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At the last tournament wich I participate, the Head Judge told me that I cannot see my Extra Deck in every moment I want, but I can only do it if it happens a situation of game that requests to do it (for example a Synchro Summon or the activation of a card like "Instant Fusion"). Is this correct or wrong?

I also knew that I cannot see my Side Deck except when I'm going to use it between the duels of a match. Is it true?

 

Thanks

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Yu-Gi-Oh! Rules Knowledge LV1 and Player Management LV1

Yu-Gi-Oh! Player from 2002... But I'm Better as Judge than as Player ^^

You cannot check your extra deck unless a card effect or game mechanic calls for it. This is covered in the UD Tournament Appendix A: Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Policies. A-11:

"Players may not look at their Side Decks during a game."

1495343:

You cannot check your extra deck unless a card effect or game mechanic calls for it. This is covered in the UD Tournament Appendix A: Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Policies. A-11:
"Players may not look at their Side Decks during a game."

I see this differently.  The Extra Deck is not a side deck.  Section A-12 covers the extra deck rules below, and does not restrict access to it.  I would rule that you can access it anytime you want, so long as you are not stalling the game. 

Remember Alex once posted that there is nothing wrong with showing your opponent your fusion deck cards.  (The pile could be turned face up and there is no assigned order.)

Enjoy the game

 

 

A-12.   Extra Deck Rules

 

When playing in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG tournaments, each player is allowed to bring a “Extra Deck” to the tournament in addition to his or her regular Deck.  The Extra Deck can only contain Fusion Monsters and Synchro Monsters. The Extra Deck may contain between 0 and 15 cards (effective August 11, 2008), and no more than three copies of any Fusion or Synchro Monster, plus it must adhere to the Forbidden and Limited lists.

 

As with the main Deck, cards in the Extra Deck cannot be changed, added, or removed during the course of the tournament. Before the start of the Match, a player must place his or her Extra Deck face down on the field in the Extra Deck Zone where it can be clearly viewed. Players should keep Synchro and Fusion Monsters of the same name together in the Extra Deck to assist in Deck checking.

 

Looking at the extra deck "unnecessarily" during a game could get you a stalling penalty if it looks like you're doing it to waste time, but I don't see why a player shouldn't be allowed to look at it when they've got a legitimate reason to do so (planning out a play, etc.) The extra deck isn't the same as a side deck - you don't use your side deck during the game, so you've got no business fooling around with it when a game is in progress.

Julia

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Julia Hedberg

Regular Jane
I have some certification levels, too.

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I am going to disagree respectfully with what has been written.  A player may not access his/her Extra deck unless he/she has reason to be doing so (performing a Synchro summon, Fusion summon, etc.).  The contents of the Extra Deck are not public knowledge, meaning that neither player may access it unless directed accordingly.  A player may only access information that is either public domain (such as graveyards, face up cards, ask a judge to access the Card Reference file, etc.), or information that is privy only to that player due to the mechanics of the game (the hand, their set cards, any sort of strategy, etc.).

 

I can see the reason that a player would want to access this deck, for the purpose of “planning out a play,” as was stated previously.  He/she may not know which cards would be useful, or they aren’t sure how many of a specific monster they have.  However, am I allowed to access my 40-card deck to ascertain the same information, even if I thoroughly shuffle afterwards?  A player may not be sure how many of a single card I run, or can’t remember if he/she added or removed something.  It wouldn’t be for cheating, but instead for strategy.  What about the side deck?  A player may not remember if they have something in the side deck to deal with their opponent, and they just want a quick refresher.  In both situations, this is not allowed, so then why would my private Extra Deck, just like my private regular deck and private side deck, be able to be viewed without a legal reason to do so?

 

I also believe the comments from Alex Charsky have also been misrepresented here.  His response:

The rules say that the fusion/extra deck has to be placed on the field face-down. However, there is nothing in the rules that prohibits me from giving my opponent additional information about the game state if I choose. If I wanted to play with my hand revealed, or tell them every card I set -- I could.

This means that if I wanted to show my opponent my fusion deck at any point, I can do that.

Some players decided to not bother showing the fusion deck, but rather just place it face up for their opponents to see. Yes, it's technically against the rules to place your fusion deck face up. It's probably something that judges should enforce, if they find themselves having the additional time and resources to address this at their tournaments.

The point of that post, as I interpret it, is that you are welcome to give your opponent private information if you so choose.  You cannot, however, give yourself more information if you so choose.  You should already know the contents of your Extra Deck, just as you should know the contents of your Side Deck.  This is no better or worse than viewing your side deck in the middle of a game to think about what you are going to side in between games. 

Personally, I view this as a matter of tournament integrity.  While I don’t think that it would warrant a DQ, unless the player was doing so to achieve unfair advantage, I do think it would fall under P.E. – Minor.  The player would be given a warning and instructed not to repeat the action.

