One of the biggest questions a lot of judges receive is the way people arrange their cards on the battlefield. Players may organize their cards on the battlefield in any way they see fit, provided it does not cause confusion. For example, some people place their Birds of Paradise where their lands are, and there is nothing inherently wrong with that. Players can even stack lands in piles without breaking any rules, and you’re always able to ask to count the number of lands that player controls.

If you’re not happy with the arrangement of your opponent’s permanents, you can always politely ask them to arrange them in a way that you find more clear. They’re aren’t necessarily obliged to accommodate your request, though most players are happy to do so. If you believe your opponent is simply refusing in order to obscure the game state, you should call a judge to sort it out.

Today’s Tournament Tip written by
Ronny Alvarado, Level 2 judge from Houston, TX