Mind games can be as essential to a player’s strategy as a good deck and solid play skills. As long as there are two opposing players, they’ll be looking for any advantage they can get. When you’re on a fairly level playing field as far as skill and decks go, mental advantages will come into play. Mind games are an accepted part of the game as long as they don’t cross the line to bad sportsmanship. Every duelist has a different approach and level of tolerance for mind games, so it’s to your best advantage to learn how to cope with the different kinds of psych-outs that you’ll encounter.
 
I played Yu-Gi-Oh! “professionally” for over a year on the mall tour, which gave me an unparalleled opportunity to observe play styles, metagames, and mind games from players all across the country. Sixteen hours of dueling per weekend more or less exposed me to any kind of mind game an opponent could throw at me, so I’m going to pass my observations on to you. I’ll describe the different approaches I’ve seen and give you some tips on the best ways to counter them.
 
Before we begin, there’s a caveat. These classifications are loose, and players aren’t necessarily going to fit right into them. Some people are hyper, some are overly friendly, and some are kind of slow, so don’t always assume that your opponent is acting that way just to mess with your head. Make sure you’re not being oversensitive, and avoid the temptation to jump to a conclusion about another player. Ready? Let’s begin!
 
Winning Through Intimidation
 
We’ll start with the heaviest. Some players like to use suggestions (or outright threats) of physical violence, verbal abuse, or an overpowering physical presence to rattle their opponents. Yes, this is against tournament policy. No, that doesn’t stop people from doing it. I’ve had water thrown on me, and I’ve been spit on and threatened with assault, so I know this kind of thing happens. If you’re faced with this type of behavior, the best thing you can do is call over a judge (pick a big judge if you can!), because that player needs to be removed from the event. Don’t fight fire with napalm—responding to threats with threats of your own can get you disqualified too.

Now that the worst is out of the way, let’s move on to the milder sorts of mind games.
 
Trash Talking
 
This approach reminds me of the little dog that hangs around a bigger dog—the little dog makes up for a lack of bite with a lot of barking. This type of player keeps up a running commentary of insults, derogatory remarks, and bragging throughout the match. If the match pits a man against a woman, the trash talk can be suggestive or demeaning. Trash talkers are on the lookout for whatever is going to “get” to you the most, so the best way to respond is to act like you can’t hear them. However, putting your hands over your ears while singing, “I can’t hear what you’re saying!” might not be the way to go. But once you’ve gotten the hang of tuning out everything this player says that isn’t relevant to the game, you’ll be in good shape. 
 
It’s tempting to respond with a jab of your own, but keep in mind that the moment you open your mouth, a judge might be standing right behind you. Subtlety with humor is the way to go if you absolutely have to respond. Bad language and verbal intimidation are against the rules even if your opponent started it, so don’t stoop to that level. You can call over a judge if you want to, especially if the trash talking starts crossing the line, but many duelists like to handle this kind of thing on their own either by ignoring it or hitting back with wittier repartee.
 
The Bluffer 
 
I’m constantly amazed at how much poker there is on television these days, but since it’s out there, people must be watching it. This type of player might be among that audience. He or she sets Nobleman of Crossout and tries to convince you it’s Mirror Force, or feigns a look of despondency when he or she draws Lightning Vortex. The point is to convince you that the game state is wildly different from what it actually is. Some players are amazingly good at this! Be careful though, because just when you think you’ve got the ploys figured out, that set card will be Mirror Force. The best advice I can give you when dealing with a bluffer is to try and analyze his or her moves and second-guess what is going on. Whether or not you’re successful, your brain will get a nice workout.
 
The Speedy Player
 
Perhaps this player drank too many energy drinks and can’t wait for the round to end so he or she can use the bathroom. The speed player is constantly asking, “Are you done yet? Can I go?” One hand constantly hovers over his or her deck during your turn, while the other rapidly shuffles the cards in hand. This player fidgets, taps his or her cards impatiently, rushes you through your plays, and makes his or her own plays quickly, hoping your brain won’t keep up. Lots of players feel stupid asking someone to slow down, fearing that they’ll look like they aren’t smart enough to keep track of the game. That is what speedy players count on, and it can be very effective! I’ve found that the best counter to a speedy player is to treat him or her like a tailgater and play at a relaxed and attentive pace. If you aren’t being allowed a reasonable amount of time to respond, call the player on it, because everyone should know better by now. Don’t stall, but resist being drawn into the same frenetic pace.
 
The Slow Player
 
On the flip side of the speedy player is the slow player. This player constantly checks set cards and graveyards, spends a lot of time studying his or her hand, and asks a lot of repetitive questions about the game state. The slow player responds with deliberation to each thing that happens in the game. “Hmm . . . You’ve summoned Gemini Elf . . . That was your normal summon for the turn, right? Hmm, let me see . . . do I want to respond . . . how many cards are in your hand?” This monologue will accompany a minute examination of his or her hand, the field, and every set card on his or her side, even though the player performed the identical actions during the previous turn. 
 
Now, there’s a difference between caution and attention to detail and teeth-grindingly slow play. Deliberately slow players usually know just where to draw the line to avoid a penalty, and that snail’s pace can drive an opponent absolutely wild. A matchup between a slow player and a speedy player is always a sight to see. If you’re matched up against a slow player who isn’t quite crossing the line into deserving a penalty, don’t respond by becoming agitated, because that’s the player’s goal. Judges are increasingly less tolerant of slow play and stalling, so if the situation gets out of hand, call in a judge, especially if time is running out. Psyching you out is one thing, but trying to run down the clock is another.
 
The Hothead
 
This one is the speedy player combined with the trash talker. The hothead constantly rushes you and isn’t very willing to give you a chance to respond. If you do have a response, this player usually makes an obnoxious remark about it. If it were up to the hothead, you wouldn’t get a turn, because you’d just surrender the game at the beginning of the match! This player is the personification of Yu-Gi-Oh! road rage. The hothead uses an aggressive approach that can seriously rattle you if you let it, so keep your mind on the game and watch the hothead carefully to make sure you aren’t being rushed past crucial moves. Deliberate and courteous play is a good counter to a hothead, although some players like to exploit the hothead’s volatility by deliberately provoking a blowup so he or she loses control of the game.
 
That’s it for this week’s look at the mind games people play. You’ve probably recognized a lot of them, and perhaps you’ve recognized yourself as well. There are a lot of different approaches that players take to secure an extra edge, and I’ll be covering some more in the weeks to come. You don’t want to miss the next installment. After all, those who are forewarned are forearmed!