Hi pojo readers.  I am a relatively new Pokemon TCG player, and I though I
would write my first report on a tournament I went to yesterday (1/29/2000)
at "The Game Trader" in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio.

My deck is just called "haymaker potpurri".  It is three colors...lightning,
fire, and fighting. Here's the list of the cards in it (as played in the
tournament) :

18 Pokemon
2 Electabuzz (getting more)
2 Jungle Pikachu (I am taking them out, they did nothing for me)
4 Machop (no Hitmonchans :(   )
4 fossil Magmar
2 Onix (stall)
3 Jigglypuff (only played against psychic Pokemon)

24 energy
8 fire
7 lightning
7 fighting
2 DCE

18 trainers
3 Energy search (essential for 3 color decks)
4 Bill
1 Professor Oak
1 Energy retrieval
2 potion (1 reg, 1 super)
3 gust of wind
4 energy removal

I got the cards I wanted after the first round of the tourny so I couldn't
change my deck! AHH!  Anyway I now have 2 scoop ups instead of the potions
and 2 plus powers instead of the 2 Onix.  The Pikachu will come out soon for
another plus power and another Electabuzz. 

There were 20 people, so there were 4 rounds.  Best 4 players went on to
finals and those 2 winners got store credit.  I think it was about $20 for
1st and $12 for 2nd. Here are the rounds:

Round 1:
He had an all grass deck and I knew it, so I sent out fossil Magmar.  He
pretty much finished his Parasects and Venusaurs off because I kept
removaling his energy and poisoning his Pokemon.  Magmar came off without a
scrape because of a potion.  He didn't draw any prizes.

WIN 1-0

Round 2:
I got warned by the player next to me he would pound me.  He played a
psychic/lightning deck with Mewtwos and Electabuzzes.  I got both
Electabuzzes out early and they might have stood a chance but he SER'd them a
couple times and brought out Mewtwo.  I kept getting close to knocking out
his Mewtwos but scoop ups saved him.  I was left with Machop and a energyless
Pikachu.  I sent out Machop and KO'd his Mewtwo then he sent out another
Mewtwo and eventually finished Machop.  I drew 3 prizes I think in that game.

LOSS 1-1

Round 3:
I played a guy who I played a couple times before the tourny. I lost to his
Mewtwo/Scyther deck before the tournament so I thought I was in for it. 
Unfortunate for him he got a bad hand with only one basic (Mr mime) and
relizing he would probably run out of basics because my Machop would total
him easily he Oaked.  He got a couple Scythers and a Gastly (fossil I think).
I retreated Machop in favor of Electabuzz and was able to finish some of his
Pokemon until he brought out Mewtwo.  He then SER'd Electabuzz on bench and
KO'd Electabuzz with Mewtwo.  I brought out 'buzz from the bench and wasn't
able to attack because he had no energy on him and I had no lightning energy
in my hand.  This continued for a couple turns so I retreated and brought out
Magmar.  Magmar did a little damage to Mewtwo then he brought out fossil
Haunter.  Transparency saved him for a few turns then I knocked out his
Haunter and he was left with a fossil Gastly.  Gastly was able to parylize
Magmar a couple times but then Magmar smogged and no poison.  Gastly
parylized again and then next turn he flipped tails...YES!  I smogged and
knew if it was heads Gastly would be knocked out at the end of my turn
because of poison and I would draw my last prize.  We were silent.  HEADS
YESSSS!  I won the game and I think that was my best game ever because he has
made it to finals a few times and he is one of the better players around.

WIN 2-1


Round 4:
The game started off perfect.  He was playing a haymaker, with at least
fighting Pokemon, maybe lightning too.  I got both of my Electabuzzes and he
layed Farfetch'd as active with 2 Farfetch'd on bench.  He went first.  Leek
slap worked, but I eventually finished a couple Farfetch'd with Electabuzz. 
He SER'd my Electabuzz on bench then brought out a pumped Hitmonchan.  He
KO'd my Electabuzz and then KO'd the other one.  I was stuck with only 2
Pikachus and he finished them quick because of weakness to Hitmonchan.  I ran
out of basics.  I guess it was bad luck and bad shuffling because I really
thought I was going to beat him.

LOSS 2-2

Well I did a little better than last time and finished in 9th (out of 20
players).  I will go again in a week or two and see how I do with the new
cards I got in between rounds.

Thanks for a great site POJO please post this!!

Joseph (Radar)-seamorebns@aol.com