As a quick response, since I don't have time to elaborate (and it's not really my place to do so) the big difference between your scenario of Deck checking and Extra Deck checking is that, the order of cards in the Extra deck really isn't important, wheras the the order of the Deck is. You draw from your deck, you don't from your extra deck.

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YGO RK 1, PM 1, &TO 1 (yay!)
Anti-Meta Angelic Sacrifice deck
NC Dueling Forum that I put together. Check it out.

You must be able to check your extra deck so you can avoid misplay penalties (trying to synchro and not having a level equal to the levels sent)

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107-744-616
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1733559:

As a quick response, since I don't have time to elaborate (and it's not really my place to do so) the big difference between your scenario of Deck checking and Extra Deck checking is that, the order of cards in the Extra deck really isn't important, wheras the the order of the Deck is. You draw from your deck, you don't from your extra deck.

I'm curious as to why you don't think it is your place to offer your opinion on the matter?  We all grow as judges from the free exchange of ideas on this board and elsewhere.  I would encourage you to continue posting if you have something to add to the topic.  I believe your post was certainly very helpful here as it gave a clear and concise reason you believe that Will is mistaken.

Just to make sure my post in on topic as well, I also believe you are mistaken Will.  There is no reason the player should not be allowed to examine his/her extra deck during the course of the game as long as it does not delay the tournament.

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Lvl 3 Yugioh Rules Knowledge
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Lvl 1 Tournament Organizer, Specialist, Vs RK, WoW TCG RK, WoW Minis RK, Huntik RK

768006:

I'm curious as to why you don't think it is your place to offer your opinion on the matter?

 

Oh no, I don't think that, I just meant that, whatever answer I gave, 1 it wouldn't be "official" and they wanted something more official, and 2, my answer carries very little weight compared to the answer of many others, due to my inexperience. I didn't have time to think about how to word it.

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YGO RK 1, PM 1, &TO 1 (yay!)
Anti-Meta Angelic Sacrifice deck
NC Dueling Forum that I put together. Check it out.

My thoughts on this subject vary depending on the perspective I'm taking. In general I agree that there isn't any major harm in viewing the contents of the Extra deck to verify a play.

What I don't want to see happen is that it becomes one MORE plie of cards that players are thumbing through each turn along with their own and opponent's graveyard thus wasting even more time than already is in a typical premier touranment match.

My thought behind my statement is that we don't allow access full access to any other deck, other than when players are directed to do so.  If there's no harm in thumbing through a deck nonchalantly, then I wonder why can't players go through their side deck during match play?  Is it because it would lengthen match play, or does it lend itself to cheating?  Personally, I don't think players look at their Extra Deck in order to cheat, but it does raise an issue with me.  You have no reason to be in your Extra Deck, unless you are attempting to pull a monster from it, just like you have no reason to be in your side deck, unless you are planning to side in/out.  The extra deck is NOT public knowledge, so it should only be accessed when appropriate.

And as for the matter of checking your Extra Deck to prevent illegal activations, it is the player's responsibility to be cognizant of all cards under their control (side, main, extra decks).  If you don't even know what Synchros you are running, that is the fault of the player.

To reiterate, I don't think a player is going to cheat, but it may alter play.  If they are going through their Extra deck, and they see that they did or didn't put a specific synchro in, it can affect the course of the game artificially.  Granted, when you actually perform a synchro summon, you should be allowed to look and choose an appropriate-leveled monster from your deck, but that is because you are allowed to be looking.  A P.E. - Minor, at least from my perspective, is the most I would ever give for this infraction (unless the player somehow used the opportunity for subterfuge).

Agreed, Cheating is not currently a concern.  Slow play is always a concern, but that merits its own penalty.   However this extract from the above is slightly off....

but it may alter play.  If they are going through their Extra deck, and they see that they did or didn't put a specific synchro in, it can affect the course of the game artificially

The player is not activating the effect of a tuner to synchro summon a monster.  He simply cannot attempt to Synchro summon a monster that he forgot to include.

Instead, when a player special Summons a Synchro monster, they are using the inherent summoning capability of that monster.  Which means they start with the Synchro monster itself, not the cards on the field, and the extra deck becomes an extension of the player's hand. 

Enjoy the game

 

It is perfectly acceptable to look at cards in your Extra Deck during a game.  Obviously, Players are still responsible to not commit slow play infractions because of this.  If you believe your opponent is taking too long to look at his Extra Deck, or is doing it repeatedly (similar to looking at your Graveyard repeatedly in the same turn), notify a judge.  Judges should assess proper penalties for slow play should the feel a player is being excessive, just as with any other part of the game.

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Jeff Piroozshad
Marketing Events Specialist
Upper Deck

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