Master-level Magic strategy
Good Magic players win by managing resources, tempo and information better than their opponent.
Who's the beatdown?
In every game, one player is the aggressor and one is the control player. Work out which you are against this opponent. The faster deck should push damage; the slower deck should trade and survive. Getting the role wrong loses more games than bad draws.
Card advantage and tempo
Card advantage means ending up with more useful cards than your opponent. Tempo means using your mana and turns more efficiently. A cheap spell that deals with an expensive threat wins tempo; a spell that draws two cards wins card advantage. Know which one your deck needs.
Mana and curve
Most 60-card decks play around 20 to 26 lands, depending on their curve. Plan your mana costs so you can use all your mana each turn. Colour requirements matter: count the sources for each colour.
The stack and priority
Hold up instant-speed interaction, respond at the right moment, and remember that your opponent can respond too. Learn the common tricks in your format so you play around them when it matters, and ignore them when it doesn't.
Combat maths
Before attacking, list every possible block and every trick your opponent's open mana could represent. Attack when the worst case is still good for you.
Sideboarding
Plan your sideboard for the top decks in advance: what comes in, what goes out, and whether you want to play or draw. Write it in the Vault Strategy tab under each matchup.