5 mistakes during drafting, part 2

1. First pick defines which color(s) you will be drafting. 
You cannot be too attached to a particular color. Instead, stay open-minded in pack number one. Focus on the signals you are receiving. Each pack provides indicators of what colors are accessible and which are not. Only after few picks in pack two you should know the combination of colors in your deck. However, it is not written in stone and there are some exceptions. For instance, you are not drafting black color, but you opened a Pack Rat in pack three. It is usually easy pick. Some cards, like Pack Rat, are unquestionable bombs, which are unbeatable if they are not stopped soon enough. Thus, commitment to black color in this case is indicated, regardless in which booster pack such card was opened.

2. You should take a slightly weaker card over a stronger card if it sends a better signal.
Simply put, in a draft, packs one and three flow clockwise. Pack two, counter-clockwise. Therefore, anticipating what is open on the right is almost always more important than on the left. Let the signals that you receive be only on your mind. Do not worry about signals which you are sending, but focus on reading signs from your co-drafter on the right. There are numerous situations wherein the player to your left will draft differently than your expectations despite your crystal clear signals. Either, because he opened a bomb rare or is disregarding the signals you are sending. Always take the best possible pick.