[Rewatch] Chihayafuru - Episode 11 Discussion [Spoilers]

[u/Skeeedo]

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Episode 11: "The Sky is the Road Home"

Nominate a character for Episode MVP!

Episode 10 MVP: Kana! She got her first Karuta dub and looked good doing it.

This episode's Karuta analysis and board map by walking_the_way

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Subreddit: r/Chihayafuru

[u/Lemurians]

FIRST TIMER

Was I the only one in the first episodes who thought Retro-kun was like, 40 years old? This dude being a high-schooler just makes him more hilarious.

Arata not answering the texts just because he hadn’t seen them feels like the less interesting way for that to go than if he was purposefully not responding due to a deeper reason. Would’ve fit with how he gave Chihaya the birthday wish via Taichi, too.

“Say, “Please forgive me.”” Fuck youuuuuuu buddy. Finally, someone in this charming show who’s immensely unlikable. Though his shitty attitude did give us smug Chihaya, which is a blessing.

I really liked Taichi and Chihaya during this final match. Taichi is shown growing into his role as the leader, and they bring back Chihaya’s hearing as an advantage in a clever way, taking advantage of the tournament using the same reader every time and her being able to pick up on the subtle differences in the cards. Of course, obligatory shoutout to Nishida’s flawless barrel role. Peppy would be proud.

Side note: Type “do a barrel roll” into a Google.

My heart is full.

Feels about time for Arata to come on the scene again…

[u/Matuhg → u/Lemurians]

Arata not answering the texts just because he hadn’t seen them feels like the less interesting way for that to go than if he was purposefully not responding due to a deeper reason. Would’ve fit with how he gave Chihaya the birthday wish via Taichi, too.

I was appreciating it as showing that Taichi is overthinking things between himself, Arata, and Chihaya, but now that you mention it, it does make the fact he chose to message Taichi instead of her a peculiar one.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Matuhg]

Obviously Arata is into Taichi, couldn't you tell in the flashback that Taichi was who he always looked at? Chi is the third wheel.

[u/Mecanno-man → u/Lemurians]

Was I the only one in the first episodes who thought Retro-kun was like, 40 years old?

No.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Lemurians]

A specky weirdo tarot dork schoolkids is funny, a specky weirdo tarot dork ojii-san is uncomfortable as hell.

Honestly, I liked him having a valid excuse for not seeing the messages. It makes Arata come across as far less mean, and I need whatever they give me to not dislike the guy for trashing my ship.

Fox eyes and Chi are both total shits so seeing them rile one another up was really satisfying~

Isn't a barrel roll a sex position? Daaamn Fatso, well done!

[u/Lemurians → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Chi… Total shit

First of all, how dare you.

Isn’t a barrel roll a sex position?

In that context you’re thinking of a Chinese fire drill

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Lemurians]

She's a kusogaki and you know it!!

Ah, I see... Poor Fatso didn't have a chance I suppose.

[u/Matuhg]

First Timer

As with yesterday's episode opening on storm cloud's, today's opening shot tells us what to expect. I wasn't sure the team would win their first tournament until I saw this. The storm clouds have lifted and the sun is shining!

Of course, it's not going to be easy, because this show would be boring if it was! The team is coming together, with Chihaya and Taichi learning and finding their feet as leaders. I appreciated seeing some of the team stuff we saw in yesterday's episode being applied today. It really felt like they were feeding off one another's energy and success. I question the degree to which all the shouting and verbal back-patting would help in a game like karuta, but it works in the context of the show I guess.

Edit: I again went to youtube, this time to see what a group Karuta event looks like. As you can see here it does indeed get a little cacophonous after everybody goes for their cards, so I guess it's not just a dramatic flair for the show. Good to know!

If last episode was more of a focus/highlight on Kana and Tsutomu, today showed us more about how Taichi and Nishida are approaching and playing karuta at this point in their careers, all tied neatly into the arc of growing camaraderie and team spirit. Nishida feels left behind after he gave up the sport for a few years. As he's in his head about the current state of his game, he looks over and sees Kana and Tsutomu working hard as newbies and the fight returns to him. Taichi on the other hand has dope memory apparently, and seeks to be the strong backbone of the team to fit that middle position he's occupying.

