Guides des pénalités en tournoi

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KDE)
Official Tournament Penalty Guidelines

Valid as of January 1, 2010

This document, used in addition to Konami Tournament Policy, outlines the appropriate code of behavior for
players at an event. It instructs judges and tournament officials how to identify infractions and assign correct
penalties. Penalty Guidelines help ensure a fair and consistent tournament everywhere, by explaining the various
types of infractions, along with the penalties assigned to each one. Judges and tournament officials are expected
to abide by the policies outlined below. In addition to Konami’s Tournament Policy document, this Penalty
Guideline contains information to be used during all sanctioned Official Konami Trading Card Game tournaments.
Philosophy

Both players and tournament officials share the responsibility for maintaining a fair and consistent event, by
understanding their roles in the event.
Penalty and Policy Guidelines are intended to educate the player and tournament officials on proper, expected
behavior at events. These guidelines may not serve as a resource for players to attempt to take advantage of one
another through rule-sharking, or otherwise attempting to influence the decisions of tournament officials.

Players

There are many kinds of tournaments offered, to provide different kinds of players with the level of challenge that
most appeals to them – but at each of these events, players are expected to understand and follow tournament
policy. Players should always do their part to ensure they are in compliance with policy, by reading policy
documents and asking questions before the event if something is unclear. Players are ultimately responsible for
the contents of their Deck, their actions and words at a tournament, and as such they are expected to take an
active role in their own tournament participation.

Judges

The role of the judge is complex – while a judge needs to uphold tournament policy by enforcing these Penalty
Guidelines, he or she must also educate the players. Tournament fairness and consistency relies upon the judge’s
knowledge of policy and his or her understanding of the penalties that accompany it. Judges should remain
focused on the primary goals of the event while maintaining a positive attitude. Judges should be approachable
and ready to assist. When a player commits an infraction, a judge should be able to correctly identify the
infraction, administer the appropriate penalty, and educate the player about both the infraction and the penalty.
Investigation Procedure

Determining an Infraction

Any judge call which lasts longer than 1 minute requires that the match be given an appropriate time extension, so
a judge should take note of the time as he or she answers a call.
A judge should never “reverse engineer” a penalty – the penalty should never be applied before an infraction has
been determined. Both players should explain what happened, and answer truthfully any questions the judge may
have. The judge will examine the situation, and determine if an infraction has occurred. If so, the judge will then
explain the infraction.

If no infraction has occurred, the judge will quickly explain why.
Some infractions, depending upon severity, will be explained in private to the player committing the infraction.
Not every situation that occurs is appropriate for public knowledge; so the judge’s decision to address the matter
in private should be respected by opponents, spectators, etc.
Just like questions about card rulings, players have the right to appeal to the Head Judge when they are involved in
a tournament policy issue. The Head Judge’s decision is final.

Applying the Penalty

Once an infraction has been identified, the judge will ask the player if he or she has received any other penalties
for this same infraction during the course of the tournament. This helps the judge determine if a penalty might
have to be upgraded. Players are expected to answer this question honestly – lying to a tournament official is
against tournament policy. If it is a repeat infraction, the judge will notify the Head Judge prior to applying a
penalty, as the Head Judge might wish to upgrade it. If this is a first time infraction, the judge will briefly educate
the player concerning the infraction and then apply the penalty. The judge will then allow the players to continue
play. If the call took longer than a minute, the judge will note the appropriate time extension on the top left of the
front of the Match Result Slip.

The judge will take the Match Result Slip from the table, and fill out the reverse side of the Match Result Slip with
the penalty information. The information should be written as follows:

[Player’s full name] – [Konami Player ID] – [Infraction] – [Penalty given] – [Brief description of
infraction] – [Judge’s full name]

The judge will then return the slip to the match.

Judges should give written warnings as opposed to verbal warnings. Verbal warnings cannot be tracked, which
makes it nearly impossible to tell if a player is repeating an infraction. Players are also less likely to take a verbal
warning seriously, which undermines the point of the penalty.

Reporting Penalties

All penalties issued by a judge must be reported to the Head Judge and the Scorekeeper, usually by filling out the
appropriate information on the reverse side of the player’s Match Result Slip. Scorekeepers will enter the details
of the penalty in the official Konami Tournament Software so that it may be tracked throughout the course of an
event. Konami reserves the right to contact a player who has accumulated an excessive amount of penalties for
further investigation. In addition, Konami reserves the right to pursue further actions – such as suspensions from
sanctioned Konami events – based on continued infractions.

