PitchLong Starting Hands

[Bongo]

I think the last puzzle I posted might have been difficult to answer, since the best lines of play probably involve Ponder and go from there.
I came up with the following play without Ponder:

USea, Mox Emerald, Sol Ring, pass. First mainphase, Vamp to bait Mana Drain. If Vamp gets through, go for Twister. In your turn, cast Twister. If that gets countered, you still have Dark Ritual and Grim Tutor, so the chance of resolving Grim next turn should be pretty high. And you still have Ponder.



Here's another hand:

Underground Sea, Island, Mox Ruby, Mystical Tutor, Vampiric Tutor, Dark Ritual.

How would you play this hand against an unknown opponent?

[Bongo]

Since TPS seems to have a pretty good matchup against the Drain-heavy metagame right now, I think it's worth it to revisit this thread. Menendian even won a tournament with it, so the deck is definitely still a contender. I'm using his list right now.
 
The hand:

Chain of Vapor, Swamp, Vampiric, Demonic, Grim Tutor, USea, Force

Those hands with multiple tutors are the most difficult for me. How would you play this if you're on the play against an unknown opponent?

[personalbackfire]

Im not sure that this is correct, but I would prob play EOT vamp for ancestral. Then play ancestral and go from there. There is probably a number of better plays but that one doesnt seem so bad.

[Smmenen]

I would definitely play Swamp, Go. 

[Bongo]

And after that?

What would you Vamp for? What's the target for Demonic?

Assume your opponent goes Delta, go.

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Vamp for Ancestral seems a little weak to me, since you're giving up two cards and a draw step for three cards, resulting in a net card advantage of zero.

[Smmenen]

I would probably vamp for Lotus, untap, play Sea, DT for Necro and play Lotus and Necro.   

That's turn two necro with Force of Will backup - seems good!   If that is all countered, you can try to GT for Y. Will with Lotus in yard!

As a side note, I would not pay particular attention to the net card advantage.  I think that's probably the wrong frame.  relative card advantage and tempo are at least as important.