Players, times are changing and Poker Rules everywhere are being Refined and Standardized. The Tournament Directors Association was formed to do this job, and all major tournaments held in this country will be Directed according to these Standardized Rules.
Our Players (all of you!) have also progressed and greatly improved your game! To provide our Players with a Realistic Poker Experience, Denver Full House will also follow these same Rules.
Tournament Directors Association Standard Poker Rules
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Rule Title
Rule
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 floor person's decision is final.
2
Chip Race
When it is time to color-up chips they will be raced off with a maximum of one chip going to any player. The chip race will always start in the No.1 seat. A player cannot be raced out of a tournament: a player who loses his or her remaining chip(s) in a chip race will be given one chip of the smallest denomination still in play. Players are encouraged to witness the chip race.
3
Odd Chips
The odd chip(s) will go to the high hand. In flop, games when there are two or more high hands or two or more low hands the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button. In stud games, the odd chip will go to the high card by suit. However when hands have identical value (e.g., a wheel in Omaha/8) the pot will be split as evenly as possible.
4
Side Pots
Each side pot will be split separately.
5
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 action has not been taken before time expires, there will be a 10-second countdown. If a player has not acted by the time the countdown is over, the player's hand will be dead.
6
Dead Button
Tournament play will use a dead button.
7
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 TD include verbal warnings and "missed hand" penalties. A missed hand penalty 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. Tournament staff can assess one-, two-, three-, or four-round penalties or disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips removed from play. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties.
8
At Your Seat
A player must be at his or her seat by the time all players have been dealt complete initial hands in order to have a live hand. Players must be at their seat to call time.
9
Face Up
All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all betting action is complete.
10
Raise Requirements
If a player puts in a raise of 50% or more of the previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed. In no-limit and pot limit, an all-in bet of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted.
11
Oversized Chip
A single oversized chip will be considered a call if the player does not announce a raise. If a player puts an oversized chip into the pot and states raise but does not state the amount, the raise will be the maximum allowable up to the size of that chip. After the flop, an initial bet of a single oversized chip without comment will constitute the size of the bet. To make a raise with a single oversized chip a verbal declaration must be made before the chip hits the table surface.
12
No Disclosure, No Advice, One Player to a Hand
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 before the action is complete
3. Read a hand that hasn't been tabled
The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced.
13
Random Seats
Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned.
14
Official Language
The English-only rule will be enforced in the United States during the play of hands. English will be used in international play along with the local or native language.
15
Communication Devices
A player may not use a cellular phone, text-messaging device, or other communication device at the table.
16
Deck Changes
Deck changes will be on the dealer push or level changes or as prescribed by the house. Players may not ask for deck changes.
17
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. A hand begins with the first riffle.
18
Re-buys
A player may not miss a hand. If a player announces the intent to re-buy before a new hand begins, that player is playing chips behind and is obligated to make the re-buy.
19
Higher Denomination Chips Visible
Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible at all times.
20
Declarations
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.
21
Rabbit Hunting
No rabbit hunting is allowed.
22
Dodging Blinds
A player who intentionally dodges (a) blind(s) when moving from a broken table will incur a penalty.
23
Chips Visible
All chips must be visible at all times. 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.
24
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.
25
Balancing Tables
In flop games when balancing tables, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position (which is never the small blind). The table from which a player is moved will be as specified by a predetermined procedure. Play will halt on any table that is three or more players short. In stud games players will be moved by position, (the last seat to open up at the short table is the seat to be filled).
26
Raises
There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit games. A raise must be at least the size of the previous raise. 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.
27
Misdeals
In stud-type games, if any of the players' two down cards are exposed due to dealer error it is a misdeal. In flop games, exposure of one of the first two cards dealt is a misdeal. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button.
28
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.
29
Killing Winning Hand
Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was tabled and was obviously the winning hand. Players are encouraged to assist in reading tabled hands if it appears that an error is about to be made.
30
Verbal Declarations
Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Action out of turn may be binding and will be binding if the action to that player has not changed. A check, call, or fold is not considered action changing.
31
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.
32
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.
33
Ethical Play
Poker is an individual game. Soft play will result in penalties, which may include forfeiture of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping will result in disqualification.
34
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.
35
Button in Heads-up
When heads-up the small blind is on the button and acts first. When beginning heads-up play the button may need to be adjusted to ensure that no player takes the big blind twice in a row.
36
Etiquette Violations
Repeated etiquette violations will result in penalties. Examples include unnecessarily touching other players cards or chips, delay of the game, and excessive chatter. Players are required to act in turn.
37
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. In stud games, the player with the high board must show first. In razz, the lowest board shows first.
38
Action Pending
Players must remain at the table if they still have action pending on a hand.
39
String Raises
Dealers will be responsible for calling string raises.
40
Playing the Board
A player must show both cards when playing the board in order to get part of the pot.
