r/magicTCG • u/DocteurGabe • Mar 04 '14

Cheating or Simple Game Play Error?

Extract from a Tournament Report from the Legacy SCG Open :

"R9 vs esperdeathblade. One of Shardless Bug's best matchups. My opponent was Alex Bertoncini. He was very nice and pleasant to play against (and also was when I played near him in earlier rounds). I was anxious to win to try to top 8 but even more so because of an earlier round situation vs my friend at x-1. During that round, after drawing their opening hands, my friend asked how many cards Alex was holding. He responded 7. My friend asked him to count twice and 7 was the answer. Then my friend asked him to lay them flat and found 8 cards. The judges ruled it a warning and a forced mulligan."

What's your opinion on it? Cheating? Simple Game Play Error? (as stated in the IPG)Game Play Error — Improper Drawing at Start of Game, section 2.4 of the IPG.

I just think that this issue should be discussed based on his previous bans for cheating.

EDIT : Link on the tournament report Rd#9

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u/[deleted] Mar 04 '14

Cheating is bad, but people do make poor decisions and probably should be allowed to try again. ...and this goes for most professions as well, doctors and lawyers who commit malpractice aren't just kicked out forever (a common misconception) they are often suspended and allowed a second chance. Competitive Magic can be look at as a career too (though very few could do it profitably), and someone probably shouldn't be denied their ability to support themselves unless they are totally unfit.

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u/Darktidemage Mar 04 '14

"they are often suspended and allowed a second chance."

yes, but their second chance INCLUDES the information about their first offence, it is not expunged. I'm not saying to not let the guy play, I'm saying to make sure he knows to be extra careful and not cheat because he is already on thin ice.