How To: Sideboard

Many players have trouble in this category.... They win game one, and when it comes to sideboarding against their opponent they just hinder themselves rather than increase their chances. The important thing you need to realize when sideboarding, is you need to remember what your opponent is playing. You need to know your opponents decks inside and out, and if you dont, spend a decent amount of time googling and putting up all the possible deck types that you could come against.

After playing game one, match up the cards you have seen with the cards on the lists, to attempt to figure out what other cards are in his deck. Then seeing a similar decklist, find out what cards are going to be most effective against you, within the sideboard and main board, and the cards you have that will be least effective against his main board / sideboard.

Then add cards from your sideboard that will be effective against his, its all about knowledge of your opponents deck and finding its strengths and weaknesses. For example, in block, two of the most common decks are UB control and White Wheenie. WW, generally plays Mirran Crusader. The only cards in MB and SB for UB to use against him as direct removal is Black Sun's Zenith, and Ratchet Bomb, so siding out these would be ill advised, on the basis that it is the only way to get rid of your opponents most effective card against you.

Study those decks, and practice a lot.

Perfection