New Year's Resolution
You can't win.
It's the end of the year and Eugene T. Dudley, the world's worst Magic player, is celebrating in style. He's eating only the choicest food and using only the choicest cards; well, they're choice according to him. Eugene was going to make it his New Year's resolution to finally win a game of Magic, but he realized it's foolish to make a resolution he can't possibly keep. Instead, he's set his sights toward what he believes to be a more reasonable goal.
To usher in 1998, turn back the clock on the current game: by the end of his turn you must have seven cards in your hand, no cards in play, no cards in your graveyard and exactly 20 life.
Keep in mind the following
- It is the beginning of your main phase.
- By the end of your turn, you must have seven cards in your hand, no cards in play, no cards in your graveyard and exactly 20 life.
- You currently have 37 life.
- You don't know what any of the cards in Eugene's library are, but you do know about all the cards in his graveyard.
- Never order surf and turf at a diner. They've had it waiting in the back for someone since before you were born.
The board
Hover a card to enlarge it, or click through to Scryfall.
Cards in play9 cards
Lands11 cards
Hand7 cards
Graveyard5 cards
The answer ran a month later, in InQuest #34 (February 1998).