Poker Rules

The Game

No Limit Texas Hold’em – Tournament

The game is played by selecting a dealer. This is performed by a player dealing the table face up. The first “Ace” dealt is now the dealer.

The Blinds are forced bets. These blinds double every 20-30 minutes depending on timeline of game. Every player on the table will be in the blind. The player that is immediately at the Dealer’s left is considered the small blind, the next player to that is the big blind. The small blind is half of the big blind. The game begins with the blinds at 100 and 200.

The cards are dealt face down to the players. Each player receives two cards. Based on your 2-cards, a series of betting begins. The first player that has the option to play is the player to the left of the big blind. This player must meet the big blind in order to play his/her cards. This player may choose to raise the blind. A raise can be anything greater than the blind. There is no limit on the bet. The remaining players must then follow the bet. Should any player wish to raise a bet called, they must at the very least double the original raise. For example, player 3 raises the blind from 200 to 600. The next player wishes to raise, the raise must be double of the last bet. So that would be a minimum of 1200. The player can raise higher than that or go all in, which means all of your chips are waged.

Once this betting makes it around the table one time and the bank is full, the dealer “burns” a card (card is place face down and is out of play). This is down simply in case the top card was seen at any point. The dealer then takes the next three cards on the deck and places them in the middle of the table face up. These cards are called the “flop”. The flops are community cards for use by everyone at the table. The goal is to use the best of 5-cards and 5-cards only. These can include the 2-cards you received on the initial deal. Now another round of betting is performed. The first player to bet will be the player to the left of the dealer. This person has an option to “check or bet”. A check is normally announced, but commonly a tap or knock on the table means the same thing. This means you do not wish to bet. When this is done it moves to the next player to the left. That player then has the same options and so on. Should a player bet the other players’ then need to match the bet. At any point in this betting round a player can raise. When raises are done, it is done in the same fashion as described earlier.

Once the bank is full, the dealer will “burn” another card. Then take the next card in the deck and place it face up for all players to see. This card is called “the turn” or “Fourth Street”. Now the betting begins again, just as previously described above.

Finally, when the bank is full another card is “burned” and the final card is exposed. This card is known as the “River” or less commonly known “Fifth Street”. This is the final card. Now the last series of betting, checking or raising continues as described previously. After the bank is full all players show their cards. The player with the highest 5-card poker hand wins the pot. On occasion, two or more players may “split” a pot. In other words both players had the same value poker hand and equally spilt the pot/bank. Should there be any remaining chips from this split, by virtue of denomination differences; the player to the left of the dealer receives the remaining chips.

That’s it…. Now the dealer position moves to the left as well the blinds and the game begins again. The average game will take about 2-3 hours.

The Rules

1. All blinds must be in the pot prior to deal, flop, turn and river. The dealer will be considered the table Captain and assure of this.

2. No splashing the pot. Place all bets, raises and calls in front of you. It just makes it easier for all to see the call. Splashing will result in a fold. (Splashing is considered, mixing your chips with any other chips on the table, by way of throwing or tossing.)

3. Any player wishing to call a foul must do so during play, not after. All fouls go to the management staff of La Pazza for final, non-appealing ruling.

4. NO harassment of other players. YES ribbing and poker talk is allowed, but please be respectful. We have many new players and remember this is for FUN. You will not be appearing on TV, so showboating to a minimum please.

5. Left over chips: When a pot is won by split, and there are remaining chips in the pot. The person to the LEFT of the dealer receives the remaining chips.

6. When a player forfeits a game in play, the remaining chips are returned to the Tournament Director. These chips will be out of play.

a. The player is eligible for 100 points for play only if the forfeit is out of emergency. If the said player is ejected or throws the game, he/she is NOT eligible for points.

7. Time limits - With respect to the timed game and the other players it is important to keep the game in play.

a. Each player should take a moment to think during play, this is respected. Should this time exceed ONE MINUTE. Any person(s) at that table may call for time. Once time is called, this player will have ONE MINUTE to decide play.

8. Player Missing – This is a person that is currently in play, but not at the table during an event.

a. Whenever a person needs to leave the table, the player should announce such action.

b. A player should not leave the table while being the Dealer or next up to the dealer. It is not the table’s responsibility to deal for the missing player.

c. While away from the table, the said person’s blinds will be posted.

d. While away from the table, the said persons hand(s) will be mucked.

e. If the person is in BIG BLIND, the cards are still in play until a bet or raise is called. The cards then shall be folded.

f. The player WILL NOT play by proxy.

9. Registration

1. Registrations must be done in person at the bar or by calling the bar (610) 515-0888. Registration is CLOSED 15-minutes prior to game start.
2. On site registration for that day’s game is open at any time. See the bartender for sign up. 200-Chip bonus is eliminated.
3. Game registration is CLOSED 15 minutes prior to game start. No further players are eligible for play.

10. Game play

4. Blind-in’s: Blind-in’s will be permitted as long as the player calls the bar at least 15 minutes in advance of game start time. This is a phone call only!
5. Blind in will occur for the first round of blinds. Once the blinds go to the next level, the blind in is removed from the game.

1. Should a player not show for a blind in or miss the blind in time, 100 points will be deducted from the players point total.

6. Registered players are required to be on site at least 15 minutes prior to game start.
7. Game completion. Once you have lost the game, you are to remove yourself from the table and allow the game to continue. Players are not to be bothered during game play.
8. No Showing of cards to anyone off the table or on, unless a call is made that requires the display of the cards. ANY PLAYER CAUGHT SHOWING CARDS will receive a 300 point penalty!
9. No player other than the dealer and the holder should touch any person’s cards.
10. Cell phones are permitted, but as a courtesy, leave the table for your conversation or texting.
11. Upon completion of the game ALL PLAYERS MUST SIGN OUT with the person running the poker game. If the player does not sign out, NO POINTS will be awarded.
12. 4 of a kind bonus = 200 chips
13. The Final Three: The final three games will be in a bonus play situation where the point totals double. This will be for the final three games of the season.
14. Be respectful of all players. When a beat occurs, walk away or keep it to yourself. If you win, be happy, but not to the level of insult to the other players.

11. Have FUN. This is a game remember! There are winners and losers. No one likes a sore loser and everyone hates a bad winner, so be kind.

Chip and a Chair Challenge

1. The first 3-players out of the game will be eligible.
2. To be eligible, you must have lost the game, not ejected.
3. If eligible, you will be entitled to ONE trivia question.
4. No assistance will be allowed.
5. If the question is answered correctly, the player will receive ONE, one hundred valued chip.
6. The player will be allowed back into the game, but at a different table, if another table is in play and based on seating.
7. One chance per player

Point Schedule

2008 Point Schedule
Place	# of Players
	# 2 - 9	# 10 - 16	# 17 - 24	# 25 - H
1	1000	1500	1800	2000
2	800	1300	1600	1800
3	600	1100	1400	1600
4	400	900	1200	1400
5	300	800	1100	1300
6	200	700	1000	1200
7	100	500	800	1000
8	100	200	500	700
9	100	100	300	500
10		100	200	400
11		100	100	300
12		100	100	200
13		100	100	100
14		100	100	100
15		100	100	100
16		100	100	100
17			100	100
18			100	100
19			100	100
20			100	100
21			100	100
22			100	100
23			100	100
24			100	100
25				100