Penalties

There are 5 types of Penalties:
· Caution (Special circumstances only)
· Warning
· Game Loss
· Match Loss
· Disqualification

Caution

A Caution can be used instead of a Warning, for local-level events. The Caution is intended as a teaching tool for
newer players, and does not need to be tracked on the Match Result Slip. Judges should share information on
Cautions amongst themselves, to ensure players are being properly educated.
Cautions are not to be used for Premier level events such as Regional Qualifiers and SHONEN JUMP
Championships.

A Caution is given to a local-level player who commits a minor infraction. A Caution itself does not have a large
impact on a player or a tournament, but it serves as a training tool for players. A Caution is given if the judge
believes the infraction to be minor and unintentional (See Unsporting Conduct for Exception). A Caution should
always be followed by a brief education of the player, explaining why the penalty was handed out and that a
further infraction can lead to an upgrade. An upgrade to a Caution is a Warning.

Warning

A Warning is the most commonly utilized penalty. A Warning is given to a player who commits a minor infraction.
A Warning itself does not have a large impact on a player or a tournament, but it serves as a training tool for
players and allows tournament staff to track a potential problem. A warning is given if the judge believes the
infraction to be minor and unintentional (See Unsporting Conduct for Exception). A Warning should always be
followed by a brief education of the player, explaining why the penalty was handed out and that a further
infraction can lead to an upgrade. An upgrade to a Warning is a Game Loss.

Game Loss

A Game Loss is given out when a player has committed an infraction which is not severe enough to forfeit an entire
match or to be removed from the premises, but has a significant impact on the game. A Game Loss is appropriate
for situations where a Game state is irreparable due to the actions of the player receiving the penalty. If a Game
Loss is given out during a game, the player forfeits the current game. If this penalty is given out in between games
of a match, the player forfeits the upcoming game. If the penalty is given out before a match, the player forfeits
the first game of the upcoming match. In the case where a Game Loss is applied before a match, neither player
may use their Side Deck prior to the beginning of the first played game. This penalty is given if the judge believes
the infraction was unintentional (See Unsporting Conduct for Exception). A Game Loss should always be followed
by a brief education of the player, explaining why the penalty was handed out and that a further infraction can
lead to an upgrade. An upgrade to a Game Loss is a Match Loss.

Is the Game State truly irreparable?

This is an important concept to understand – whether or not a game state can be repaired can mean the difference
between a Warning and a Game Loss. If both players can provide clear information and a judge can determine a
way to fix or rewind the game state, the game should be repaired as far as possible and play should resume. A
Game Loss is not an appropriate penalty for a repairable game state, unless as an upgrade from previous
infractions.

Irreparable Game States:

· A player returns a face-down monster to his Deck to Special Summon “Gladiator Beast Heraklinos” from
his Extra Deck, without revealing it to his opponent. There is no way to tell if the face-down card was a
Gladiator Beast, so the action is irreparable. It is appropriate to give the player a Game Loss.

· A player forgets to discard down to the legal hand limit at the end of his turn. During his opponent's turn
he plays a card that draws a card. There is no way to know which cards the player had in his hand prior to
drawing the card. This is not a missed mandatory effect but a mandatory game mechanic. This action is
irreparable, and it is appropriate to give the player a Game Loss.

Repairable Game States:

· A player shuffles his hand with his Deck. However, he had revealed his hand to his opponent earlier in the
turn, and has not drawn or played any additional cards. Both the player and the opponent can clearly
remember the contents of the player’s hand. It is appropriate for the player to restore his hand, reshuffle
his deck, and continue play with a Warning.

· Neither player has been keeping track of Life Points on paper, and there is a disagreement about the
totals. The players, with the aid of a judge, should reconstruct the game from the cards that have been
played, and either reach an agreement or accept the judge’s decision on the totals. Both players should
receive a Warning and be allowed to continue play.

