Mindset of a Gamer cont.

I was thinking about writing indepth examples. I said screw it. If you can’t understand why knowing game mechanics is important, then you’re beyond help. Good players understand what you can do and what you can’t do. Great players are able to execute. But how do you beat someone who knows as much as you? You have to think ahead of them. Not one step, not two steps, but three steps ahead of them. You have to know what they’re going to do before they do it. You have to know what they think you’re going to do so you can pre-counter their counter. Chess is a great game to visualize this. Calculate all the possibilities you can think of before each step. Do this enough times and it’s like working a math problem; you’ll know what to do in each situation. Again, what do you do if you know each others moves? You have to think ahead. Now this is where some inherent physical ability may come into play. Whoever can react faster may have the upper hand. Some people are just gifted. For the rest of us, theory and practice are the way to go.

Really, it’s that simple. Think ahead. I can’t tell you how many people just don’t do this. Envision what you need to do. Discuss it with people. And then put it in practice. And repeat. You’ll be surprised how many people don’t do this.

But you know what? We’re not done yet. Now that you and your opponent are both thinking ahead, what do you do? You need to think outside the box. Be innovative. Again, how many people don’t make it to this step? It boggles my mind how so many people are content with just going through the motions. This is the step that separates the great players from the amazing.

I’m tired and that wasn’t a great writeup but the main point is there. You want to win? You want to be the best? You have to be innovative. Maybe I’ll write more later.