Winter Restrictions

The restricted list is designed to keep the format as skill intensive as possible, by keeping mindless “I win” cards from polluting the format. Cards like Gush and Burning Wish could make your opponent’s entire game plan irrelevant, because you could win before they got a chance to make any decisions, or just simply overpower them, putting them in a position that no amount of correct decision making could make them succeed. The hot topic right now in Vintage is the upcoming December restriction announcement. There’s blood boiling on both sides of the issues, and as players it’s our responsibility to tell the DCI exactly what the format needs to remove in order to make skill as important as possible.

One of the most rewarding experiences in any tournament is the feel of having outplayed your opponent. Superior decision making is where the skill…

This article is still available from its publisher, so Library of Leng indexes it here but does not republish the text. Read it at the original source.