“Robert’s Rules Of Poker” is
authored by Robert Ciaffone, better known in the poker world as Bob Ciaffone, a
leading authority on cardroom rules. He is the person who has selected which
rules to use, and formatted, organized, and worded the text. Nearly all these
rules are substantively in common use for poker, but many improved ideas for
wording and organization are employed throughout this work. A lot of the rules
are similar to those used in the rulebook of cardrooms where he has acted as a
rules consultant and rules drafter. Ciaffone authored the rulebook for the
Poker Players Association (founded in 1984, now defunct), the first
comprehensive set of poker rules for the general public. He has done extensive
work on rules for the Las Vegas Hilton, The Mirage, and Hollywood Park Casino,
and assisted many other cardrooms. Ciaffone is a regular columnist for Card
Player magazine, and can be reached through that publication. This rulebook
will be periodically revised, so suggestions are welcome.
Poker rules are widely used and
freely copied, so it is impossible to construct a rulebook without using many
rules that exist as part of a rule set of some cardroom. If such a rule is
used, no credit is given to the source (which is unlikely to be the original
one for the rule).
The goal of this rulebook is to
produce the best set of rules in existence, and make it generally available, so
any person or cardroom can use it who so desires. The purpose is the betterment
of poker.
The general philosophy used in
this rulebook is to make the rules sufficiently detailed so a decision-maker
will know what the proper ruling is in each situation. A rule should do more
than produce the right ruling. It should be stated so the decision-maker can
refer to specific language in the rulebook, to have the ruling is accepted as
correct.
The author has strongly supported
uniform poker rules, and applauds the work done in this direction by the
Tournament Director’s Association (TDA). Nearly all the rules herein are
compatible with the TDA rules, although there are some slight differences in
wording.
This rulebook may be copied or downloaded by anyone,
provided it is not sold for profit without written permission from the author,
and the name “Robert’s Rules of Poker” is used or credited. Excerpts of less
than a full chapter may be used without restriction or credit. People are
welcome to use these rules, and even put their own business name on them, but
this does not give a person or business any rights other than to use the rules
in their own establishment, or to make copies available to someone else with
the same restrictions applied to the recipient as stated here. Anyone may make
copies of these rules and distribute them at no charge to recipients as a
business promotion without obtaining permission.
THIS IS THE OFFICIAL
RULEBOOK FOR OUR CARDROOM
DENVER FULL HOUSE
Welcome to the Denver Full House cardroom. Your presence in our
establishment means that you agree to abide by our rules and procedures. By
taking a seat in one of our card games, you are accepting our management to be
the final authority on all matters relating to that game.
Management will attempt to
maintain a pleasant environment for all our customers and employees, but is not
responsible for the conduct of any player. We have established a code of
conduct, and may deny the use of our cardroom to violators. The following are
not permitted:
Collusion with another player
or any other form of cheating.
Verbally or physically threatening any patron or
employee.
Using profanity or obscene
language.
Creating a disturbance by
arguing, shouting, or making excessive noise.
Throwing, tearing, bending, or
crumpling cards.
Destroying or defacing
property.
Using an illegal substance.
Carrying a weapon.
POKER ETIQUETTE
The following actions are
improper, and grounds for warning, suspending, or barring a violator:
Deliberately acting out of
turn.
Deliberately splashing chips
into the pot.
Agreeing to check a hand out when a third
player is all-in.
Reading a hand for another player at the
showdown before it has been placed faceup on the table.
Telling anyone to turn a hand faceup at the
showdown.
Revealing the contents of a
live hand in a multihanded pot before the betting is complete.
Revealing the contents of a
folded hand before the betting is complete. Do not divulge the contents of a
hand during a deal even to someone not in the pot, so you do not leave any
possibility of the information being transmitted to an active player.
Needlessly stalling the action
of a game.
Deliberately discarding hands away from the muck.
Cards should be released in a low line of flight, at a moderate rate of speed
(not at the dealer's hands or chip-rack).
Stacking chips in a manner that
interferes with dealing or viewing cards.
Making statements or taking
action that could unfairly influence the course of play, whether or not the
offender is involved in the pot.
Using a cell phone at the
table.
TOBACCO USE – (note
Non-Smoking law is in
effect in public places in Colorado)
(These rulesare for anestablishmentthat does not completely bar smoking.)
The seat oneach side ofthe dealer isa nonsmoking seat.
Cigar or pipesmoking isnot allowedin the cardroom.
Smoking by aguest orspectator isnot allowed.
SECTION 2 - HOUSE
POLICIES
DECISION-MAKING
1.Management
reserves the right to make decisions in the spirit of fairness, even if a
strict interpretation of the rules may indicate a different ruling.
2.Decisions
of the shift supervisor are final.
3.The
proper time to draw attention to a mistake is when it occurs or is first
noticed. Any delay may affect the ruling.
4.If
an incorrect rule interpretation or decision by an employee is made in good
faith, the establishment has no liability.
5.A
ruling may be made regarding a pot if it has been requested before the next
deal starts (or before the game either ends or changes to another table).
Otherwise, the result of a deal must stand. The first riffle of the shuffle
marks the start for a deal.
