Tournament Regulations, Policies & Procedures

1. Floor People

Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over the technical rules. The floorperson's decision is final.

2. Official Language

The English-only rule will be enforced.

3. Communication

Players may not talk on the phone while at the poker table. House rules apply to all other forms of electronic devices.

4. Random Seats

Tournament seats will be randomly assigned.

5. Breaking Tables

Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the position. They can get the big blind, the small blind, or the button. The only place they cannot get a hand is between the small blind and the button.

6. Balancing Tables

The table from which a player is moved will be as specified by a predetermined procedure. Play will halt on any table that is still running.

7. Number of Players at Final Table

In flop games, the final table will consist of nine (9) players.

8. Declarations

Cards speak. Verbal declarations as to the content of a player's hand are not binding; however, any player deliberately miscalling his or her hand may be penalized.

9. Face Up

All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all betting action is complete.

10. Showdown

At the end of last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive action in that betting round must show first. If there was no bet, the player to the left of the button shows first and so on clockwise.

11. Odd Chips

The odd chip will go to the high hand. In flop games when there are two or more high hands, the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button.

12. Side Pots

Each side pot will be split separately.

13. Playing the Board

A player must show both cards when playing the board in order to get part of the pot.

14. Disputed Pots

The right to dispute a hand ends when a new hand begins.

15. Deck Changes

Deck changes will be as prescribed by the house. Players may not ask for deck changes.

16. New Limits

When time has elapsed in a round and a new level is announced by a member of the tournament staff, the new level applies to the next hand.

17. Calling for a Clock

Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called for, a player will be given a maximum of one minute to make a decision. If a player has not acted by the time the countdown is over, the player's hand will be dead.

18. Rabbit Hunting

Rabbit hunting is revealing any of the cards "that would have come" if the hand had not ended. Generally rabbit hunting is not allowed. It will be considered acceptable if a folded player makes a request to the winning player, and the request is granted. The dealer should not make the decision to rabbit hunt on their own.

19. At Your Seat

A player must be at his or her seat when playing. If a player is not at his or her seat when an action is to be made, their hand will be immediately mucked. The only exception would be a floorperson conducting floor business. If the floor person's business is lengthy enough that the integrity of the game is compromised, that floorperson should call for their hand to be mucked in the best interest of the overall game.

20. Action Pending

A player must remain at the table if he has a live hand.

21. Tournament Attendance

All initial buy-ins must be made before the start of a tournament. If you have not bought in before the start of a tournament, you will not be allowed to play.

A player may buy into a tournament knowing they will not be in attendance at the beginning of the tournament. Buy-in funds must be fronted by someone already in attendance before the tournament begins. The player will still be dealt cards, and their hands will be mucked at their position. If the player does not arrive to the tournament before rebuys close, and remain present until they are eliminated, they will receive no points for the game, and will not receive a buy-in refund.

22. Dead Button

Tournament play will use a dead button.

23. Button, Blinds & Order of Action During Heads-Up

When beginning heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player posts the big blind twice in a row. The button is the small blind, and the non-button player is the big blind.

In heads-up play, the order of play actually flips depending on whether you are playing before or after the community cards are dealt. During pre-flop play, the button is first to act. During post-flop play, the big blind acts first.

24. Misdeals

Exposure of a card on the first time around the table is a misdeal. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button.

25. Four-Card Flop

If the flop contains four (rather than three) cards, whether exposed or not, the dealer shall scramble the 4 cards face down. A floorperson will be called to randomly select one card to be used as the next burn card and the remaining three cards will become the flop.

26. Verbal Declarations / Acting in Turn

Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Players are required to act in turn. Action out of turn will be binding if the action to that player has not changed. A check, call or fold is not considered action changing.

27. Methods of Raising

In no-limit or pot-limit, a raise must be made by (1) placing the full amount in the pot in one motion; or (2) verbally declaring the full amount prior to the initial placement of chips into the pot; or (3) verbally declaring "raise" prior to the placement of the amount to call into the pot and then completing the action with one additional motion. It is the player's responsibility to make his intentions clear.

28. Raises

A raise must be at least the size of the largest previous bet or raise of the current betting round. If a player puts in a raise of 50% or more of the previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she must make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed (see exception for multiple same-denomination chips Rule 33). In no-limit and pot limit, an all-in wager of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted.

29. Oversized Chip

Anytime when facing a bet (or blind), placing a single oversized chip in the pot is a call if a raise is not first verbally declared. To raise with a single oversized chip, a declaration must be made before the chip hits the table surface. If a raise is declared (but not an amount), the raise is the maximum allowable for that chip. When not facing a bet, placing an oversized chip in the pot without declaration is a bet of the maximum allowable for the chip.

30. Multiple Chips

When facing a bet, unless a raise is first declared, multiple same-denomination chips is a call if removing one chip leaves less than the call amount. Example of a call: preflop, blinds 200-400: A makes it 1200 (an 800 raise), B puts out two 1000 chips without declaring raise. Placing chips of mixed denominations in the pot is governed by the 50% standard in Rule 31.

31. Number of Raises

There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit games. In limit events there will be a limit to raises even when heads-up until the tournament is down to two players; the house limit will apply.

32. Pot Size

Players are entitled to be informed of the pot size in pot-limit games only. Dealers will not count the pot in limit and no-limit games.

33. String Bets and Raises

Dealers will be responsible for calling string bets and raises. Players may point out such instances. If the dealer does not agree, a floor person may be called over for assistance.

34. Chips on the Table

Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible and identifiable at all times.

35. Chips in Transit

Players may not hold or transport tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of view. A player who does so will forfeit the chips and will face disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play.

36. Unprotected Hands

If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to a refund of bets. However, if a player had raised and the raise had not yet been called, the raise will be returned to the player.

37. Penalties and Disqualification

A penalty MAY be invoked if a player exposes any card with action pending, throws a card off the table, violates the one-player-to-a-hand rule, or similar incidents take place. Penalties WILL be invoked in cases of soft play, abuse, or disruptive behavior. Penalties available to the tournament director include verbal warnings and "missed hand" penalties. Except for a one-hand penalty, missed hand penalties will be assessed as follows: The offender will miss one hand for every player, including the offender, who is at the table when the penalty is given multiplied by the number of rounds specified in the penalty. For the period of the penalty, the offender shall remain away from the table but will continue to be dealt in.

38. No Disclosure

Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Therefore, players, whether in the hand or not, may not: 1. Disclose contents of live or folded hands, 2. Advise or criticize play at any time, 3. Read a hand that hasn't been tabled. The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced.

39. Exposing Cards

A player who exposes his cards with action pending may incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. The penalty will begin at the end of the hand.

40. Ethical Play

Poker is an individual game. Soft play will result in penalties, which may include forfeiture of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping and/or all other forms of collusion will result in disqualification.

41. Etiquette Violations

Repeated etiquette violations will result in penalties. Examples include, but are not limited to, unnecessarily touching other players' cards or chips, delay of the game, repeatedly acting out of turn or excessive chatter.