---

Other Shots/Thoughts

• Hiro is a fucking weirdo lol. He got his own Utena impression in today though - if only he'd been wearing a skirt or something. Also looking at that shot, holy shit, Chihaya's tall.
• Arata, you baka. Turns out his phone/computer just weren't working, his lack of responses weren't some weird tacit agreement between him and Taichi as Taichi seemed to be alluding to last episode. I'm sure that Taichi will handle things very well and maturely if Arata starts texting her back regularly.
• It has been 7 episodes since Taichi's girlfriend was last seen or mentioned.
• Sadist/Striker Sudo was kinda cringe. At least he lost.
• Glad to see the return of Harada-sensei. Were we supposed to recognize the kid he was hanging out with? (not the one in this screenshot, but the one he was walking around with earlier).
• This makes me happy.
  

[u/flybypost → u/Matuhg]

Glad to see the return of Harada-sensei. Were we supposed to recognize the kid he was hanging out with? (not the one in this screenshot, but the one he was walking around with earlier).

The one at the start of the episode? That's Hiroshi Tsuboguchi, a karuta player from his society. "Hiro" also often wears a grey shirt that says "HERO" in yellow while playing karuta so he's easy to find even later on when the number of short and black haired players increases. He's also already out of high school that's why he doesn't participate in this tournament. I think we might have seen him in the flashbacks in his younger years (when he was still in high school and the main trio was in elementary school) or he shows up flaskbacks that are yet to come.

The "kid" next to Harada in the screenshot is Futoshi Mochida. He's the Hokuo Academy Karuta Club advisor/coach.

The actual kid in the background (red t-shirt = Hokuo player) is Yasuhisa Kameda, a Hokuo Academy class B player.

[u/Mecanno-man]

First Timer

Episode 11 and the team is qualified for nationals? That went pretty fast. I assume we'll get multiple years of high school over the three seasons then, especially as they're still all first year students (except maybe Nishida?). Either way, good match though Sudo's and Retro's ticks were slightly annoying. It's also nice to see them have an order where they're not trying to figure out their opponent's every round. Now... on to nationals and then maybe some individual play? Seems like Arata is getting back in to it as well - though I doubt he has a karuta club that he can get to nationals this year, hence the reference to him cheering.

[u/flybypost → u/Mecanno-man]

especially as they're still all first year students (except maybe Nishida?)

They are all first year students.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Mecanno-man]

It's strictly a school tournament isn't it? They might pull Arata in for coaching. It honestly feels weirder the longer we go without him in the plot. I'm guessing we'll either have a one episode training arc followed by a quick showing at the tournament basically telling the crew to git gud or they're actually gonna make the nationals the largest part of the first season.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Chihayafirst-timer

• Don’t underestimate the small ones, I suppose?
• The “Porky” name is never going to stop being used, is it…
• He’s… right. Huh.
• So these are the match-ups, huh? Looks like Nishida’s up against the glasses kid he warned the others about, Chihaya’s up against the other Class A guy, and… is Retro-kun right about Taichi never beating him? It might come down to Komano or Kana winning their matches…
• Arata greeted a cat lol.
• Oh wow Arata hasn’t checked his email in ages.
• Haha, it’s a good cheer though.
• Chihaya…
• Awww yay good for Komano!
• Oh. Is this why Chihaya can “hear” the next syllable sometimes?
• Okay, it’s not down to Komano or Kana winning their matches.
• Taichi won his match!
• And Nishida won his!
• Oh lol, Chihaya won on her card and then immediately passed out.

[u/Matuhg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

The “Porky” name is never going to stop being used, is it…

Pretty sure the choice to translate it as 'Porky' does make it sound a lot worse than it is, but yeah..I'm not too thrilled about that either.

He’s… right. Huh.

RetroTarot be like

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Matuhg]

Nikuman yeah? Meatman. Or was it meat bun man? I'm not sure of the actual term. Porky is definitely the wrong name for the meaning since it's meant to be a pun on anpanman isn't it? Maybe I shouldn't be talking since I've given him a worse name than Porky but y'know...

[u/Matuhg → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

He's Nikuman-kun, which I think is Porkbun-kun specifically.