Match Loss

A Match Loss is rarely given out. This penalty is given for an infraction that seriously impacts the game, but does
not require the player to be removed from the tournament. Only a Head Judge may give out a Match Loss penalty,
with the exception of a Match Loss tardiness penalty. If the Head Judge feels that applying the Match Loss penalty
to the current round is not severe enough (player commits the infraction as he is about to lose a match, for
example), he or she may apply the penalty for the upcoming round. If a player simultaneously commits two
infractions, one of which merits a Match Loss and another which merits a Game Loss, the judge should give the
Match Loss penalty first, followed by the Game Loss. A Match Loss is given if the judge believes the infraction was
unintentional (See Unsporting Conduct for Exception). A Match Loss should always be followed by a brief
education of the player, explaining why the penalty was handed out and that a further infraction can lead to an
upgrade. An upgrade to a Match Loss is a Disqualification.

Disqualification

A Disqualification is the most severe penalty that can be given. A Disqualification is merited for severe infractions
that require the player to be removed from the event or the venue. A Disqualification is usually given when a
player intentionally breaks tournament rules, or as an upgrade from previous penalties. Judges will need to
investigate carefully to determine whether or not a player is intentionally breaking a rule. Spectators need to
remember that a person does not need to be enrolled in a tournament in order to be disqualified.
There are two types of Disqualification penalties:

· Disqualification (With Prize)

This penalty is only given out through the upgrade process. A player who commits the same
infraction multiple times throughout an event and has his or her penalty upgraded to a
Disqualification, is always With Prize unless the upgrade was due to an Unsporting Conduct
infraction.

· Disqualification (Without Prize)

o This penalty is given out when a person intentionally breaks tournament policies. This includes,
but is not limited to, Cheating and Unsporting Conduct behavior. The person will be dropped
from the event, and in some cases, required to leave the venue.
Only the Head Judge may disqualify a person from an event. If a person is disqualified, a written statement must
be filled out by any and all persons involved, including opponents, spectators, judges, tournament officials, etc. It is
the Head Judge’s responsibility to collect these written statements from those involved and send the statements
to Konami’s Card Game Tournament Records department within 7 days of the event.

Please send all disqualification statements to:
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Attn: Konami Card Game Tournament Records
2381 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200
El Segundo, CA 92045
USA

Upgrading and Downgrading Penalties

Only the Head Judge of an event may upgrade or downgrade a penalty. Upgrades should only be given to a player
repeating the same infraction during the course of the same event. A Head Judge may downgrade a penalty under
extreme circumstances, but should follow these guidelines in order to remain impartial and consistent. A Head

Judge may choose to be a bit more lenient in the upgrade process during a local level event, choosing not to
upgrade the penalty after the 2nd infraction.

If an event extends across more than one day, all days should be considered to be the same event, and penalties
should continue to be upgraded.

Infractions

A violation of tournament policy is called an “infraction.” If a player commits an infraction, a judge must apply the
appropriate penalty. Because there are degrees of infractions with different levels of impact on the event, there
are corresponding degrees of severity for penalties. The different categories of infractions can have different
penalties administered, depending on severity of the infraction.

There are 7 categories of infractions:

· Procedural Error
o This category covers infractions involving general procedural errors a player might commit during
the course of a game. There are 3 sub-categories for Procedural Error: Minor, Major, and Strict;
which indicate the severity of the infraction.

· Tardiness
o This category covers infractions that prevent a player from beginning his or her match within the
specified timeframe allowed by the tournament. There are 2 sub-categories for Tardiness:
Major and Strict; which indicate the severity of the infraction.

· Deck Error
o This category covers infractions associated with registering incorrect contents on a Deck List, or
playing with an illegal Deck. If an error is caught prior to the start of the first round, it is
acceptable (at the Head Judge’s discretion) to correct the player’s Deck List without applying a
penalty. There are 2 sub-categories for Deck Error: Minor and Major; which indicate the
severity of the infraction.

· Drawing Extra Cards
This category covers infractions associated with drawing cards from the Deck outside of when a
player is allowed to do so. There are 2 sub-categories for Drawing Extra Cards: Minor and
Major; which indicate the severity of the infraction.

· Marked Cards
This category covers infractions involving Marked Cards and/or sleeves. A card or sleeve is
considered to be “marked” if it can be distinguished from the other cards contained in a Deck. It
is a player’s responsibility to maintain un-marked cards and sleeves throughout the duration of
an event. There are 2 sub-categories for Marked Cards: Minor and Major; which indicate the
severity of the infraction.

