Hey Pojo, please post this in "Single Card Strategies?" Thanks!

Okay, here's a little back story about my friend Ben Krupa first. If you've
read my Deck Report "Masters of Poison" you probably read my report on him,
but if not, here's his story. Ben's been a friend of mine since we were in
kindergarten. Now, more than half a decade later, we're two of the top
players (if there were ranks, I'd probably be 4th and he'd be 1st) in the
local Pokemon TCG League at Toys R Us. I was a fan of Pokemon ever since I
sat down and watched the cheesy promo video I got in the mail from Nintendo,
and then I read about the Pokemon TCG in a magazine (all they had then was a
pic of an early Charmeleon card- the TCG didn't come out until a few months
later). At that time, the Krupas were incredibly deep in Beanie Babies. Not
in the "cuteness" factor, but in the "profit" factor. They've invested tons
of money on Beanies, but the money they earn selling them on E-Bay is
incredible. Then, at his birthday last year, he introduced me to the TCG. It
was relatively new (1st Ed had just retired) and I was into it immediately.
Now, his family is the biggest Pokemon collector in the city (if not the
state). And unfortunately (for me, anyway) he's got a full arsenal of cards
to choose from (that's 60 of each basic energy and 4 of everything else) and
his Haymaker dominates the League. Luckily, many League members use original
decks, but most of the leaders (in games won) use Haymakers or Rain Dances
(I've never seen a working stall deck, except this one Mr. Mime deck that was
quickly defeated by a Raticate deck I created). Ben usually decides his cards
by how rare they are, and how popular. Hitmonchan, Scyther, Electabuzz, and
even Wigglytuff thrive in his decks. But I have defeated him with simple
Grass decks before, and I've noticed recently that many of the uncommons that
few people use are some of the best. So I've decided to list some of these
"uncommon powerhouses". Here goes:

Exeggutor:
With Venusaur, DCE, or both, this guy rules. In Psychic/Grass decks, it's a
free-retreat plus a devastating attack, like Scyther. And in any deck, Big
Eggsplosion is basically Comet Punch with no limit to the energy you can
attach. With 12 energy, this guy becomes an unstoppable powerhouse that has a
good chance of doing at least 120 damage, maybe more. And with Venusaur, you
can relocate all but one or two the energy to allow Exeggutor to wipe out the
dreaded Mime. Also add in that awesome 80 HP for a stage 1 and you've got an
awesome card.

Jynx:
If you've used Jynx before, you know how good this guy is. I've defeated a
Rain Dance with a lone Jynx before. Here's how:
My Turn 1: Send out Jynx, attach P energy, Doubleslap for 10.
His Turn 1: Send out Squirtle, attach W energy, Bubble for 10, no paralysis.
My Turn 2: Attach P energy to Jynx, Doubleslap for 20.
His Turn 2: Evolve to Blastoise w/Breeder, Raindance, Hydro Pump for 40.
My Turn 3: Attach P energy to Jynx, use two ER's on Blastoise, Meditate for
50.
His Turn 4: NOTHING (no energy in draw)
My Turn 5: Meditate for 70, Blastoise is dead. A lone Magikarp soon followed.
'Nuff said.

Raticate:
So what if Chansey, Charizard, and Giovanni's Nidoking have 120 HP? Super
Fang 'em and cut that down to 60! Then send in Jynx for the kill!

Gloom:
WAY underrated. Here's the strategy against, let's say, a Hitmonchan.
Turn 1: Attach G energy to Oddish and Stun Spore for 10.
(Take the 20 damage from Hitmonchan if no paralysis from Stun Spore.)
Turn 2: Evolve to Gloom. Attach G energy and poison for 10.
(Take the 20 damage from Hitmonchan. Chan takes 10 more damage.)
Now there are two options:
Turn 3, Opt. 1: Attach G energy to Gloom. Use Foul Odor for 20; both
confused.
(Assume that Chan attaches energy and uses Special Punch and fails. 20 to
Chan, then a total of 20 more to Chan from Poison. Chan is knocked out.)
Turn 3, Opt. 2: Evolve to Vileplume, attach G energy, and use Petal Dance.
Chan is KO'ed because of a very high chance of at least 40 damage, plus
poison damage and possible Confusion damage....
Anyway, Gloom is a very important stage between Oddish and Vileplume. Too bad
they're not gonna be around anymore in Base Set 2....

Kadabra
Self-healing. Attack that costs the same as Hitmonchan's but +10 damage.
'Nuff said.

Ivysaur
A debatable choice, but automatic poison and a 30-damage-for-3-energy attack
are very powerful together.

Wartortle
Why is everyone raving about Hitmonchan when you can get the same 40-damage
attack here, only better since it only needs one colored energy and two of
any type?

Magmar
Both the original and Fossil Magmars are very useful. Basic Magmar can do 30
for two energy and 50 for three. Not bad for a basic fire-type. And the other
Magmar adds strategy to the Fire department of the game. Two of each is a
great choice in a Fire deck.

Sandslash
Ah, yes, my old favorite. For only two energy, this guy has a potential of 60
damage. And he can also do 20 for the same amount if you don't want to risk
it. The best Chansey-killed in the game, but also good against the
all-too-popular Electabuzz and the dangerous new Pikachu and Raichu from
Jungle and Fossil respectively. Look out, though, Scyther and the birds are
serious threats.

Farfetch'd
And finally, it's that classic Haymaker bird. Some may debate this choice,
but think about it: Farfetch'd has an attack, unlike Scyther, that actually
does damage before his main attack is ready. Sure's it's a one-time shot and
risky as well, but it's better than sitting there for two or three turns
dancing around with swords in your arms, I mean, blades, I mean, whatever
Scyther has for arms.

Oh, and here's an upcoming dangerous uncommon:

Sabrina's Kadabra (from Gym 2)
If you haven't seen this card before, beware. For one energy, flip a coin. If
heads, this attack reduces the defending Pokemon to 10 HP. Ouch. And it's got
a three-energy 40-damage follow-up with no strings attached. Plus it has 70
HP and evolves into the powerful Sabrina's Alakazam. So Haymaker fans beware
when this card comes out around this time in 2000 (right before the "real"
turn of the millenium).

So that concludes my uncommon observation. If you've got a problem with that,
or (probably less likely :( ) you want to send praise for me saying good
things about your fav card, e-mail me at Maxtendo64@aol.com. Until next time,
this is Maxtendo64, signing off...................(okay, fade out for real
this time)............(no I mean it stop doing
that)....................(Errr....technical difficulties.....)...............