How to Go Pro in the Trading Card Game World

Playing cards at a local level is a great, and fun event. You meet lots of friends that have the same interest as you and overall it's a great experience. Now for many players this local level of play is enough, but there are those that want to take the game to the next level. The following are tips on how to take your deck form the local level to the pro level. These strategies will help you in any card game whether it's in the game Yu-Gi-Oh, Naruto, Magic or any other numbers of card games.

Playtest - This is probably the most important thing to do when thinking about going pro. You have to build a deck you think is good enough to win. Then get together with some friends or family who play the game and play until it hurts. Figure out what the decks flaws and weaknesses are; understand every card in your deck and the combination moves that it can pull off. Also be sure to change the deck as needed. Take any cards out that seem to slow the deck down or make it run inconsistent. Playtesting will help you accomplish all of this so you need to do it often.

Research - Check online at any and all sites that play host to message boards that pertain to your game of interest. Metagame.com is a good solid site with many different card games that enter the realm of discussion. Check and see what decks are performing best and then work from there. Decide if you want to mimic those decks or counter them, or if you just want to do something completely different. Check and see what card combinations are popular and try and work out how they work and why, then use them to your advantage.

Participate - Go to larger events, check out the competition and analyze what you need to do to compete at the level. Don't be afraid of your competition, just observe them. The first large scale event that you attend don't expect to do extremely well, and don't expect to lose. See how everything works, how players act and react, just get a feel for the environment.

Money - You have to have money to compete so find a source. Many pro card players use their winnings to travel around and participate. This is a good strategy, but takes a lot of devotion to the game. You have to win consistently to earn the top prizes and product. Then you need a way to sell the product you win. The common misconception is that pro's win and keep lots of their prizes, in reality they turn around and sell their merchandise for top dollar and if you want to survive in the pro realm then you will have to learn to adopt this practice.

The Cards - You have to have good cards in order to compete, and this will come along with the money factor. You have to have money in order to build a great deck, whether its in buying individual cards, or buying packs then trading for your needs, you have to find the right cards. You don't always need to go overboard in buying cards, but you can expect to spend at least 150 - 200 dollars in acquiring the cards you need in order to make a great deck. That being said you should never just buy cards because they are rare, or shiny, or just because it's the popular trend. Use proxy cards first to test a specific deck. This means take an ordinary sheet of paper, write the name of a rare or hard to get card on the paper and list it's exact effect. Then cut the paper out and use it in your deck like it was the actual card. This will let you know if a 50+ dollar card is really going to work well for you. If it does, then decide whether or not you want to spend that kind of money. If it did not work, then be glad that you just saved a bundle of cash.

Devotion - You have to be very devoted in order to play as a pro. You have to give up many other hobbies that would normally take precedence in your life in order to play at the pro level. Playing cards to some people is just about fun, but to others it's a way of life, a real job that they must put forth all their effort into, and if you want to be a pro, you'll have to do the same. All your time has to be spent researching the competition, playtesting new and innovative deck types, trying new card combinations and finding new sources of income to support the pro life. The after all of that you have to find the means of transportation to and from the events that surround the game you play, travel for miles, sometimes from state to state to compete, and then turn around and play for hours and hours on end in the actual competition.

Skill - You have to have skill in order to compete at the pro level. Many people think that just having the good cards is enough but in reality you have to apply skill to your cards in order to win. The rich boys are not always the ones who come out on top, this is where your devotion and playtesting come into account, when you sit down and stare into the eyes of your opponent. You may know his cards are better, but your deck is perfectly crafted to run at its best in any given situation, and so you have the advantage. You have to know when to play certain cards, and when to hold others. Know when to place certain things into play, and when to discard certain cards. All of this comes along with experience, and you will develop more skill with your certain deck type as time goes on and you invest more and more into a certain card game.

Going pro is a big decision that can affect your life in a number of ways. Be sure that you have the necessary time and resources before making such a decision. If you don't have them, and still want to be a pro, then see what steps you need to take in order to achieve your goal. Also if there are a lot of people in your area that are thinking about going pro, feel free to ask them about organizing a team. A team can be great for playtesting sessions, splitting costs and expenses, and even providing one another with the means of transportation to a certain event.

So remember going pro is not for everyone, but it is a lot of fun and can be very rewarding. Many times really good players get picked up by gaming companies and become an intricate part of the inner workings of the game. You could actually launch an entire career by just playing cards. So be sure to weigh your options before making a certain decision, and if you decide to just stay a casual player and hang out at a local shop, that's okay too, but for those wanting to go pro, the above guide is essential.