Can opponents say no to touching their cards?

Asked by Typliorthion 9 years ago

So there was this guy at a pre-release tournament. (ive seen him out of the tournament and he does cards even while not in a duel) My partner and i had to face him and another person and when he played a card we would usually want to read it for ourselves also because he usually didn't say it in correct wording. so we would reach out and turn the cards so it would face us so we could read it (not even pick it up)(they were in sleeves also) and he would literally yell, very loudly, at us to not touch the cards and to ask him before we do. I have never heard of anyone doing this. Nobody I know had a problem at anybody looking what their card does. Is he allowed to do this? I thought it was public knowledge to know whats on somebody's field, like in the graveyard. Can he be forced to forfeit if he does not let us see the cards?

Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #1

If your opponent prefers that you ask before reading their cards, then ask. If your opponent refuses to let you read their cards, then call a judge.

The name of an object in a public zone is always Free information, meaning if you ask a question about it your opponent has to answer completely and honestly. At some Rules Enforcement Levels (RELs) the rules text of a card is Derived information, meaning your opponent doesn't have to help you figure it out. However, prereleases (and FNMs, and Game Days, and certain other types of event) are always Regular REL, and at Regular REL all Derived information is instead Free. Your opponent can't refuse to allow you to get this information. Again, if you get into an argument then call a judge.

April 16, 2016 1:37 a.m.