· Slow Play
o This category covers infractions associated with the pace of a player’s game. Players are
expected to play at a reasonable speed, regardless of the complexity of the game situation, and
should not waste time during a game. Slow Play infractions are always administered a Warning
at first, and then upgraded as appropriate if the infraction is repeated. Slow play is presumed to
be unintentional.

· Unsporting Conduct
o This category covers infractions associated with inappropriate behavior from a player during an
event. Unsporting Conduct infractions are considered to be intentional. It is important for
players to understand what kinds of behavior are not appropriate at an event, and for judges to
use common sense when investigating the infraction and administering a penalty. While Konami
encourages players to have fun at an event, they are expected to withhold from engaging in
behavior that may be offensive or that may ruin the integrity of the event. There are 4 subcategories
for Unsporting Conduct: Minor, Major, Severe, and Cheating; which indicate the
severity of the infraction.

After an infraction has been determined, and the judge has decided on the severity, the appropriate penalty will
be given out, as shown here:

· Minor
o This sub-category will be penalized with a Warning.

· Major
o This sub-category will be penalized with a Game Loss.

· Strict
o This sub-category will be penalized with a Match Loss.

· Severe
o This sub-category will be penalized with a Disqualification.

· Cheating
o This sub-category will always be penalized with a Disqualification.

Both players and judges should familiarize themselves with all categories of infractions. Educated players make
fewer mistakes, and educated judges uphold fair and consistent tournaments.

Procedural Error (PE)

· PE – Minor (Caution)
o This penalty is only to be used at local-level events. It does not apply at Regional Qualifiers, SHONEN
JUMP Championships, and other premier-level events, with the exception of the -Gi-Oh! World
Championship.

o The intent of the “Caution” is to educate newer players, and may be given for initial infractions,
before giving a “Warning” penalty. The player should receive an explanation of the problem, the
problem should be fixed, but there is no need to record the penalty on the Match Result Slip.

· Judges should exchange information among themselves on “Cautions” they have issued. This should be done
to keep track of the number and type of Cautions each player has received over the course of the event, both
to better educate the player or upgrade the penalty if needed.

· PE – Minor: (Warning)

o This penalty is appropriate for minor infractions where the problem can be easily corrected.

Both players forget to resolve a Mandatory Effect, and the game state is repairable by a
judge. Since both players are responsible, they each receive a Warning.

A player attempts to Summon a monster while an effect prohibits him from doing so.

A player accidentally shuffles her Graveyard.

· PE – Major: (Game Loss)
o This penalty is appropriate for major infractions that cause an irreversible disruption to the current
game. The game is beyond repair, so the penalty must be significant.

A player shuffles his hand into his Deck by accident.

A player forgets to pay a maintenance cost and doesn’t catch it until a few turns later, when
she has gained a significant advantage.

· PE –Strict: (Match Loss)
o This penalty is appropriate for strict infractions that cause a player to be unable to finish the current
match.

A player spills water on her Deck, damaging the cards and making it impossible to finish the
current match.

Player loses his Deck in between matches and does not notify the scorekeeper until after the
round has already been paired.

Tardiness (T)
· T – Major: (Game Loss)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player is not in his or her seat after three minutes has passed
from the beginning of the round. A player must be in his or her seat and ready to begin the
round within this three-minute window.

A player is not in his seat within three minutes into the round.

A player sat at the wrong table and played the wrong opponent, and the mistake was
caught after the three minute mark in the round, but before the 10 minute mark.
· T – Strict: (Match Loss)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player is not in his or her seat after 10 minutes has passed
since the beginning of the round. A player should be in his or her seat and ready to begin the
round at this time.

A player is not in his or her seat within 10 minutes into the round.

A player sat at the wrong table and played the wrong opponent, and the mistake was
caught after the 10 minute mark in the round.

Deck and Deck List Errors (DE)
· DE – Minor: (Warning)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player realizes he or she has an illegal Deck or Deck List and
brings it to the attention of tournament staff before the tournament begins.

A player accidentally marks two copies of a limited card on his Deck List and brings it up
to a tournament official prior to Round 1.

A player has 39 cards in her Main Deck and brings it up to a tournament official prior to
Round 1, and is able to add another tournament legal card to bring the total to 40
before the round begins.

