Zerg - Hydra Swamp

Here is how to take advantage on a Protoss in early game being Zerg. Often called a "hydra push", this strategy is one of the most used build against protoss. The key to winning this match up is all about "timing". Start to hatch drones and get 8 of them. Then hatch an overlord, another drone, and as soon as the overlord is done, hatch 3 more drones. Gather cash with your drones and use one of them (just before the 12th drone finish his morphing) and send him to your expansion to build a hatchery. Wait until you get 150 and make your spawning pool as soon as possible Your almost done with your spawing pool and you have around 250-300$. Then, make a 3rd hatchery in your main, pump 8-12 zerglings, transfer 4-5 drones to your expand and put a sunken as soon as possible (which means as soon as the creep is there!!!). You should be 18/18 with around 8 zerglings and 1 sunken. Start your gas (at about 17/18) or so and make an overlord right after. Keep pumping drones and some zerglings (max 12 zerglings or so; if he tries to zealot rush you, use all your drones and your zerglings + your sunken to survive!) until you get around 25/27. Remember to gather gas as soon as the extractor is completed. Morph an hydralisk den. While your hydralisk den is morphing, morph 2 overlords and 1-2 additionnal drones. As soon as the hydraliks den is completed, morph non-stop hydralisks while upgrading to fast speed hydralisks. Once you get about 12 zerglings and 7-8-9 hydralisks (or a little more // less), rush toward protoss base. Never stop pumping hydralisks (you can even rally your hatcheries to his expansion so the hydralisks will be nearer :) Now it's all about micro; back up wounded hydralisks while others in the back attack and do it non-stop until he dies. Be sure to have 1-2 overlords near you since he may try to make some dark templars to keep you from killing him. If you see you're not going to make it, build another hatchery at your natural expand or at your cash expand while making some additionnals drones, get range upgrades (and double evolution maybe) and just overpower him.


Zerg - Luker Rush

Ok. The goal here is to produce the fastest and deadliest lurkers possible. To achieve that goal, you will only need one hatchery and few drones. Note that the strategy doesn't include any kind of defence against a 2 enemies rush or so, but at the time he have around 6 enemies (and decides to attack you), you will have at least 2 zerglings and 2 hydralisks. Start to hatch drones and get 9 of them. Start to hatch drones and get 9 of them. Start to hatch drones and get 9 of them. Then, morph two other drones (the last one going to your extractor), and morph your first (and only) zerglings. You should be at 14/17 at this point. As soon as Lair is completed, research the lurker aspect. Make 2 hydralisks, then 1 overlord, then another hydralisk, and two other hydralisks when your overlord is morphed. With your 2 zerglings and your 3 hydras, protect the entrance. Wait until the lurker aspect is done and morph 4 hydralisks (and a late 5th) into lurkers. Try to block your choke point so an enemy rush can't pass through. Now, use your 4 lurkers to break the usual bunker // turret // photon cannon blocking your way by burrowing your lurkers near the ramp WHILE using your overlord to scout the upper ramp. If you don't have that Godly overlord, you are screwed because you can't see on the upper land. As soon as the choke seems undefended (or very weak), take a run with your 5 lurkers straight to the mineral line of the "weakened" enemy. Burrow everything and create havoc on the poor SCV's. By this point you have removed the enemy's money source so he is mortally crippled. This is how to beat an enemy lurker style.