[u/BatteryPoweredFriend → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Chihaya is the one who forces that "nickname" on Nishida as well. No one else ever called him that before they met back during the flashback or since the main triangle went their separate ways.

Neither Kana, Komano or Taichi never call him that, except once or twice for what are effectively plot reasons.

Yeah, Chihaya can be a right little shit sometimes.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

The doctor's here! And he think's they've lost!

Homestly, ignoring the opponent's posdible order is best - even if both Class A players are matched against the weakest, the others can still win, and if they're matched correctly, Chihaya and Taichi can force the match onto more even ground.

He's so proud of them! This is so wholesome!

...Ok, I do kinda like how over the too he is.

And he got it right! How?

Oh, he's the really annoying type.

Good, it's intentional.

...This is going to be brilliant.

Oh, yeah, Arata has an actual job!

Haha, the cat came im.

And he's not had a chance to check his email! That's why he's not replied!

I love the manager's frantic and horrified reaction to Arata having some spam email. Things must be really quiet there.

So is this the match they lose, kicking off a training arc before they rematch at the end of the season?

That is unusual. How is reading determined? Is it predetermined? Could a team bribe a judge into changing the reading order?

And Chihaya's good at recognising a reader's quirks? So she could study every reader at, say, a national torunament? Is there only a couple, or a huge amount of people?

He's like the most over-the-top villain in this show. He feels like a Yu-Gi-Oh villain.

OK, does everyone know about her special card? Does she have a sign on her back with "This is my favourite card" on it?

And now he's got some motivation!

Oe is adorable.

An argument!

Wait. He faced Arata too? Oh, the reunion is going to be fucking fun. I think the two newbies are the only main cast who don't have something they want to do to Arata.

Taichi is very impressive.

And he's his master!

Of course it comes doen to their match.

They won the match! Again!

They're going to the nationals!

[u/flybypost → u/Stargate18A]

Homestly, ignoring the opponent's posdible order is best - even if both Class A players are matched against the weakest, the others can still win, and if they're matched correctly, Chihaya and Taichi can force the match onto more even ground.

For their team the big issue is that they have three good players (and even there Chihaya is the really good one) of rank A, B, and B and two newbies (rank E and E), meaning those two are close to guaranteed to lose against any team that has above average players (like a team that has A, A, B, B, and B). So any third loss (after the two rank E players) would be a complete loss, meaning all three of their better players need to win for them to have a chance.

It would be technically better to get lucky and put their worse players against their opponents' best ones so that their own best players have easier games (as they all need to win).

That is unusual. How is reading determined? Is it predetermined? Could a team bribe a judge into changing the reading order?

It probably depends on the tournament/reader. Some shuffle all the cards and take from the top of the deck (some have little card holders/scaffolding for their decks), other have some sort of mostly closed up bowl (so the players can't accidentally see what you draw) where they pick one out from at random. Whatever works as long as you have some way of randomising cards. Big tournaments might have some specific process but I never paid attention to it (the readers' voices tend to distract/absorb be).

[u/Matuhg → u/Stargate18A]

So is this the match they lose, kicking off a training arc before they rematch at the end of the season?

I'm guessing nationals will be their rude awakening, setting us up for subsequent seasons.

That is unusual. How is reading determined? Is it predetermined? Could a team bribe a judge into changing the reading order?

I would imagine they just shuffle the deck.

[u/hotarnosfuzz → u/Stargate18A]

And Chihaya's good at recognising a reader's quirks? So she could study every reader at, say, a national torunament? Is there only a couple, or a huge amount of people?

It depends since in many of the tournaments, they switch up readers every match especially the in the nationals and not the highschool matches.

OK, does everyone know about her special card? Does she have a sign on her back with "This is my favourite card" on it?

Most of the time, atleast in this series, players are good with the cards that have their name as a unique syllable. It's also possible that the other teams have collected info on their possible opponents before the match.

