EPTSo I’ve recently been to both Dreamhack and Birdie(the second biggest lan in Sweden, I think) and this got me thinking.Tournaments are alot different from your everyday ladder, custom games and even craftcup, go4sc2(these are tournaments also but mostly bo1 and low price money) and so on. Not only is every match you play a bo3 or bo5 but there are also higher stakes so as price money, reputation, travel expenses, and every player knows this. These factors change the dynamic of matches alot and in my opinion give sc2 yet another layer of strategy that you wouldn’t see e.g. on the ladder.
What I am talking about is the mindgame part of sc2, about playing the player and not the game. To the unknowing bystander someone playing their opponent might look like a complete cheesy noob that doesn’t know how to play a macro game. This can sometimes result in a player getting hate unjustified even though we’ve seen this before in TSL, Dreamhack events, GSL, and to illustrate what I’m talking about I have two examples.
Nr 1. Morrow vs Jinro, TSL, ro32
Here Morrow baneling busted Jinro even though he walled off with 3 barracks and not everyone was happy with how the matches played out. After the games in the interview(see refrences) Morrow said that he hadn’t planned on baneling busting morrow but it was just too tempting when he saw the 3 rax wall.
So in the last game morrow had alot of information to base his baneling bust on; Jinro liked to go for fast medivacs after a fast expansion(delaying tanks or helions), in the previous 2 games Jinro went for said early game, it worked in the first game, and lastly busting 3 rax is really good because you can blow the middle one and damage all of them and that way take out production.
Nr 2. MC vs White-ra, Dreamhack Invitational, Final
In the last game of the series MC decided to proxy gate White-ra(and won) which resulted in alot of upset people, because it was cheesy and why would he gamble the ace match on a proxy? However af
ter the final MC tweeted that he proxied White-ra because he was 100% sure he would win, and who would not do everything to win the 100 000SEK(~1500$) price?
After a second look at the series one could note that White-ra had chosen not to produce his first zelot to get slightly ahead and MC noticed him using the exact same opening every game and could therefore be sure his 2gate proxy would win him the last game.
The point I’m trying to make is that this is not cheesy in a bad way, these are well-informed decisions done with in-game info, prior knowledge of your opponent gained through earlier games or other ways. I think not enough people appreciate how much knowledge and thought some players use behind their decisions and therefore are too early with insults like “he’s such a cheesy player” etc. etc.
What’s the best way to go about a bo5?
There are no absolutes here since it’s in the end all about what your opponent is thinking and who can get a better read of the other one. I will give my views on a bo5 with experience as both a player who has been to a few lan tournaments and also as a watcher of many pro tournaments.
To start off lets assume that your opponent is at around your own skill level because this doesn’t really apply otherwise. Start off with checking your opponents match history(if you have time) it can give you alot of useful information of what his standard opening is in your match-up, now to a closer look at the actual games.
Game 1
In the first game you have two choices, you can either play very aggressive with an all-in/cheese or you can play more defensive and standard while trying to get a feel for what style your opponent is playing. This can also be dependant on map, e.g. a 6pool can be very strong vs toss on shattered temple(especially if you get close pos) and it will also give you a confidence boost to get a fast 1-0 and then you can then proceed to play a standard game on the next map.
Game 2-5
After the first game you can choose to go many different ways depending on what you opened, whether you won or lost, and how you perceived your opponent. As a general guideline I think it’s really important to never get predictable because any build has flaws and can be abused by either aggression or greed from your opponent. Plan ahead on what maps can what build or cheeses be good, how can you switch up your game play. Lastly if your opponent continues to use the same build try to find holes where you can be aggressive or extra greedy to gain an edge which will later win you the game. Abuse what you learn about the player and the better the player the further you can take the mind game.
Last words
I hoped to shed some light on how much deeper strategy there is involved when on the surface it e.g. looks like a simple-minded baneling bust, and also give some advice of my own. Also those who want share your own thoughts on how you would approach a bo5 are welcome to do so.
Refrences
Morrow interview - http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=203475
MC twitter - http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=212772
