Ever wonder how I get the cards
I have?  This article is all about getting cards cheap.
  Bargain Magic
   Just about everyone who plays Magic wants to have the best cards around.
Ever go shopping around the Web or local stores for a Black Lotus or
something like that, only to find that you can't afford anything that's being
sold?  It happens to all of us.  I have tried everything possible to get
around this, and what I've found should help just about everybody.
   First of all, there are some tricks that can help at both auctions and
stores, online or off.  If you're a "casual" gamer who could care less about
tournaments and the condition of your cards, this will really help you.
Always check to see if an older or newer version of a card is cheaper than
other versions, because most people forget that they're all the same card.
      Example 1: Birds of Paradise from 7th Edition is selling for more than
the one from 4th edition, even though they're the same card.  (As long as a
card from an older set is the same as one that's legal in a tournament with
card set restrictions like Type II, you can still use it.)  I can use either
one in a tournament-yeah, I think I'll get the 4th Edition version.
      Example 2: That Black Lotus from Unlimited is a lot cheaper than the
one from Beta.  They're the same card, so unless you're looking for the Beta
version, you're better off with Unlimited.
   Also look at the condition of the card.  The worse the condition, the
cheaper the card.  My theory on this: If I can still tell what it does, and I
can cover any marks on it with a Deck Protector, it's worth it.  It's
possible to get some great cards for much lower prices than normal this way.
   The big one to consider is whether your local stores know what's really in
their commons box.  Most of these cards are $1.00 or less, and at least one
of them is usually worth much more.  I once bought a Maze of Ith-the only
card from The Dark ever restricted, and easily worth a good $6.00 or
higher-for $0.50 doing this!  I also found a Serpent Generator from Legends,
which is at least $8.00, that I bought for $1.00.  Just be cautioned
-well-known cards such as Black Lotus will probably never end up in the
commons box.
   If you're online looking for cards, it doesn't hurt to have a good way to
compare prices on condition and cards.  www.blackborder.com has a price guide
that not only gives you good prices, but also shows you the 3 lowest prices
on a card, as well as which websites are selling the card for those 3 lowest
prices.  Other websites, such as TrollandToad.com, sell the popular cards in
almost every condition possible.
   Finally, look for obscure versions of the card you're after, as well as
"remakes" that are almost as good, if not better.  Black Lotus may be
high-priced, but can be had for a fraction of the cost in Magic: Collector's
Edition (a non-tournament legal version of Beta with square corners).  Juzam
Djinn costs well over $150, so why not just buy the equally good (if not
better) Phyrexian Scuta for $9.00?  You can save even more money in the
process.
   Check back with this website often-I'll be writing about strategies,
combos, decks, and more ways to get some sweet deals in a while.  Until then,
I need to go peddling the website to links databases and such.  Spread the
word about us!