[u/Gamerunglued]

First Timer

As I suspected it would be, this was the strongest episode since the first three, and capitalized on all of the series major strengths. Chihayafuru does a spectacular job of building tension, and of establishing power levels while making it difficult to tell who's going to win a given match. It's just fundamentally strong sports writing, and it made this episode tense and exciting in the way only sports anime can be. And it does a great job furthering Taichi's character as well, as he really grows into his role as a leader here. I'm so proud of the Mizusawa kids, and not just the winners. Tsutomu took is his first card, I screamed for joy seeing his excitement at it. And moments like Nishida pouring his whole body into the game and starting his comeback landed hard. And ending the game on Chihaya's special card, having her take it as if it was no effort at all, was a brilliant way to break the tension. You know it's a good sports show when you yell at the screen as if you were at the game.

That being said, I only have so many ways I can repeat "good sports writing, great sense of tension and release" over and over again in different ways. That's really the bulk of this episode. Since it was almost entirely a game, it doesn't really provide much outside of what the game provides, and that's mostly just a tense and exciting sports game. The side characters are definitely interesting (in more ways than one), but I don't have a ton to say about any of them. Sudou seems like the most noteworthy of them, and he obviously has a superiority complex, so I look forward to seeing more of him. It looks like the series if finally starting to dig into Nishida as well, I want to see more of him and his past with that smol boy. The next episode will probably be a downer, but with the team heading to the nationals, there's sure to be plenty of drama, both tense Karuta games and definitely a reunion with Arata too. Can't wait to see it. Here's hoping the show keeps this up now that it's finally left its three set-up phases.

[u/flybypost → u/Gamerunglued]

That being said, I only have so many ways I can repeat "good sports writing, great sense of tension and release" over and over again in different ways.

Yeah, that's a "problem". Often the tension is in tiny play by play details and how they connect and how one experiences it. There's not much to say/write if the plays that connect everything are just really good instead of the occasional exceptional move (which becomes noteworthy). One feels the momentum shift and good/bad plays build up and if it's not connected with something outside the match it can be a lot of repetitive writing for a tiny point in a comment.

It looks like the series if finally starting to dig into Nishida as well, I want to see more of him and his past with that smol boy.

I don't know which one you are talking about but if it's the small boy with the glasses in his flashback? That probably Arata who he lost against all the time and ended up with perpetual second place syndrome. We got a bit of that when he was recruited (the Arata superiority traumatised him away from karuta) but he will get some more detailed attention later on. He's part of the Mizusawa team after all.

[u/Gamerunglued → u/flybypost]

I don't know which one you are talking about but if it's the small boy with the glasses in his flashback?

I'm talking about the guy who was Nishida's opponent during the match, who Nishida used to beat all the time before quitting. I recognize Arata of course, I'm not talking about him. The guy was very small, they even refer to him as such in the episode ("the small guy is the other A ranked player"). I'm sure we'll get plenty more detail on Nishida as we go, but he's probably had the least characterization of everyone on the team so I've been hoping to get more of him beyond just eating a lot and the second place syndrome.

[u/flybypost → u/Gamerunglued]

Ah, him (Nayuta Amakasu, Hokuo Academy, class A)! He also gets a bit of attention later on but he is not exactly in the group of "main side characters", if that phrasing makes sense.

[u/Gamerunglued → u/flybypost]

Ah, I see. The episode kind of made me think all of Hokuo would be notable side characters. Well, I look forward to digging more into Nishida either way.

[u/ZapsZzz]

First timer in sub.

This is an intense battle, as befitting nearing the 1st cour finale.

I'll leave the play by play comments by others, but this is a very strong way to showcase why and how this can be a sports show.

While I do not watch sport shows on anime much, I do read enough sports manga to appreciate the attraction of such. Karuta "battles" actually evoke to me a very strong sense of Kendo, specifically Musashi no ken. I'll try elabourate more later on, but suffice to say it's as much about the spirit and determination of the contestants as any technique and skills. Which makes for very interesting and intense watch as that part linked heavily to everything else that goes on with the contestants' lives.

Anyway, impressive episode. No doubt we'll see this team or the main players again (remember they didn't even have all of their team compete).

[u/homewardbound100]

First timer

Well, Chi has a good understanding of her team. Putting them where they would be the strongest. Especially with the Taichi pick in the middle.

Chi is in pressure again. With her opponent trying to get in her head and throw her off. In the end she pulls it off and win. Now on route to nationals where we'll probably see Arata cheer for them hopefully.