A player arrives at his match and prior to presenting his Deck to his opponent to
randomize, realizes he forgot to remove Side Deck cards from the previous match. The
player must restore his Deck within the three-minute window, or risk an additional
penalty for Tardiness.

· DE – Major: (Game Loss)
o This penalty is appropriate if a player registers an illegal Deck List or has an illegal Deck, and does
not catch the errors before Round 1 begins.
If the Deck is illegal and the Deck List is legal, a judge should fix the Deck to match the Deck
List. It is the player’s responsibility to obtain any cards needed to match the Deck to the
Deck List before the three-minute mark in the next round. If the player cannot obtain the
cards, he or she will receive a Match Loss for that round.
If both the Deck and Deck List are illegal, a judge should fix the Deck first and then fix the
Deck List to match the Deck. However, if a Deck Check has already been performed in which
the Deck List has been verified as legal, the Deck List cannot be changed. In this case, if the
Deck does not match the Deck List, a judge should fix the Deck to match the Deck List.

· If both the Deck List and the Deck are legal but do not match, a judge should fix the
Deck to match the Deck List. A player registers 3 copies of a limited card in his Deck List.
· A player has 39 cards in her Main Deck.
· A player forgets to remove Side Deck cards from her Deck in between rounds, and the
error is caught after the Deck has been presented to her opponent for randomization.

Drawing Extra Cards (DC)
· DC – Minor: (Warning)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player has drawn cards from his or her Deck when not
allowed to do so, and the cards can be clearly identified by both players or logically identified by
a judge. This penalty also applies to situations in which cards are accidentally revealed. The
cards should be shown to both players and then returned to their appropriate areas, in their
original order.

A player accidentally draws a card when not allowed to do so but does not add the card
to her hand.

A player accidentally draws a card and adds it to his hand. A judge is able to logically
identify which card was drawn due to effects that have already been played.

A player accidentally knocks over cards from the top of his Deck.
· DC – Major: (Game Loss)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player has drawn cards from his or her Deck when not
allowed to do so, and the cards cannot be clearly identified by both players or logically identified
by a judge. Drawing extra cards when not allowed to do so damages the game state and must
carry a heavier penalty. A judge should always attempt to recreate the situation to logically
determine which card(s) were drawn. If the judge and/or both players are not completely sure
which card(s) were drawn, this penalty applies.

A player accidentally draws an extra card via an effect and adds it to his hand, with no
way to correctly identify which card was added.

A player resolves a search effect, selects a card from her Deck, then adds it to her hand
without revealing the card to the opponent.

Marked Cards (MC)
· MC –Minor: (Warning)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player has minor markings on one or very few cards in his or
her Deck that show no significant pattern. If the markings are on the sleeves, the player should
be required to change the sleeves so that the entire Deck matches. If the cards themselves are
marked, the player must replace the cards. It is appropriate for a judge to allow a player to
change the sleeves in between rounds as to not hold up the current match. It is important for
judges to understand that a pattern should not be presumed merely because the card(s) marked
are “good” cards.

A player has two random sleeves in his or her Deck with minor wear and tear, The two
cards in the sleeves bear no pattern.

A player has three cards in his or her Deck with minor bends that can be noticed
through the sleeves. The three cards bear no pattern.
· MC –Major: (Game Loss)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player has a significant number of cards marked and a judge
notices a pattern. This penalty should be applied if the Head Judge determines that the pattern
is unintentional. Although this infraction assumes the marking is unintentional, any markings on
a card or sleeve can give a significant advantage to a player, so it carries a heavier penalty. It is
very important for a Head Judge to investigate further to make sure the markings are not
intentional.

A player has 12 sleeves with what seems to be wear and tear on the top left corner.
Eight of the 12 cards are all of the same type. The Head Judge determines the markings
were made accidentally due to the way the player holds his cards.

A player has 14 cards turned upside down in his Deck during a mid-round Deck Check,
ten of which are monsters. The Head Judge determines these cards made up the
player’s Graveyard during the previous game, and the player unintentionally shuffled
them back in the wrong direction.

Slow Play (SP)
SP –Minor: (Warning)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player unintentionally plays slowly, causing a minor delay in
the game. It is a player’s responsibility to play at a reasonable pace, regardless of how complex a
situation may be.
o A time extension of at least three minutes should be given following a Slow Play warning.
o Slow play infractions that continue throughout an event should be upgraded.

