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[LinkCelestrial]

It would be much simpler to not allow them to shuffle your deck, cuts only. If they do something janky call a judge over.

but people will argue that a cut wont change a set of ordered cards, just which one is first. shuffling (fairly) will randomize a stacked deck.

I don't really see the relevance. I mean they stacked their deck so they'd have a specific hand and draws. If you cut the deck you screw that up. Especially if you cut it multiple times. (Odd numbers are technically better).

I think three to five cuts being what's acceptable is fair.

[Dudecore]

Visual breakdown of the con.

[Mattao19]

Visual breakdown of the con.

WOW!!! SOOOO SNEAKY!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the Link

[Thetrufflehunter]

http://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/2jsuue/suspect_shuffling_at_worchester_scg_standard/

looks like this guy will receive the banhammer. apparently hes been doing this for a while. so sad. i really dont want to be the guy who calls a judge to shuffle my deck instead of my opponent but seriously.

Glad he's finally being caught.  There are videos from as far back as '09 of him using a Mechanic's Grip to shuffle his opponents' decks.  It also helps teach Judges what to look for.

As someone who (badly) performs card tricks, the mechanic's grip in and of itself isn't bad. Its where you have the pointer finger on top, middle and ring on the side, pinky on bottom, and thumb opposite middle and ring. (Left hand view V)

            Pointer

                          Middle
Thumb               Ring
   
              Pinky

However, this can be manipulated for some bad stuff (marlo tilt, etc.).

[The1337Magician]

http://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/2jsuue/suspect_shuffling_at_worchester_scg_standard/

looks like this guy will receive the banhammer. apparently hes been doing this for a while. so sad. i really dont want to be the guy who calls a judge to shuffle my deck instead of my opponent but seriously.

Glad he's finally being caught.  There are videos from as far back as '09 of him using a Mechanic's Grip to shuffle his opponents' decks.  It also helps teach Judges what to look for.

As someone who (badly) performs card tricks, the mechanic's grip in and of itself isn't bad. Its where you have the pointer finger on top, middle and ring on the side, pinky on bottom, and thumb opposite middle and ring. (Left hand view V)

            Pointer

                          Middle
Thumb               Ring
   
              Pinky

However, this can be manipulated for some bad stuff (marlo tilt, etc.).

As I was reading this I realized I hold my phone just like that.

[Dudecore]

It's a fairly common thing with people who use that grip. Its been done before after fetches and whatnot to put some lands on top so all of their future draws flood them out.

It's just a drawback of offering prize money. It gives incentives to cheat. Magic is a game with an extremely high degree of variance, sometimes people just assume that randomness is at play.

[Remillo]

It would be much simpler to not allow them to shuffle your deck, cuts only. If they do something janky call a judge over.

but people will argue that a cut wont change a set of ordered cards, just which one is first. shuffling (fairly) will randomize a stacked deck.

I don't really see the relevance. I mean they stacked their deck so they'd have a specific hand and draws. If you cut the deck you screw that up. Especially if you cut it multiple times. (Odd numbers are technically better).

I think three to five cuts being what's acceptable is fair.

Stacking a deck in magic isn't so much about drawing specific cards, but rather drawing land vs non-land.  If someone pulls a Double Nickel, or otherwise stacks in a way that has a 'perfect mana distribution', cutting the deck doesn't change that.  Having an opponent shuffle your deck is supposed to be a fair way of making sure you didn't stack it, since they also get to randomize it.   Some people, unfortunately, like to take advantage of it.

[particle]

evidence of cheating:
http://gfycat.com/ParallelShortGemsbuck

[LinkCelestrial]

It would be much simpler to not allow them to shuffle your deck, cuts only. If they do something janky call a judge over.

but people will argue that a cut wont change a set of ordered cards, just which one is first. shuffling (fairly) will randomize a stacked deck.

I don't really see the relevance. I mean they stacked their deck so they'd have a specific hand and draws. If you cut the deck you screw that up. Especially if you cut it multiple times. (Odd numbers are technically better).

I think three to five cuts being what's acceptable is fair.

Stacking a deck in magic isn't so much about drawing specific cards, but rather drawing land vs non-land.  If someone pulls a Double Nickel, or otherwise stacks in a way that has a 'perfect mana distribution', cutting the deck doesn't change that.  Having an opponent shuffle your deck is supposed to be a fair way of making sure you didn't stack it, since they also get to randomize it.   Some people, unfortunately, like to take advantage of it.

Well if it's a matter of good land ratio I'm kinda not to worried about that. I mean nothing sucks more than losing because {Mana Screw} but winning cause {Mana Screw} isn't fun either.

Doesn't make it right, though.

[particle]

and btw just in case anyone is wondering, star city games has started an investigation into mr. humphries and his prize is currently being withheld.

[Remillo]

Here's the archive of the Finals of the Standard Open - http://www.twitch.tv/scglive/c/5333218

If you take a look at pretty much any time he shuffles Dylan's deck, you can plainly see him flipping non-land cards to the top and never actually shuffling the top chunk of cards.

[Mattao19]

Here's the archive of the Finals of the Standard Open - http://www.twitch.tv/scglive/c/5333218

If you take a look at pretty much any time he shuffles Dylan's deck, you can plainly see him flipping non-land cards to the top and never actually shuffling the top chunk of cards.

Thats nuts!! That is exactly what Magic IS NOT about!!!! Ban him for atleast a year imo

[Mattao19]

I just believe in second chances. Sure what he did was terribly awful (and pathetic) but if for whatever reason I was banned for life I'd probably go insane so I feel like a year is a good starting point

[Millionlittlee]

Permanent ban from all levels of competitive magic

Not trying to sound overzealous but with perfected skills like that you think he is just going to stop because he was banned for a year?

Funny a person I know at fnm add card to a draft pool he got 18 months ban, 1 year seems short for the difference in level

[InfinitiveDivinity]

Ban him for life. If I was competing in that event and had to play him, hoping to expect a good, high-level competitor, only to get a guy that excelled at slight of hand, I would be pissed. Let him go play poker, our community doesn't need him.