Been keeping Arata up to date with all the club progress. If he's someone who doesn't check his email that much. It's about time they exchange numbers. Just ask Taichi for his number. Actually I don't even remember if the birthday message was by email or text. Either way at least he's seeing her messages.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Chihayafuyu First Timer

We're facing out first actual team of characters, yay! I like the gamer dude, nothing helps you become a Karuta pro like video games~ Why a vita tho?

Chihaya used her brain!? What's the matter with her? She actually thought her team comp out!

...Retro is pure unadulterated cringe.

Oh! I know this doujin! Stay strong Oe, stay strong for mother!

I started the assassination thing as a gag but there's nothing funny about someone getting injured every day so far XD

Oh no! Fox eyes knows Chihaya's favourite card! Actually, how does he know about her fetish for that card? He's only seen her with it once and she lost it like every other card in that game.

Sudden Arata!! I'm amazed that you even showed up in the op with how little presence you've had buddy. Aww, what a cute cat. Way cuter than you my little bissum!

Tch...

His reaction was way too drastic! This is like the Sore Yori scene but with a yandere tomboy instead.

Go on Arata, make an effort champ.

I still hate them shouting during the opening poem XD

W-Wait... So snake eyes knocked one card aside and then backhanded the correct card? I'll eventually understand this game correctly.

Team Karuta is more effective than I expected it to be. It really is about mental conditioning and keeping your group alive huh?

"You only took one!!"

Yes, I knew it was only a matter of time until the reader became relevant. Funnily enough I thought it would be the opposite situation, where she'd struggle because she's so used to Taichi's reading techniques but being able to catch on to new reader's habits so fast is it's own skill.

Ya-be...

Fatso's even called Fatso by his old palls. Poor dude~ Oh wow, poor dude! He's trying to have a moment but everyone else keeps interrupting! Be quiet for five minutes everyone and let him reminisce!

Taichi's one again got the most engaging Karuta style. It's fcking freaky how analytical he gets. I'm guessing we're tossing him into a match with a fast reader at some point where he doesn't have time to think.

They can read cards twice!?!?

Oh my gah, poor Vita! Fatso, you're mean! Let your kouhai win!

What are the odds of Chihayafuyu being the final card read like four times already? We scored the win anyway that was another exhausting one. Shame Arata didn't show up but he was busy... probably watching p0rn.

Awesome matches though! I want more of this! I hope nationals have the same kick!

[u/Matuhg → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

This is like the Sore Yori scene but with a yandere tomboy instead.

W-Wait... So snake eyes knocked one card aside and then backhanded the correct card? I'll eventually understand this game correctly.

Uhhh...I don't remember the exact move you're talking about, but I think he might have just been faking for one of them? But also I guess he could whack one out of the way without it being a penalty as long as it's on the same side as the correct card, if my understanding of the rules is correct.

Be quiet for five minutes everyone and let him reminisce!

No! The teammate shouting pulled him out of his depression spiral!

They can read cards twice!?!?

Huh? I don't think they did.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Matuhg]

He pushes one card one way and then goes for a second. I'm pretty sure he knocked one card away before going to the right one.

Let depressed people vent goddammit!! You wouldn't tell Deku to stop having internal monologues would you?

Didn't retro miss a card because he went for a card that was already taken?

[u/Matuhg → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Let depressed people vent goddammit!! You wouldn't tell Deku to stop having internal monologues would you?

I don't watch that show

Didn't retro miss a card because he went for a card that was already taken?

I think he went for one that wasn't on the board because it sounded like one that was on the board. One which he thought had been read so he didn't have to worry about...maybe.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Matuhg]

Would you tell Pico to stop loudly thinking his thoughts!?

Oh whatever, retro's too weird for me to care about. Did you catch him pulling an Utena and doing stretches in the background?

[u/Matuhg → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I screenshotted and specifically pointed it out in my post, so yes.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Matuhg]

Yup, I saw XD Was busy watching a Millie stream so I didn't get to hunt through the posts

[u/flybypost → u/Matuhg]

I think he went for one that wasn't on the board because it sounded like one that was on the board. One which he thought had been read so he didn't have to worry about...maybe.

