Hey everyone! Today is going to be a short blog but I really do need some advice. I don't know a good method for improving my decision making. I feel it is what is holding me back the most. I take games off top GM players (in macro games, Not always cheese =P) but am stuck mid masters on ladder. I feel my mechanics are on a higher level, but I still lose silly games, and it seems to happen a lot. I know the mistakes I make, but I feel that when I play I sometimes just don't think like it's chess ( think 3 moves ahead) and it loses me games. If anyone can help me it would be appreciated!

Snowcane

6 Posts

November 19 2012 02:53 GMT

Don't get tilted so easily from whatever happens in game early. Whenever something happens in game that just happens to suck, it's important to keep composure otherwise it won't be just the expansion or whatever it is you're losing.

aMEkaRmy

Canada633 Posts

November 19 2012 02:58 GMT

Oh Brandon you only have 5 posts =P. Thanks for the tip. It usually comes from the mid - late game when there is a lot going on and bigger fights come into play I think. I have pretty solid openers, and I usually only die in the mid game. Once I hit late game I out macro my opponent (usually) but still lose a lot. =[=[

AGIANTSMURF

United States1232 Posts

November 19 2012 03:00 GMT

On November 19 2012 11:45 LgNkarmy wrote:
I feel my mechanics are on a higher level, but I still lose silly games,

Solid mechanics and fundamental thinking are what stop you from losing silly games

to say your mechanics are on a higher level but you still lose silly games is contradictory.

you are probably thinking too deep into your games without paying clsoe to attention to what is happening earlier on.

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

November 19 2012 03:06 GMT

Improvement in decision making sounds like something that would require analysis of [your] replays rather than mass gaming, as compared to something like macro or micro.

Ask yourself some of the following questions:
What decisions was I faced with here?
Why am I forced to make these decisions? Is this forced upon me by the opponent?
What are the pros and cons of each decision?
What would the end result be with each possible decision?
Based on my current army and composition, position, tech, economy, upgrades, etc, is there one decision that stands out as the superior choice? Why?
Is this a decision I'm going to be faced with frequently? In what ways can the situation differ?
If I was able to pause and re-think my decision, would I still do the same thing?
Did the result work out as expected? If not, why?

Snowcane

6 Posts

November 19 2012 03:10 GMT

i still think i could beat you with my ling infestor knowing i could tilt you on early, so <3

RemarK

United States452 Posts

November 19 2012 03:12 GMT

Read this:

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=300184

FlukyS

Ireland485 Posts

November 19 2012 03:53 GMT

1. if you are going to do something don't go back and forth about it just do something. So if you are are thinking attack or defend attack or defend and you bounce back and forth choose one it doesn't matter which usually your first thought is best.
2. Don't be afraid to change your initial plan if something goes wrong. Like if you are doing an all in inially and get supply blocked then don't say well ill just hit it 30 seconds later nope just do something else.
3. Most players don't think 3 moves ahead they just have a strategy in mind and execute it then experience and being smart on their feet gets them through the rest of the game. The best players in this game have specific kill moves and things they do to win that they rotate around with but everything else is pure improvision. So Hyun did a lot of drop play for a while but up to then he was reacting to what the other player was doing, he wasn't set into doing it he just had that as an option and improvised into the position to do the kill move. So my point is don't set yourself into behaviours just set down your plan for things you want do to win the game.

These are just generic since I don't know what race you play. And after reading the other comments Smurf said something similar to what im saying.

Telsh

United States148 Posts

November 19 2012 04:12 GMT

You have to spend time analyzing replays and seeing the strategies. Then with the diverse range of strategies in mind, you will start to recognize patterns and be able to execute them.

aMEkaRmy

Canada633 Posts

November 19 2012 04:43 GMT

#10

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I really appreciate it. Thinking on it I guess I can't say it's only decision making that is holding me back, I have a lot to work on I just feel it's my weakest point right now. I need to stop being lazy and analyse my replays a lot harder and ask myself questions throughout the game, as well as trying to think more about my actions during the game. Not just mindlessly doing things.

Telsh

United States148 Posts

November 19 2012 04:51 GMT

#11

If you wanna make the comparison you have to realize most chess players spend most of their practice time going through others games, and most importantly their own games. You can't just mindlessly grind your way to good decision making like you said! lol

BarackHusseinObama

United States15 Posts

November 19 2012 07:03 GMT

#12

From what i remember when playing you, you seemed to be contempt playing very blind. It also didn't seem like your build was reactionary to anything that you scouted (i was a zerg on daybreak) because you didn't scout anything. Which is the reason i won instatnly with mutas. I'd suggest that you scout far far more and look into your builds and not do them blindly as you've done vs me in the past. I'd recommend getting multiple observers out as soon as you can to scout. Sorry if this doesn't help!

spbelky

United States623 Posts

November 19 2012 07:35 GMT

#13

Find someone who has a better understanding of the game than you (they won't always be a higher ladder rank than you) and just talk about your games (and others games) with them. If you understand the game better, you will start to recognize when your opponent is making mistakes and have a more specific and reactionary response to punish them.

You say you're losing silly games, and I know the feeling, but recognizing your opponents mistakes is always the easy part. Figuring out the proper response in your own play, and then training yourself to do it automatically are the hard part.

Steelo_Rivers

United States1968 Posts

November 19 2012 10:10 GMT

#14

I feel the same way you do. I found out that it was (this is crazy... i know) my hotkeys and control groups that were making it difficult for me to improve. there are small things that you will pick up on. Once you realize those small things, bricks will be shat and you will be where you feel you should be.