You are the Head and only judge of a Standard Grand Prix Trial. You are called to a table where the players are finishing Game 3. Nathan tells you that Ashley just won the game by attacking for lethal and didn’t reveal her morphed after the game ended. Both players agree that the Ashcloud Phoenix […]
Blue Card Monty
During a Legacy Open (Competitive REL), Abel casts paying 2 life and targeting Noel, who responds with . Abel casts targeting the Brainstorm. Noel responds by casting , returning his to his hand leaving his board empty. As Noel is resolving Brainstorm, Abel says “Go,” so Noel untaps and draws for his turn. At this […]
Relentless Rats or Shadowborn Apostles…?
Louis is playing in a GPT, of which you are head judge. As you are checking decklists, you notice Louis’s list ends with the line “23 ______________” with no card name filled in. The remainder of the list contains 37 cards, all of which are either blue or artifacts. What do you do? Judges, feel […]
Dig Through Time Stop
Andy and Nathan are playing in the first PPTQ of the season; the format is Standard. Andy has one card left in his hand during his main phase, and he taps out to cast . He grabs 7 cards, and looks visibly relieved to have found what he was looking for. He drops a land […]
Absent Guide
You are the head judge of a Khans of Tarkir sealed PTQ. At the end of round 2, a player turns in an in a matte black sleeve that he found on the floor. He has no idea whose it is, and there are a couple dozen players with matte black sleeves. When you announce […]
Woot! Free Win!
You are the Head, and only, Judge of a Sealed Grand Prix Trial. Alex calls you over to his table, where he is playing against Brian. Alex says, “Judge, I just realized that I played this face down a couple turns ago. I thought I was putting down a . I don’t have Sagu Archer […]
Teacher’s Pet
In a Vintage event run at Competitive REL, you’re called to a table by Noxious. He tells you that Ashamed just put a card in his hand when resolving ! When you ask Ashamed, he explains, “Well, a couple turns ago, I cast , and I guess I just got mixed up on Vampiric Tutor.” […]
Elfalfa
Anna and Nadine are several turns into their game at a local Legacy GPT. Anna casts targeting Nadine’s , which she cast on her previous turn. Nadine gains 1 life, and Anna passes the turn. Nadine untaps and Anna sees that Nadine put the Shaman in her graveyard instead of exiling it. She then notices […]
Lights, Turtle, Action
You are the head judge of a GPT. You are watching a match when Nancy casts on Arthur’s . She attacks and exiles it, then passes the turn. When Arthur enters his declare attackers step he places the Meandering Towershell in play tapped and attacking. They both go to record the life total change. What […]
Shock and Draw
Arjun and Nadia are playing in a Modern GPT. Arjun controls . Nadia has a single card in her hand: . During Arjun’s end step, Nadia casts Quicken, then draws and casts targeting the Spirit and Arjun. Arjun says, “Sure, still done,” then notes his life total change and puts Spirit in his graveyard. Nadia […]