Dies to Removal

Definitely better to block than to sac; he +1/+1 counters can actually change the race math.

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Also, in my expierance, people not sacking stuff to d-demon scares the crap out of black mages (when you have a flier on deck to block with). The know (or think they know) burn or combat tricks are coming.

Because blocking either forces them to spend a card to get damage through and makes it harder for them to race you (Demon is smaller). This isn't rocket science.

Definitely better to block than to sac; he +1/+1 counters can actually change the race math.

You don't need to play to get lucky when you're clearly ahead, and you are. Life and time are resources, much like cards in hand, and you've got a substantial advantage in both. By keeping threats on the board you increase the relative value of your cards and draws and decrease the value of his.

To be honest, you picked the worst possible line / justification, but hopefully you can learn from it.

"Playing to get lucky" is appropriate when there is no longer a clear path to victory ~ you're only way to win becomes a sequence of unlikely but still plausible events and you play like they WILL happen (so as to preserve the small chance that they will); knowing when to do this might snare you an extra 1 win in 20 games or so, maybe even less, but it makes a huge difference in the long run (stealing a game win can win a match or a tournament after all).

/ Zem

I don't understand sacrificing the Phoenix so early ~ why? You can take 9 because you're representing lethal and he MUST answer the Phoenix; the way you played it you basically let go of all tension in the position; once you simplify the position of material threats he is able to make much more informed decisions.

So I think that sounds like a substantial misplay to me, albeit you were under time pressure.

Turning to you two questions:
- I would have played to time him out, but I am a WAAC player
- Almost beating a Hall of Famer has no implication on your own abilities. I have beaten MANY hall of famers and I would not consider myself a great player; that's not how it is measured.

If you format that as actual paragraphs, I will respond. I can't read it when it looks like that.

question number 1. do we jam young pyro on turn two every time or are there situations to where we have it in our opener and do not play it until later?

It varies by matchup, but also by necessity. There are matches where you can just run it out because your opponent doesn't have removal; there are matchups where you need to exhuast their removal first because sticking a YP$ = win. There are times when you just need a 2/1 on turn 2 to apply pressure and there are times when you just have to play the card and hope they don't have anything because you're behind. The card is very skill demanding, but with experience you'll get more from it.

question number 2. do we wait until our mirror match plays
chained to the rocks for us to play peak eruption or do we just play it for the greatest tempo advantage?

IMO just slam it asap; especially on the plan ~ it disrupts their sequencing substantially and keeping them off four mana is huge; this can directly allow you to safely resolve a Warleader's Helix because they can't both advance their game plan AND keep up Skullcrack.

question number 3. are there any other decks that we want to board in assemble against? like green white, mono green, or mono red with fanatics?

Not red decks, but I do bring them in against the weenie aggro decks; you turn your entire deck into a 1-for-1 or better trading deck then slam an Assemble at 10+ life and the game is over.