How to Play

First rule when playing: you must have 40 or more cards in your deck. you can have no more than 4 of each card (other than lands). You can not use unglued cards or made up cards in any duel unless it is a special duel, or if your friends allow it.
These are the 5 lands.	You also must also follow numerous other rules but its simple. First of all, you must have lands to take out cards. So in your starting hand you should have one or two. The only problem is that you must only place one per turn. As soon as you get enough as the card says you need then you "tap" the land for mana (energy) (like people tap trees for sap and syrup) you show that you have have done this by turning the card sideways. When you put out a creature you can't use its effects for that turn or attack with it that turn, but you can defend with it on you opponents turn this rule is called summoning sickness. You can avoid it if your creature has haste.
While play with cards that have been summoned already you must do either what the card says (if it says you have to) or optionally do an effects. Instants can be played on other players turns. But they are the only cards that can be. If a creature effect that permits this situation is the only ecception to this rule. (In other words it can too be used on your opponents turn.	An instant is the only card that you can play on your opponents turn.
This card has an effect. You must follow the directions to put the effect in action legally.	When playing you must also remember to follow directions when using cards with effects. If you do not, then you will get disqualified from a match in any tournament. Unless you are playing with people who permit you to make crappy stupid mistakes that should not happen. Also if you don't follow directions then the effect could hurt you worse than them. Also following directions as a beginner can help you remember to follow them later on, giving other more or less experienced duelists a good impression of you and your skills as a duelist.
Those are some of the basic rules of the game of magic the gathering. if you want a huge confusing version of the rules that is a little more advanced, then you can pick up any magic the gathering beginners manual. It can give you any info. that I didn't state in this webpage.