What must a player do with regard to their opening hand during a deck check?

In the context of a deck check during a tournament, a player must preserve their opening hand in order to return it post-check. This requirement ensures that the integrity of the game is maintained, allowing the player to continue the match without disadvantage after the check is completed. Preserving the hand indicates that the player must keep it intact, as it may influence their strategy and decisions in the subsequent play.

Shuffling the hand back into the deck or discarding it would disrupt the player's game and potentially affect the outcome. Revealing the hand to the judge is not standard practice, as this could bring about unnecessary complications regarding privacy and strategic considerations within the game. The correct procedure is to hold onto the opening hand until the deck check is concluded, allowing for a seamless continuation of gameplay.