• Caleb Durward explains how the sequencing of plays is a huge source of information: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/legacy-weapon-on-sequencing-and-information/
• Craig Wescoe dispels rumours surrounding bluffing and how to execute them properly: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=12007
• This article explains how Gerry Thompson sells a bluff: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29399_Selling-It-And-Other-Intangibles.html
• Owen explains how to use information and bluffing theory to get in free attacks for extra damage: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/owens-a-win-is-it-free/

Preventing In-Game Mistakes

Preparation can be quickly unraveled by in game mistakes, and these articles explain how to maintain focus and avoid common mental pitfalls.

• Pro Tour Hall of Famer and dedicated Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Raphael Levy explains how to maintain focus like a Pro: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=12219
• Conley Woods explains how slowing down pace of play can prevent mistakes: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=12232
• Craig explains the science behind figuring out the correct play: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=11578
• William Jensen shares the common pitfalls players make in-game: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/pitfall-trap/
• Owen explains the concept of cascading mistakes and how to prevent them: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/owens-a-win-a-cascading-failure/
• Here is my favorite article that I wrote this year, which explains how to avoid making one of the most common but disastrous mistakes, the improper mulligan decision: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=11855

Sideboarding

I began my writing at QuietSpeculation with a focus on sideboarding, and it remains one of the most important yet misunderstood facts of competitive match play.

• Reid Duke covers the basics of sideboarding: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/lo/sideboard-2014-10-20
• Owen Turtenwald explains that sideboarding all comes down to context: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/owens-a-win-how-do-you-sideboard/
• Owen shares some advance sideboarding tips to consider in-match: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/owens-a-win-better-sideboarding/
• This articles covers things to keep in mind when constructing a sideboard: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/owens-a-win-6-keys-to-building-a-tournament-winning-sideboard/
• Ari explains the pitfalls associated with sideboarding too many cards: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29837_Going-Overboard.html

Self-Analysis

The most important part of a tournament Magic career comes after an event, through retrospection and self-analysis:

• Owen explains the dangers of results-oriented thinking: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/owens-a-win-results-oriented-thinking/
• Brad Nelson shares his rigorous process of constant improvement through ruthless and honest self-assessment in the wake of every event he plays: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29903_The-Perception-Of-Perfection.html
• Conley explains how to get out of a slump: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=11590
• Patrick Chapin explains how to maximize the most powerful tool available to any Magic player, their brain: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29199_Let-It-Do-It.html
• Patrick explains luck, randomness, chance, and their impacts in Magic: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/28613_Some-Boats-Are-Not-Steered.html
• Gerry explains how he, and other pros, think differently than the average player: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/28943_What-I-Do-Differently-Than-You.html
• Brian explains how a change in perspective will lead to growth as a player: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29091_Changing-Perspective.html
• Brad shares the errors in his past approach to the game, and how changing his mindset brought him renewed vigor and success: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/27786_Lost-In-Lust.html
• Brad explains some simple methods for changing the competitive mindset that any player can use to find greater tournament success: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29222_Mental-Mindset.html

Fundamentals

The following articles explain some fundamentals to gameplay and tournament preparation.

• Todd Anderson explains the basic resources in Magic and how to leverage them effectively: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/27904_Understanding-Resources-In-Magic.html
• Reid Duke explains the importance of tempo: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/level-one/tempo-2014-09-22
• Gerry explains Magic’s evolution and the importance of card advantage in the modern world:
• http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29040_When-Did-Card-Advantage-Stop-Mattering.html
• Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa shares guidelines on playing in a world of planeswalkers, covering both how to use them and how to beat them: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/pvs-playhouse-how-to-play-with-planeswalkers/
• Ari explains that there is more to winning at Magic than just raw Magic talent and preparation: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/28237_Good-At-Winning-Good-At-Magic.html

Tournament Preparation

• Tom Ross explains that the best deck for a tournament is not the same for everyone, and he shares his advice on how players should determine the best deck for their own experience, skill set and goals: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29224_Choosing-The-Perfect-Deck-For-You.html
• Craig shares some practical tips for tournament preparation: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=11589
• Sam Black shares what he has learned working with a top Pro Tour team and how to get the most from any team experience: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/28489_Getting-the-Most-from-a-Team-How-to-Talk-About-Magic.html
• One of my favorite articles of the year, Derek Gallen shares some tips on how to optimize one’s body and mind for grueling tournament play: http://www.hipstersofthecoast.com/2014/08/silence-exile-cunning-wellness-primer-long-competitive-days-magic/

Stop Cheating

2014 was ripe with cheating scandals. The following two articles are guides on protecting oneself.

• Paul Rietzl is a Hall of Famer and Pro Tour veteran who has seen it all, and in this article he lays out how to stop cheaters in their tracks: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/protect-yourself/
• Tom Ross has found incredible success on the SCG circuit, which this year was revealed to be ripe with cheaters. In this article he explains just how he ensures that his opponents are playing fair: http://www.starcitygames.com/article/29647_Dont-Cheat.html

~

What were your favorite articles of the year? Share in the comments section!

-Adam