Decks must be randomized at the start of every game and whenever an instruction requires it. Randomization is defined as bringing the deck to a state where no player can have any information regarding the order or position of cards in any portion of the deck.
The phrase “order or position” is key. A deck that is “mana-weaved” is not random; even though the player may have no information about the location of a specific card, they have information about the cards’ order (that is, land-spell-spell, land-spell-spell). Also key is that a player shouldn’t know any information on where a card is, not even which half of the deck it is in.
Pile shuffling alone is not sufficiently random and may not be performed other than once each at the beginning of a game to count the cards in the deck.
Pile shuffling is completely non-random, since individual cards can be tracked and since cards are shuffled into a deterministic order. A single pile shuffle can help players count their decks and loosen sticky cards, but more than that a pile shuffle does not contribute to randomization and will qualify as Slow Play. Once the game has begun the need to count the deck during randomization is largely gone. As such, a single pile shuffle at the start of the game is permitted, but is not allowed at any other time. Please remember when applying the IPG that habits are hard to break, and a single caution may be appropriate the first time.
Once the deck is randomized, it must be presented to an opponent. By this action, players state that their decks are legal and randomized. The opponent may then shuffle it additionally. Cards and sleeves must not be in danger of being damaged during this process.
The deck should be fully randomized when presented to the opponent, and the opponents’ shuffles are not meant to make the deck “more random.” The purpose of the second shuffle is to discourage deck-stacking and cheating.
If the opponent does not believe the player made a reasonable effort to randomize their deck, the opponent must notify a judge.
This rule is here so that a player doesn’t have to feel bad about calling a judge for insufficient shuffling. It’s in the rules, you have to. You aren’t the bad guy accusing the player of cheating. You are just bringing up an issue and the judge can investigate the issue.
Players may request to have a judge shuffle their cards rather than the opponent; this request will be honored only at a judge’s discretion.
Judges should use their discretion on this. Shuffling takes a significant amount of time, during which the judge can’t take other calls. As shuffling for players is not a service that can be offered for all players it should be reserved for exceptional circumstances. Requests for judges to shuffle are exceedingly rare and typically arise when a player perceives there opponent as ill, or a ‘rough shuffler’, or there are mobility issues. The first two can be handled with quick instructions to the players (e.g. ‘please be more gentle while shuffling’, or ‘you may have an extension to wash your hands if needed’). Note: If a player is visibly showing signs of illness to the point that it is causing player distress, notify the Tournament Organizer. With respect to mobility issues, players with those issues typically inform the judges in advance, and accommodations have already been made. If a mobility issue arises during the tournament, that is typically considered exceptional.
If a player has had the opportunity to see any of the card faces of the deck being shuffled, the deck is no longer considered randomized and must be randomized again.
This rule is to codify a point where the shuffle has been undone. If you shuffle and then maybe see the bottom card while putting the deck down, we have to start over.
At Competitive and Professional Rules Enforcement Level tournaments, players are required to shuffle their opponents’ decks after their owners have shuffled them. The Head Judge can require this at Regular Rules Enforcement Level tournaments as well.
In some cultures, asking to shuffle an opponent’s deck would be considered an insult. The requirement to shuffle an opponent’s deck is intended to prevent cheaters from taking advantage of these cultural norms.
Because a deck presented to an opponent should be random, this additional shuffle does not need to be thorough. However, simply cutting the deck is often not sufficient to meet this requirement.
