General Rulings - 100

• 100.1 - These Magic rules apply to any Magic game with two or more players, including two-player games and multiplayer games. [CompRules 2005/08/01]
• 100.1a - A two-player game is a game that begins with only two players. [CompRules 2005/08/01]
• 100.1b - A multiplayer game is a game that begins with more than two players. See Section 8, "Multiplayer Rules." [CompRules 2005/08/01]
• 100.2 - To play, each player needs his or her own deck of traditional Magic cards, small items to represent any tokens and counters, and some way to clearly track life totals. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.2a - In constructed play (a way of playing in which each player creates his or her own deck ahead of time), each deck must contain at least sixty cards. A constructed deck may contain any number of basic land cards and no more than four of any card with a particular English name other than basic land cards. [CompRules 2009/07/08]
• 100.2b - In limited play (a way of playing in which each player gets a quantity of unopened Magic product and creates his or her own deck on the spot), each deck must contain at least forty cards. A limited deck may contain as many duplicates of a card as a player has. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.3 - Some casual variants (either constructed or limited) require additional items, such as specially designated cards, nontraditional Magic cards, and dice. See Section 9, "Casual Variants." [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.4 - Each player may also have a sideboard, which is a group of additional cards the player may use to modify his or her deck between games of a match. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.4a - In constructed play, a sideboard (if used) must contain exactly fifteen cards. The four-card limit (see Rule 100.2a) applies to the combined deck and sideboard. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.4b - In limited play involving individual players, all cards a player opens but doesn't include in his or her deck are in that player's sideboard. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.4c - In limited play involving the Two-Headed Giant multiplayer variant, all cards a team opens but doesn't include in either player's deck are in that team's sideboard. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.4d - In limited play involving other multiplayer team variants, each card a team opens but doesn't include in any player's deck is assigned to the sideboard of one of those players. Each player has his or her own sideboard; cards may not be transferred between players. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.5 - There is no maximum deck size. [CompRules 2003/10/01]
• 100.6 - Most Magic tournaments (organized play activities where players compete against other players to win prizes) have additional rules covered in the Magic: The Gathering Tournament Rules (found at <-http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=dci/doccenter/home->). These rules may limit the use of some cards, including barring all cards from some older sets. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.6a - Tournaments usually consist of a series of matches. A two-player match usually consists of the best two of three games, or sometimes the best three of five. A multiplayer match usually consists of only one game. [CompRules 2009/10/01]
• 100.6b - Players can use the Magic Locator at <-http://locator.wizards.com-> to find tournaments in their area by selecting "Events" and typing in the name of their city. [CompRules 2009/10/01]