6.If a pot has been incorrectly
awarded and mingled with chips that were not in the pot, and the time limit for
a ruling request given in the previous rule has been observed, management may
determine how much was in the pot by reconstructing the betting, and then
transfer that amount to the proper player.
7.To
keep the action moving, it is possible that a game may be asked to continue
even though a decision is delayed. The delay could be to check the overhead
camera tape, get the shift supervisor to give the ruling, or for some other
good reason. In such circumstances, a pot or portion of it may be impounded by
the house while the decision is pending.
8.The
same action may have a different meaning, depending on who does it, so the
possible intent of an offender will be taken into consideration. Some factors
here are the person’s amount of poker experience and past record.
9.A
player, before he acts, is entitled to request and receive information as to
whether any opposing hand is alive or dead, or whether a wager is of sufficient
size to reopen the betting.
PROCEDURES
1.Only
one person may play a hand.
2.No one is allowed to play another player’s
chips.
3.Management will decide when to start or
close any game.
4.DENVER FULL HOUSEPROVIDES
ALL FREE GAMES – NO CASH ALLOWED. Collections
(seat rental fees) arepaid inadvance. Inall
time-collection games, the dealer is required to pickup thecollectionfrom eachplayer beforedealing.A player notwishing topay collection may playone courtesyhand in stud, and mayplay untilthe blind inbutton games,provided noone iswaiting for the game. If there is more than one
person onthe list for thatgame when thecollectionbecomes due,everyone must
paycollection. Anew player is
not required to payif thereis either no
list oronly one
person waiting.
5.Cash
is not allowed on the table. All cashshould bechanged intochips in ordertoplay. If aplayer seemsunaware of thisrule andtriesto playunnoticedcash that wason the table during a pot, the dealer may let the
cashplay if noone in the
pot objects, then have all the cashchanged into chipsafter thehand. Anychipsfrom another cardroomare notpermittedon the table,do not playin the game,and whenfoundwill betreatedsimilarly to unnoticed cash.[See Section 16 – “Explanations,”discussion#5, for more
information on this rule.]
6.Money and chips may be removed for security
purposes when leaving the table. The establishment is not responsible for any
shortage or removal of chips left on the table during a player’s absence, even
though we will try to protect everyone as best we can. All removed funds must
be fully restored when returning to the game.
7.If you return to the same game within one
hour of cashing out, your buy-in must be equal to the amount removed when
leaving that game.
8.All games are table stakes (except
“playing behind” as given inthe nextrule).Onlythe chips infront of aplayer at thestart of adeal may play for thathand, exceptfor chips not yet received that aplayer has
purchased. The amountbought mustbe announced
to the table, or onlythe amount of
the minimum buy-inplays.Awareness oftheamount beingin play for
each opponent isan importantpart of
poker.
All chips and money
must be kept in plain view.
9."Playing behind"isallowed only
for the amount of purchased chipswhileawaiting their arrival.The amount inplay must be announced to thetable, or
only the amountof theminimumbuy-in plays.
10.Playing out
of a rack is notallowed.
11.Permission is required before taking a seat
in a game.
12.Playing overwithoutpermissionfrom the floorpersonis notallowed. A playover box isrequired.Permissionfrom the absentplayer is notnecessary.
13.Pushing bets (“saving” or “potting out”) is
not allowed.
14.Pushing an ante or posting for another person
is not allowed.
15.Splitting pots will not be allowed in any
game. Chopping the big and small blind by taking them back when all other
players have folded is allowed in button games.
16.Insurance propositions are not allowed.
Dealing twice (or three times) when all-in is permitted at big-bet poker.
17.The
game's betting limit will not be changed if two or more players object. Raising
the limit is subject to management approval.
18.Players
must keep their cards in full view. This means above table-level and not past
the edge of the table. The cards should not be covered by the hands in a manner
to completely conceal them.
19.Any player is entitled to a clear view of an
opponent’s chips. Higher denomination chips should be easily visible.
20.Your chips may be picked up if you are away
from the table for more than 30 minutes. Your absence may be extended if you
notify a floorperson in advance. Frequent or continuous absences may cause your
chips to be picked up from the table.
21.A lock-up in a new game will be picked up
after five minutes if someone is waiting to play. No seat may be locked up for
more than ten minutes if someone is waiting to play.
22.A
new deck must be used for at least a full round (once around the table) before
it may be changed, and a new setup must be used for at least an hour, unless a
deck is defective or damaged, or cards become sticky.
23.Looking
through the discards or deck stub is not allowed.
24.After
a deal ends, dealers are asked to not show what card would have been dealt.
25.A player is expected to pay attention to the
game and not hold up play. Activity that interferes with this such as reading
at the table is discouraged, and the player will be asked to cease if a problem
is caused.
26.A non-player may not sit at the table.
27.In
non-tournament games, you may have a guest sit behind you if no one in the game
objects. It is improper for a guest to look at any hand other then your own.
28.Speaking a foreign language during a deal is
not allowed.
