Kevin Cavanagh
3/21/2006

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Most people are under the assumption that the perfect player is a player who excels at the game play aspect of the Vs. System. They know all of the rules, they perform well at every major event they go to, and they win a lot of money in the progress. This however is a very common misconception among players who play the game today. All of the things I just named make up 50% of what the perfect player should be. The remaining 50% is all on how you act and treat other people while you are playing a game of versus.

For the record, I have momentarily stopped playing Versus for a little bit because of one certain player who goes out of his way to disrespect both me and every person he plays against while playing versus. This person does so with his arrogance and overall attitude while playing the game. While I won't (and cannot) single out this person, he knows who he is.

While table talking is apart of every card game, many people take the rights to do so too far when playing the game. Yes, everyone knows the poker term "tilt" and that is what some players attempt to achieve when table talking with an opponent. Table talking is fine and you are allowed to do it, but when you begin to degrade the person you’re talking to is when you've taken things too far. Lets take a look at common examples of things you should never say at a card table, but you will hear many players use them each and every game they play.

Example 1: Acting like a Jerk right from the get go.

We’ve all been put into the Child Lock at some part of our Versus lives. The deck isn’t overly played by everyone, but it’s common enough that we’ve all had to play against it. Once the deck has what it needs, the deck can usually go off. There are going to be those very few times when the person playing Child Lock draws into the best hand of his life on the very first turn. Yes, the same could be said for most decks, I'm just using this one as an example because I have been through this particular scenario before.

When you draw the perfect hand with whatever deck you’re playing, great for you. I’m sure your very excited about your perfect draw, everyone loves the perfect draw. It would even be OK to say to your opponent, “Wow, this is a pretty nice hand. I’ll keep. You good over there?” That’s how a class player would act in the instant of a perfect draw. The best way to do act would actually to not say anything, so you don’t give your opponent any information on what would be in your hand. But if you have to say something, you may as well say something like that.

Lets take a look at some of the things I’ve heard "people" say when they draw there initial four and like what they see.

1. “Wow, this is the best hand I have ever drawn. Do you even want to play it out?” *Then they flash an Alfred or something to rub it in.*

When you get right down to it, why would any player do this? Not only do you come off as a serious jerk, but you've given your opponent information that you should not be giving them. Perhaps they intended on mulliganning there initial four, but now that they see Alfred they will keep the Speedy in there hand. No good can come of being so cocky on turn 1.

2. “I don’t see how you’re going to win this game, but if you want me to go through the motions...”

Another thing you should never say to your opponent, yet I have heard a certain someone say it to me on several occasions. The bottom line is that both you and your opponent are at whatever event you’re at to play the game of versus. You’re both not there to show each other your opening four and declare one of you the winner. If this were the case Roy St. Clair would never lose a versus game in his entire life. And one more thing on this topic - even the perfect four card opener can turn into the worst draw of your life, so on turn 1, keep your comments to yourself.

Example 2: Making fun of inexperienced players misplays.

Every PCQ is going to have them. The random group of kids who have no idea what there doing and no chance to win at all. Even the worst draw in the world will beat this player, but that doesn’t give players the right to bash them. The bottom line is how will these people ever get better if players decide to make jokes out of them instead of walking them through the turns WHILE you beat them up?

Many of the inexperienced players will do things wrong with there formation most of the time. They forget the mechanics of flight and range and when they go to do something you should just remind them in a nice way what they can’t do. Let’s take a look at examples of good and bad ways to handle a given situation.

Good - Friendly Player
You: “No you can’t attack with that guy”
Noob: “But why not. Hes the biggest guy I got.”
You: “You see, your character doesn’t have range. If he doesn’t have range he needs to be in the front row to attack. You understand?”
Noob: “Yea, that makes sense. Thank you so much”

Bad - Evil Players
Bad Person: “Can’t attack.”
Noob: “But why not. Hes the biggest guy I got.”
Bad Person: “He ain’t got no range.”
Noob: “What’s that mean?”
Bad Person: “He needs to be in the front to attack with him. He does you no good if you leave him in the back row, which is what you did. Can I attack and win the game now?”

I know what you’re thinking and trust me, it’s true. I’ve heard too many good players talk down to inexperienced ones simply because they know the rules better and they don’t want to take the time to explain to them how Versus works. For those of you out there, teach players the rules - don’t make a mockery out of them.

Example 3: When the game ends

When the game is over is when your true sportsmanship shows. It’s really easy to shake someone’s hand and look happy after your turn 6 , 7, 8 plays were Sinestro, Guy Gardner, and Mogo. When you win your always happy and can shake someone’s hand and say “Good Game.” However, it’s when you lose that your true self comes out. Let’s take a look at some examples of players who disrespect others once they lose a game.

1. The Sore Loser- When I played Wild Vomit there was nothing better then to beat The Sore Loser of the store, who ran Curve Sentinels. Calling whatever I wanted with Longshot at will was always sweet for me and everyone watching my game. However, the person I was playing against hated it with a passion. (Who wouldn't right?) After losing he would always pick up his cards in an angry manner and then go outside to cry about it. Regardless of the situation you should always act in a friendly way when you lose, period. Everyone will lose at some point in there versus life, it’s just the nature of what we call "The Bad draw." But when this happens to you, don’t stomp away like a jerk and cry about it, just shake your opponents hand and say "Good Game."

2. The Poor Handshake- If you've been reading my articles we've already established a player that does this. On the bright side of things we have progressed a little bit. This time your opponent shakes your hand after the match is over! But he does it in such a depressing manner that sometimes you don’t even want the handshake. He barely shakes your hand as he just shakes his head in disgust at you. “Such an embarrassing way to bust out” and “I cant believe I just lost to that trash” are comments often made when someone shakes your hand in a depressing manner.

3. Last Words- This example happens before your opponent concedes the game. Players that do it make sure they tell you how they got unlucky and how you curved out perfectly. Players that do this kind of thing often will say something along the lines of:

“Missing 2 and 5 seems bad for me right? Oh - and the fact you hit every card you wanted when you wanted. How great it must be to be Kevin Cavanagh...*sigh*”

These are just some of the more common examples I see at almost every event I attend by a lot of the players. Some players may think what they are saying or doing isn't wrong, but you have to watch the way you put your words. But don’t get me wrong, there are many players out there who play with class and are great players. Names that spring to mind are Jesse Diaz (team), Granny (team), and Jose Barreros. All of them shake there hand when they win or lose and make playing versus a fun time for both of you. Players in the Virginia area that get the chance to observe these players playing should watch out for the great sportsmanship they show while playing the game.

While my article is not directed at making you play the game of versus itself better, it is directed at making you a better player in general. I hope everyone out there, good or bad, can take something from this article and apply it.

Kevin Cavanagh
"Let my People go" - CREW!! Click here to discuss this thread!