Rules

General Rules

1: Tournament Directors
Tournament directors 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. Tournament Directors decision is final.

2: Official Language
The English-only rule will be enforced in all Poker DownUnder Venues and games. If players wish to converse in any language other than English, it can only be done away from the table, even if they are not taking part in current hands in progress.

3: Official Action Terminology of Poker
Official terms are simple, unmistakable, time-honored declarations like: bet, raise, call, fold, check, all-in, pot (in pot-limit only), and complete. Specific regional terms may also meet this standard. It is the responsibility of players to make their intentions clear.

4: Communication
Players may not talk on the phone while at the poker table. If players wish to utilize mobile communication devices, they can only do so when away from the table and not during participation in a hand. You may use your phone at the table (not for calls) but not whilst you are in a hand. If your phone use is causing any delays a warning first will be given then penalties will apply. The Tournament Director may issue penalties for players that continue to breach this rule.

Seating Players; Breaking & Balancing Tables

5: Random Correct Seating, Breaking tables and Balancing tables
Tournament seating will be randomly assigned.
When tables are broken up the Tournament Director will try to seat you as close to the position you were in, that is not always possible so you must join the game in the position available. When balancing tables the correct table position will be assigned.

A: Special Needs
Accommodations for players with special needs will be made when possible.

Pots / Showdown

6: 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.

7: Face Up for All-Ins
All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all betting action at the table is complete. The dealer and players at the table should insist on timely compliance with this rule.

8: Showdown Order
In a non all-in 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.

A: Contested Showdown & Playing the Board
All hole cards must be shown to win a contested showdown even if playing the board.

B: Uncontested Showdown
In a non all-in showdown, when the opponent(s) cards have been mucked without being revealed, the last remaining hand wins. The opponents also lose their right to ask to see the winning hand.

C: Asking to See A Hand
Any player that was dealt into a hand may ask to have a hand revealed in a showdown situation. Except where there is an expressed right to see a hand, asking to see a hand is a privilege granted at the discretion of the tournament director. This privilege is not to be abused.
Tabled Hands
Players are encouraged to assist in reading tabled hands if it appears that an error is about to be made.

9: Odd Chips
In PokerDownUnder games when there is a odd chip left after splitting a pot, the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button. .

10: Side Pots
Each side pot will be split separately.

11: Disputed Pots
The right to dispute a hand ends when a new hand begins.

General Procedures

12: New Hand & New Limits
When time has elapsed in a round and a member of the tournament staff announces a new level, the new level applies to the next hand if the blinds have been posted. If no blinds are out you must put out the new higher blinds.

13: Cutting the Deck

In all games whereby games are self-dealt, it is customary for the player to the direct right of the deal to cut the deck prior to the deal. In games Where a dealer is used, generally at final table they will be tasked with cutting the deck.

14: Deck Changes
In self-dealt games, players may ask for the deck to be changed, however this will be at the discretion of the tournament director.

15: Re-buy

A player may not miss a hand. Rebuys must be done immediately once all chips are lost.

16: Calling for a Clock
Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called for, a tournament director will be called for. At this time the 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 after which there will be a declaration to the effect that the hand is dead. If the player has not acted before the declaration, the hand is dead.

17: Rabbit Hunting
No rabbit hunting is allowed. Rabbit hunting is revealing any of the cards “that would have come” if the hand had not ended.

Player Present / Eligible for Hand

18: 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. A player must be at his/her seat to call time.

19: Action Pending
A player must remain at the table if he has a live hand.

Button / Blinds

20: Button in Heads-up
In heads-up play, the small blind is on the button and acts first pre-flop and last on all subsequent betting rounds. When beginning heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player takes the big blind twice in a row.

Dealing Rules

21: Misdeals
In PokerDownUnder games, misdeals include but are not necessarily limited to: a) exposure of one of the first two cards dealt; b) two or more exposed or boxed cards; c) first card dealt to the wrong position; d) cards dealt to a seat not entitled to a hand; e) a seat entitled to a hand is dealt out. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button. Once substantial action occurs, a misdeal cannot be declared and the hand must proceed. Also if a card leaves the table a misdeal occurs.

22: Substantial Action
Substantial Action is defined as any two actions that put chips in the pot (bet, raise, or call), or any combination of three actions (check, bet, raise, call, or fold).

23: 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.

Play: Bets & Raises

24: Verbal Declarations / Acting in Turn
Players are required to act in turn. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Chips placed in the pot in turn must stay in the pot.

25: Action Out of Turn
If a player acts out of turn it is not binding. If a player raises out of turn the raise does not stand and only a minimum raise will be allowed. There is no forced checks.
An out-of-turn fold is binding.

26: Methods of Raising
In PokerDownUnder games, 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.

27: 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. In no-limit games, an all-in wager of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted.

28: 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.
29: Number of Raises
There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit game.

30: Accepted Action
Poker is a game of alert, continuous observation. It is the caller’s responsibility to determine the correct amount of an opponent’s bet before calling, regardless of what is stated by the dealer or players. If a caller requests a count but receives incorrect information from the dealer or players, then places that amount in the pot, the caller is assumed to accept the full correct action and is subject to the correct wager or all-in amount.
31: String Bets and Raises
Dealers will be responsible for calling string bets and raises.
Definition of a String Bet
A String bet is defined as a call with one motion and a later raise with another, or a reach for more chips without stating the intended amount. A player can (and should) defend themselves against string bet complaints by declaring their intention before moving any chips in.

Play: Other

32: Cards must be visable at all time.
Your cards must be visible at all times. You must not take the cards off the table whilst in play or cover the cards with your hands. They must be made visible at all times. This means above table level and not past the edge of the table. If you hide your cards it is nearly impossible for players to know that you are still in the hand. If this keeps occurring a warning will be issued and other penalties will apply.
33: Chips on the Table
Players are entitled to a reasonable estimation of an opponent’s chip count, thus chips should be kept in countable stacks. Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible and identifiable at all times. Tournament directors will control the number and denomination of chips in play and may chip up at their discretion.

34: 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.

35: Accidentally Killed / Fouled Hands
Players must protect their own hands at all times. If a dealer kills a hand by mistake, or a hand is fouled, the player will have no redress and is not entitled to a refund of bets. However, if the player has bet or raised and hasn’t been called, the uncalled bet or raise will be returned to the player.

36: DEAD HANDS

1. A hand is declared dead if:
(a) The player folds or announces that they are folding when facing a bet or a raise.

(b) A player throws their hand away in a forward motion causing another player to act behind them (even if not facing a bet).

(d) The hand does not contain the proper number of cards for that particular game

2. Cards thrown into the muck may be ruled dead. However, a hand that is clearly identifiable may be retrieved at management’s discretion if doing so is in the best interest of the game. We will make an extra effort to rule a hand retrievable if it was folded as a result of false information given to the player.

37: Only players to sit at the tables.
Non poker players are not allowed to sit at the tables.

Etiquette & Penalties

38: 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 occur. Penalties WILL be invoked in cases of soft play, abuse of players or staff or threatening behaviour, disruptive behavior, or cheating. Penalties available to the tournament director include verbal warnings, “missed hand” penalties, and disqualification. For the period of the penalty, the offender shall remain away from the table but will continue to be dealt in. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties.

39: 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.

40: Exposing Cards
A player who exposes his cards with action pending  will not have a dead hand.  Once more than one player has  access to this information it is then declared a dead hand

41: 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.  Angle shooting will be penalized as well.

42: 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.

43: Personal Grooming
Players may be subject to warning, penalty, or disqualification when their personal hygiene is offensive to other players. Deodorant is available from the Tournament director if needed.