First, we have to define what a "big tournament" (tier 2) is. Tier 2 tournaments are all those official tournaments that qualify for a bigger final tournament like Nationals. The YCS is also counted in in this.

If time is called in the preliminary rounds of such an event, we use the following procedure:

First, the current turn is conducted as normal. After ending this turn, both players continue to play for 5 more turns. If there is no winner after this 5 additional turns, Life Points are compared. The player with the most Life Points is the winner. If both players have the same Life Points, the Duel ends in a Draw.

Now, we look after the number of wins in this Match. The player that won most of the Duels (1:0, 2:0 or 2:1), of course he wins the Match. If both players have the same number of wins, the Match is considered to be a draw.

This procedure is conducted at smaller local tournaments on which you DO NOT qualify for bigger official events (e.g. leagues or Turbo Pack tournaments). Also, it is used for determining a winner at Tops.

If time is called at such an event, we use the following procedure:
First, the current turn is conducted as normal. If there is no winner until now, both players play an additional 3 turns. If there is no winner after these 3 turns, the player with the most Life Points is the winner. If Life Points are equal, the game continues until there is a change in Life Points. Every chain resolves completely before Life Points are compared.

If afterwards the number of wins is equal, there is still no winner. Therefore, we start a shortened extra game, "Sudden Death". Before this Duel, players MAY NOT change their side deck. Both players play toghether 4 turns (so 2 each), and after these 4 turns, Life Points are compared. If Life Points are equal, the game is processed as described above.

If both players are in between rounds when time is called, the player with more wins wins the game. If the Match is 1:0 and players are side decking, the player with more wins is determined the winner.
If both players have the same number of wins when time is called during two games, both players may continue using their side deck.

If the Match is 0:0 and the current turn is decided through the "usual way" or by comparing life points, the player to win the Duel in time out is the winner of the Match.

This chapter is supposed to be a small guide to how to handle different issues according to Turnament Policies. At less important tournaments (hobby league, ..) it might be you see softer penalties to solve a problem.
Because information regarding Player Management might be important, we will mention some more important points.

Every player at an official tournament has to stick on the same rules to ensure a fair and smoothly run tournament. This should also be in the interest of the players.
If a player does an infraction to tournament policies, there is a penalty for almost every situation. When determining the penalty, you generally have to assume the infraction was UNINTENTIONAL. This is to help players, so if a player wants to complain about a penalty, you can argument: "I assume the infraction was done unintentional. If the infraction had been intentional, the penalty might have been more severe."

We have the following penalties:

• Verbal Caution
  At bigger tournaments, this form of penalty is officially not used. But in some situations, it might be more useful. Example: A player gets a Caution for playing slow.
• Warning
  Example: Unintentional slightly marked sleeves.
• Game Loss
  Example: An illegal card is found in the Main or Side Deck, therefore the Deck List and Deck do not Match.
• Match Loss
  Example: 10 minutes after the begin of a round, a player still did not attend a Match.
• Disqualification with prizes
  Example: A player failed to follow a rule several times. Upgrades of the penalty end in a Disqualification with prizes.
• Disqualification without prizes
  Example: A player intentionally draws an extra card to get an unsporting advantage.

The disqualification without prizes always suspects a player to INTENTIONALLY inflict an infraction. Differing by the severity of an infraction, the above penalties are applied. A penalty is never given arbitrary, but alwas according to the official penalty guidelines.

At this point, Player Management might seem complex. So we now have a look at different infractions.

A note to upcoming judges: Those that are interested in judging at tournaments should always prepare themselves well. This mostly means to exchange with other judges. Also, it can be helpful to consider with an experienced judge at the first tournaments to gain experience at every tournament. Every judge started small. Also, you'll always learn new things and see new situations. The more you see such new situations, the more you'll learn and therefore you'll get more secure in the course of time.

Now we will take a look at some common problems that occur at almost every (bigger) tournament. In addition, we added a possible penalty and a procedure. But before this, we have to say:

Upgrading a penalty means raising the penalty to the next instance.
Warning -> Game Loss -> Match Loss -> Disqualification with prizes

Example:

Right:
Warning -> Game Loss

Wrong:
Warning -> Match Loss

In the wrong example, the Game Loss is left out. This should never happen when upgrading a penalty. Upgrading from a Warning to a Game Loss is the right upgrade. If there is a similar case that is to be weighted more than the first one, this might lead - depending the situation - to a different conclusion and therefore lead into a higher penalty.