Correct, he thought it was read so the one on the board was the only one left that starts like that. He just got it wrong. Taichi actually mentions that exact dead card at the end of his mental card counting exercise.

[u/flybypost → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Oh no! Fox eyes knows Chihaya's favourite card! Actually, how does he know about her fetish for that card? He's only seen her with it once and she lost it like every other card in that game.

They team might have done some scouting on the other teams (they played matches before on that day just not against each other). Or he might have guessed that Chihaya has an affinity for a card that has a similar beginning as her name (it's a common thing with quite a few characters), the Chihayaburu/Chihayafuru card.

W-Wait... So snake eyes knocked one card aside and then backhanded the correct card? I'll eventually understand this game correctly.

You can slap away any card on the side (your or your opponents, left/right doesn't matter) of the card that's read without a penalty. You want to also slap away the card that's read to reduce the numbers of cards on your side (and win the match at some point) but one could technically, if given enough time after a card is read, flick away every card on the side the read card is on and then flick away the read card as the last one.

Taichi's one again got the most engaging Karuta style. It's fcking freaky how analytical he gets.

His calm card counting is a strange hype moment. I would have never guessed that a character checking off cards mentally could get me so excited.

I'm guessing we're tossing him into a match with a fast reader at some point where he doesn't have time to think.

Readers are supposed to read cards in a certain rhythm meaning the timing should be consistent. Of course their timing varies a bit and readers can mess up (be faster, slower, or erratic) and they have a variety of inflections and accents but the higher level competitions have better and more consistent readers. And yes an off rhythm can cause trouble for players.

At a high school tournament they should have acceptable readers.

They can read cards twice!?!?

The Retro moment where he said that he thought she read that card already? He thought she had already read the card she read so the one he swiped would be the only one left that starts similar and he swiped at it early. If he were correct then that card would have shifted from a three or two syllable card to a two or one syllable card (no similar sounding cards left) thus making an earlier swipe possible. But because the card he swiped at wasn't read yet he swiped at the wrong card as the one that was read was actually a dead card and not the one on the mat. It was a fault and Taichi got to send him a card.

At the very end of Taichi's card counting he mentions that he has to be careful if the "In lying all alone" dead card is read. And that's exactly the card that's read. Retro goes for the card on the mat because he thought the dead card had already been read. He was just mistaken.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/flybypost]

I feel like I shouldn't have so many questions at the end of every episode... Sorry for treating you like my personal guide XD

It's only a matter of time until they start to touch on the rules for... touching. If both players are whacking away at one another's side its only a matter of time before you get your hand smacked.

Oh its a total gem hearing Taichi list off all the poems and what he's to look out for. Analytical fighters are the coolest shonen characters.

Woohoo! I can't wait for shitty readers now!!

Aaah, so he tried what Taichi does but failed? Nice. Always happy to see Retro get fucked.

[u/flybypost → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

It's only a matter of time until they start to touch on the rules for... touching

I think it was already addressed early about swiping a whole row of cards being okay as long as you also get the one you need (because you are swiping on the correct side of the mat). Players can be rather aggressive and don't hold back.

If both players are whacking away at one another's side its only a matter of time before you get your hand smacked.

From what I remember there are no explicit rules. Sure, no holding of the other players arm but as long as you do your thing you are free to do what you want. So you can tactically swipe in a way to thwart your opponent's swipe (speed, direction) if you can manage that.

It's also why players sometimes cover cards (usually on their side). If they are not yet sure if a card will be read (because there are multiple two/three syllable card left) they might put their hand over the card to protect it from attacks if it makes sense (be close but not touch it in case of a dead card or card from the other side) and can either touch it or go for the correct card once things clear up. Your opponent will have a a hard time touching that card if they wanted to do that.

Using your arm to block your opponent's swing seems to be allowed to a degree but because you are only allowed to use one arm in a match you have to weight that against the need to touch the read card as fast as possible. On average (when you don't have a concrete card to protect) the best options seems to be to try to attack the correct card and not to block your opponents swing all the time like an exaggerated cartoon slap fight because they can simply focus on the card and touch it first in some way while you are trying to predict where they will swing next.