Sorting between rounds

[twdorris]

I like to resort my deck between rounds. Of course I still do the pile shuffle and then shuffle the crap out of it before the next round and then again in front of my opponent (who of course can request a judge to further shuffle my deck if he/she so chooses). So the question is really just to get confirmation that this sorting is allowed.

I ask because I was confronted by a judge at my last event about this as I was sorting. Even he agreed that it was allowed, but for some reason felt compelled to "investigate" anyway. It appears to be his nature to do such things, but it does leave me sorta scratching my head wondering if it's really allowed or not.

EDIT: Some related threads. The first two seem to contradict each other a bit, but maybe not entirely.

http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?t=50943
http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?t=49682
http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?t=49716

Thanks,

Thomas Dorris

 

[Big Daddy Snorlax]

I'm not sure the judges in question will accept this as proof, but here goes. All three threads that you referenced agree that as long as the primary action is not the sorting and redistributing of clumps of cards, and as long as there is a thorough shuffle afterwords, such actions are acceptable. Those questions refer to actions during a game. You are asking about doing something with your deck between games, which is a time not even covered by the rules. You are free to do whatever you want with your cards between games. You can sort them out, look them over or use them to eat your salad (although that last one may cause some problems during the next game). The critical thing is that your deck must be adequately randomized at the start of the game and that is really all the judge should be concerned with.

Having said that you are free to do it, I will go on to say why you are probably getting attention from a judge or judges when you do it. If you are sitting at the table stacking your deck in piles by card type, it could give the appearance that you are setting up the deck for some purpose that may not be on the up and up. As a judge I would probably ask what you were up to if I noticed that you sorted your cards after each round. Perhaps you should simply reply when asked, that sorting your deck is just something you always do and that you would welcome the judge to watch your shuffle at the start of the next game. Many players have their rituals, it just happens that yours gives the impression that you migh be organizing your cards for some shady purpose.

BDS