A penalty is only upgraded when the same infraction is repeated. You first have to examine the situation and then to apply the penalty. Now, we go to the different infractions:

• Offences:
  Unfortunately, we find inappropriate language at tournaments. To prevent this to get common usage, we start with a Warning and upgrade this if repeated.
  
  
• Drawing extra cards/looking at extra cards:
  If a player e.g. looks at his topmost card in his deck unintentionally, a Warning is applied.
  
  If there is a card too much drawn unintentionally, and there is no way to determine that card, the game is irrepairable and you have to assing a Game Loss to the infracting player. If the card was drawn by intention, and the player conceals this, we assume Cheating and the player gets a Disqualification without prizes.
  
  
• Sleeves:
  All sleeves need to have the same size, color and may not have noticeable changes (markings). Double Sleeves, meaning a sleeved card is in another sleeve, are forbidden. Sleeves that have a reflecting surface are not allowed. Every sleeve may only contain 1 card. All cards must show in the same direction when they are in the deck.
  
  Generally, as a player you should get new sleeves before every important event. Always look at the quality of the sleeves. If the sleeves show markings or other possible problems, you should exchange them at the vendor. Not-knowing does not save you from penalties.
  The penalties given for marked cards are usually Warnings and Game Losses. For a minor infraction (e.g. heavily used sleeves), you usually use a Warning. This infraction is only upgraded seldom, as sleeves won't wear out that strong during one tournament. A Game Loss is applied when there is a noticeable pattern, but you do not assume intentional markings.
  
  If cards are marked in a way that it is possible to determine certain cards, this might be intentional. If a judge gets the impression the markings were done intentionally by a player, this player gets disqualified. Of course, you have to question this player to the situation to get a better picture and to make a fair decision.
  
  
• Illegal Deck / illegal Deck List:
  Before a tournament at which Deck Lists are required, looking through the deck lists might be appropirate. If there are mistakes, the player is to be found to make Deck and Deck List matching. Before the tournament started, there is no penalty to be assigned. The work done by judges at this time is done volunteerly and to help players to get a fair tournament.
  If there are problems with an illegal Decklist during the tournament, the player is given a Game Loss and the Deck List has to be matched to the Deck. If the Deck does not match the Deck List, the player also gets a Game Loss and the Deck is adjusted to the Deck List.
  If a player fails to de-side his Side Deck cards, and this is determined in the new Match, he has to get a Game Loss.
  
  It might also happen that a player looses a card during the tournament and cannot replace that card. In the case he played 40 cards, he may use a card in exchange to that card and the change is written on the Deck List so that the player can continue playing. If a player tries to intentionally loose a card to get an advantage against his next opponent, a Diqualification for fraud has to be assigned.
  
  
• Putting together all cards:
  If cards are packed together too early during a game, the Duel is beyond repair. The player gets a Game Loss.
  
  
• Misactivation of cards:
  If a card is unintentionally activated when it cannot be activated (e.g. "Pot of Avarice" with only 4 cards in the graveyard) the card counts as misactivated. The player gets a Warning for this and the card goes back to where it was before the activation.
  
  
• Slow Play:
  First, we have to define "Slow Play". A player usually has several options and should of course have the time to think about them. But if a player has only few cards and needs more than a minute for his play, a Warning for Slow Play is more than appropriate. Most times, judges use a Caution before a Warning. Generally, you have to always consider if a Warning is needed or it is already overdue for it.
  To make a proper decision, the following works quite good: If you get bored as a judge when watching the play because a player needs that much time, it should be made clear to the player that he should do his play. You do so in giving the player a Warning, or a Caution at smaller events, respectively.
  
  
• Unsporting conduct (Disqualification):
  A player should be disqualified if he conducts the following:
  
  
  • A player starts a fight.
  • A player commits a fraud (Cheating).
  • A player lies to a tournament official.
  • Someone steals.
  • A player stalls intentionally (Caution!: Do not merge this with "Slow Play).
    
  To sum it up, the Disqualification is used for infractions that are extremly against tournament philosophy. Everyone should remind himself that this is still a card game and should do his best for a pleasant atmosphere. Someone not doing so should not be allowed to such tournaments and has to face consequences.
  
  
• Tardiness:
  If a player attends a table later than 3 minutes after the begin of the round, he gets a Game Loss. If he did not attend until after 10 minutes, he gets a Match Loss and is to be dropped from the tournament.