Etiquette for the Stack in MTG

Question

More often than not it doesn't matter, you cast a spell and it either lands in its designated spot on the field, or it resolves and heads into the graveyard.

What I always wondered is, whenever there is a complicated situation playing out in the stack, is there a specific place you are supposed to put your cards?

For Example:

1) I play Storm Crow
2) My opponent casts Dissipate targeting Storm Crow
3) I play Negate targeting Dissipate 
4) My opponent plays Cancel targeting Negate
5) I play Counterflux targeting Cancel

While all this is happening, is it 'acceptable' to simply lay the cards down on the play-space or for official, tournament-level play do I need to immediately place my cards in the graveyard and simply remember they are on the stack in their particular order?

Answer 1

What is legal?

Cards go on the stack when you cast them. They remain there until they resolve or are otherwise removed from the stack.

According the the Tournament Rules, the current zone of any object is free information. The stack is a zone. Therefore, the presence of an object on the stack is free information.

It does not matter where the card physically goes, so long as it is clear that it is on the stack. You are not allowed to obscure or otherwise misrepresent the presence of an object in a zone, because it is free information.

What is considered good etiquette?

There is no official etiquette about where in the table you should play your spells and how exactly a complex stack should be built.

I play in a lot of tournaments, and most players put the card somewhere on the table where everyone can see it. Some players (incorrectly) put the card straight into their graveyards. Some players like to play the card behind their lands, perhaps to gain some kind of advantage by making it slightly more difficult for me to read.

When we build a complex stack, very rarely do we build an actual physical stack. To do that requires the cooperation of both players, and it also requires that all of the spells be tangible cards (i.e., not a trigger or an activated ability). Perhaps the most common situation in which I see a stack built with cards is during a counterspell war, such as the example you gave in the question.

Answer 2

There is no rule that specifically governs the physical location of cards on the stack, so you should put them wherever makes the game state clearest. That usually means that you should put them in an actual stack in the play area.

Since Instants and Sorceries go to the graveyard when they resolve, if you put them in the graveyard immediately, you are obscuring which ones have already resolved. This makes it more difficult for your opponent (and for you) to tell what the stack actually is.

Answer 3

Not only is it "acceptable" to lay the cards down on the play space, but it is required.

CR 608.2k As the final part of an instant or sorcery spell’s resolution, the spell is put into its owner’s graveyard. As the final part of an ability’s resolution, the ability is removed from the stack and ceases to exist.

Instants and sorcery cards don't go into the graveyard until they resolve. This is actually quite important for certain abilities. Using your example, if you don't have a Counterflux, you won't be able to use Snapcaster Mage to give the Negate you cast in step 3 flashback in step 5.

Answer 4

While a card is on the stack, it is not in the graveyard. If you wanted the cards to enter the graveyard (say you wanted to play a Delve counterspell), you let part of the stack resolve. As the stack resolves, cards enter the graveyard.

While the card is on the stack, it doesn't really matter where it is, as long as it is visible and clear that the card is being played and is on the stack. So, you could play your Crow in the middle, then each counterspell on top/next to the crow as you play them.