Neutral

[DJ_Blactricity]

The match isn't at neutral if you have the option of doing a mix-up.  I guess you could count controlling different areas of space at different times in hopes of hitting the opponent as a mix-up, but that's more of what zoning characters do. Elaborate. You don't get into the range so easily against a good opponent. What are the tactics you use to get into that ideal range when your opponent knows that's where you want to be, and are also trying to get to or stay in their ideal position?

[Errol]

you mix them up. you pretend to be going on the ground and then you jump. 

[Sashi]

You bait them. If I know that the other guy wants to be at a certain range, I'll back off to make them want to get in range, then I'll dash in and hit a button as they're approaching me. You do something like jumping forward, then you double jump straight up to bait an anti air. You walk them to the corner, then anti air them as they try to escape. It all depends on what characters, the distance, space positioning, meter, overdrive, etc. There's no singular answer to what to do in a situation and the majority of neutral is guessing what the other player wants to do and bait and punish it.

[DJ_Blactricity]

Again I understand the basics, and I don't want the simple answer. I instinctively do a lot of this, but I usually can't actively do it. It makes me easy to read if you've played me enough. I am trying to add thought to action so I can stop being read so easily. I figure understanding the thought-process of players like TD at neutral who seem to pick up on the smallest things and take advantage of it will help me with this. I can't understand their thought process with a simple answer. I need an in-depth explanation in order to do that.

[Sashi]

Well, stop doing it instinctively. Do it actively. Every movement should have a reason behind it. Raw instinct is just autopilot neutral. There isn't some breakthrough. It's just that most good players are constantly thinking about every movement and every button they press and most bad players just shuffle back and forth pretending they're baiting stuff.

[D.R.F.]

Just as you play, you find answers to your own questions. Watching your videos helps a lot, so that next time during a certain situation you will be more prepared for it. That, and asking specific threads about specific shit will level up your neutral. There isn't really another way to improve in my opinion

[DJ_Blactricity]

Well, stop doing it instinctively. Do it actively. Every movement should have a reason behind it. Raw instinct is just autopilot neutral. There isn't some breakthrough. It's just that most good players are constantly thinking about every movement and every button they press and most bad players just shuffle back and forth pretending they're baiting stuff.

If it was that easy I would. I'm the type of person who overthinks things so a lot of the time I do better just playing.

[TD]

Still think you should get to know the top players of each caracter you want to know how to play or fight against. We talked about this a little bit, in that what you may not know, a top player might, or even a not so great player who just knows how to deal with... being in the corner, for example.

 

You need to know what your preffered learning style is, be it watching videos, reading stories, or practicing. Even though practicing is always improtant, it may not be as optimal to learn. You may not 'get it' as quickly or efficiently as you would watching a video. So look into this. I mean be really introspective and honest with yourself and think about what the best paths of which you should take to get the answer you are looking for. Make it your goal. If you overthink, good, but the best answers are often simple and just as efficient. Overthinking leads to second guessing, which is what learning your situations is trying to avoid.

 

Anyway, fenrir is also correct in that you DO need to watch your own videos most importantly. You can bet your bottom dollar that if you watch your own mistakes you very likely will know the answer to beating or avoiding that situation, and if you dont, you can always come here and ask what's up. You've been playing this game for like... ever now, not to make you sound like an old fart, but yeah. This probably wont be too difficult for you at all.

 

There's plenty of ways to strategise a neutral game and no sure way to define it- like DNA, no two people have the same gameplan, so in the end, reading, watching, and we can only give you the knowledge to formulate your own gameplan and revise it as seen fit.

[mAc Chaos]

https://twitter.com/TheRaymk/status/471468835418017793

Here's some more on it.

[shimedaiko]

Might be unrelated, but kendo in many ways is a study of neutral. If you watch high level matches, you'll find that there's a lot going on before and after every attack. Both competetors try to take center (neutral) from the opponent and open them up using a variety of techniques. I think the focus should be especially high in the beginning, in both fighting games and kendo, as it's the only part in the match where you can try anything to learn how your opponent responds to what you do. From that point on, every decision made after that can't be made without some sort of bias and you begin to tailor or condition the opponent. The neutral game changes each time you play and if you don't catch up to the flow of the match, you might give up the round from something you tried earlier or from a detail that you might have missed.

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[TeeJay]

Maybe a specific question:

 

How do you factor in pace and rhythm when you're playing neutral? Do you consciously think about it? Do you vary it? What are you varying? 

[mAc Chaos]

I vary it depending on momentum and what I can sense my opponent is uncomfortable with.