Expert Gameplay FAQ: Summon Response Window

The Summon response window is an unofficial term for the activation timing of cards that respond to the summon of a monster, such as "Bottomless Trap Hole", "Trap Hole", etc.

This timing is after the "Summon negation window".

Cards like "Solemn Warning", "Solemn Judgment", etc. that negate the summon of a monster cannot be activated during this window. They can only be activated in the "Summon negation window".

Example
Player A declares he is going to summon "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning", the "Summon negation window" is opened and player B decides not to do anything (for example, using cards like "Solemn Warning"), so the "Summon negation window" is closed.

Now the "Summon response window" (or timing) is opened, and player B has the chance to active cards that respond to the Summon of a monster, such as "Bottomless Trap Hole", etc.

If player B chooses to active "Bottomless Trap Hole", "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning" will be destroyed.

Note that even though "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning" is destroyed, its Summon was not negated, and it was considered to have been "successfully Summoned". As such, it can be Special Summoned by "Monster Reborn" later.

If player B passes without playing any Summon response cards, nothing will happen to "Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning", and the "Summon response window" is closed.

There is only one chain in the "Summon response window". After that, no card that responds to the Summon of a monster, such as "Trap Hole", can be activated.