It's time for part two of the Starcraft keyboard tutorial.  If you don't know what I’m talking about go ahead and read my previous blog, which explains how to get started:  You can find it here.



 
I've said this before and I’ll say it again right now.  Starcraft is the hardest game ever made.  There is no game that requires so much focus and dedication to improve at.  There are so many secrets, tricks and techniques to master; many of which are almost impossible to figure out unless you're training with groups of people.  This is one of the reasons why the Koreans are the best, they all train in the same room.  They'll have group meetings discussing everything from strategy, to mechanical techniques to the psychological mind set that one must be in, in order to perform properly on stage.
 
One thing that non-Koreans struggle with is they often master some techniques and miss others.  This isn't because they're stupid or not training enough; this game is just too much for one person alone to figure out.  I want to start teaching you techniques that will give you a huge advantage.

 
We're going to focus on mechanics and how to start using your keyboard like a Korean ProGamer.  I've been playing Starcraft competitively for almost nine years now. 

I’ve traveled around the world and watched the best of the best duke it out, but there was something that I found quite shocking.  Players from different parts of the world use different hotkey setups. 

Now bare in mind that Starcraft is a game that at times requires 300 APM to play.  Obviously there has to be a right and a wrong way to use your keyboard just like there's a right and wrong way to hold a golf club. 

This guide is going to be several blog posts long because I want to go in depth.  I will be focusing this hotkey setup using Protoss but the advice i give you can help you figure out you're own best hotkey setups for Terran and Zerg.
 
Terran and Zerg players start out with their hands on the left side of the keyboard while Protoss players start out on the right side. 

Why is that? Because the keys that use the most at the start of the game are located on that side of the keyboard (S,D for select drones, S for SCVs, P for Probes).  In case you're wondering it's illegal to change hotkey setups at tournaments so competitive players have to master the standard default hotkeys. 

Take a glimpse at the keyboard in front of you.  You are staring at the most complicated gamepad ever made.  Almost all the keys are used, some only once while others are hit over 1000 times in a game.  Lets start programming your brain to master this vexing controller.


 
Position your index finger of the "P" key with your middle finger over the "0" key.  Now put your thumb over the control key located at the bottom right side of your keyboard. 

After the game starts you've split your probes use your thumb and middle finger to bind your nexus to "0". 

Now for the first part of the game all you're doing is spamming 0 P. To make probes. 

What if you fast expand and have two Nexus's?  Just bind the second Nexus to 9 and use your ring finger on that.  Now make the pattern 0 P 9 P, you can do it in under a second. 

We're using four of the fingers on your hand but we haven’t reached the pinky yet.  Use the pinky on "B” now you can hit "B P" and you're making a pylon with your probe. 

Hit "B P + shift (with your thumb on the right side) click back on the mineral patches and the probe is going to make the pylon and immediately bounce back to mining minerals.
 
Go into single player, slow the game down slightly and start practicing this hotkey setup (Do NOT go online). 

If you click even once on any of the boxes at the bottom right or if you notice you're using the wrong fingers on the wrong keys then just restart.  I want you to force your brain to adapt this setup, you're early game will improve drastically.

As you rush your opponent you can span 0 P 9 P, and have two probes making without ever going back home.  I realize this isn't a lot but I want to start off slow. 

We'll be moving on to more technical keyboard techniques as time passes on.  Good luck!  I’ll be getting back to you guys soon with more help.
 

--Tasteless

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