A player is excessively slow while searching his Deck with an appropriate effect.

A player constantly requests to see her opponent’s Graveyard, or constantly requests a
hand count during a given turn.

A player takes longer than the 3 minutes allowed to access his Side Deck in between
games of a match.

A player arrives at his table after three minutes have passed in the round, then takes an
additional length of time to roll out his playmat, rummage for his Deck, or otherwise get
set up for the game.

Unsporting Conduct (UC)
· UC –Minor: (Warning)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player commits a minor intentional infraction. Players are
expected to behave in a sporting and professional manner towards everyone while at a
sanctioned event.

A player leaves trash behind on his table after a match.

A player eats or drinks at a table during a match.

A player swears or uses inappropriate or offensive gestures during a tournament.

A player insults a player, spectator, or tournament official.

A player fails to follow the instructions of a tournament official.

A player rule-sharks his opponent.

A person at an event is wearing offensive clothing, or has an offensive image on his or
her playmat, etc. The player must remove or cover up the offensive article or risk an
upgrade.

A player makes a deliberately unfair trade with a less experienced player. [This penalty
may be upgraded by the Head Judge.]

A player violates the buying/selling policy at a venue. [This may be upgraded at the
discretion of the Head Judge.]

· UC –Major (Game Loss)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player commits a major intentional infraction.

A player uses profanity towards a tournament official.

A player makes a racial or sexual slur against another player, spectator, or tournament
official. [This may be upgraded at the discretion of the Head Judge.]

A player knocks over a chair in anger after losing a match.

A player refuses to sign or rips up a Match Result Slip.

· UC –Severe: (Disqualification)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player commits a severe intentional infraction. The Head
Judge must collect statements from the player and all parties involved describing in detail the
incident leading to the penalty.

A player writes on or otherwise damages or defaces tournament or venue property.

A player physically or verbally assaults or threatens another individual.

A player steals while on tournament site.

A player attends an event while intoxicated.

· UC—Cheating: (Disqualification)
o This penalty is appropriate when a player is caught cheating at an event. This is the most severe
penalty a Head Judge can give. KDE shows no tolerance towards cheating and takes this
infraction very seriously. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, intentionally misrepresenting
the game state, rules, or tournament polices. It also includes reporting inaccurate information or
lying to tournament officials. Bribery and collusion are considered to be cheating.

A player intentionally draws an extra card from his Deck while his opponent is not
looking.

A player intentionally conceals part of her field in an attempt to influence the
opponent’s gameplay decisions.

A player intentionally withholds information on how a card works in order to trick the
opponent into revealing additional information, in order to gain an unfair advantage.

A player deliberately lies to a judge or tournament official.

A player intentionally marks a card or cards in his Deck.

A player offers his opponent cash or booster packs in exchange for the win.

A player accepts a bribe in exchange for a concession , deliberately losing a match,
falsifying a match slip, misrepresenting the tournament state, etc.

A spectator deliberately sends signals to a player during a match, to convey information
about the opponent’s cards. Judges will need to investigate before deciding if the player
to whom the signal is sent, is also cheating.

A player deliberately enters a tournament using a name or ID number that is not his or
her own.

A person who is not currently enrolled in a tournament is not exempt from the Disqualification penalty. If the
infraction warrants a disqualification, the Head Judge may opt to enroll that player specifically for the purposes of
disqualification – this is useful if a severe infraction is committed by a spectator or someone else who was not
originally enrolled in the tournament. A player who has already dropped may also be reinserted into the
tournament, in order to be disqualified.

Please Note:
If a player is criminally charged with an offense, whether or not that offense took place at a tournament, that
player can be automatically entered into the suspended player list and may no longer participate in KDE Organized
Play.

Players who are subsequently cleared of the charges may apply for reinstatement into Konami Organized Play, by
emailing us-opsupport@konami.com.
When a player does commit an infraction and receives a penalty, he or she may feel upset, or think that he or she
has been somehow targeted for punishment. However, tournament policies and penalty guidelines exist to help
keep the tournaments fair and enjoyable, by defining what is and is not acceptable behavior at an event and
establishing consistent consequences if that policy is violated. A player can greatly reduce his or her chances of
committing an infraction by learning tournament policies and penalty guidelines, paying attention during games,
and being aware of potential problems both before and during the tournament.