DRAGON’S POKER DEN (DPD) RULES AND POLICIES
SUPPLEMENTED BY THE POKER TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION RULES
The Poker TDA is comprised of poker room personnel from around the world whose objective is to draft a standardized set of rules for poker tournaments. The TDA has developed the following tournament poker rules, which supplement the standard or “house rules” of DPD. If there is a conflict between these rules and the rules and regulations of DPD, then DPD rules will apply.
We have removed any rule that does not apply to No-Limit Flop games. Variations of these rules that are utilized by DPD are so noted in the rule.
SOLICITING PLAYERS: DPD will not allow, at any of its shows, any person or player to solicit other players for another poker company or for home games. The 1st offense will be a warning; the 2nd offense will result in the player being suspended or permanently prohibited from playing with DPD.
REMINDER: If you arrive late, you must be in your seat at the table no later than 30 minutes after the first deal or you will be unable to play.
General Concepts
1. $500 MONTHLY MEDIEVAL TOURNAMENT
WINNER PAYOUTS. First Place winner of the tournament eligible to win $300. Second place winner eligible to win $200. Third place winner eligible to win $100. Chopping is not allowed.
The announcemnet of the above will be made at the beginning of play at the final table by an administrator of DPD. No other announcement will be made by the administration during final table play.
2. 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.
3. Communication
Players may not talk or text on a cell phone while IN A HAND at the poker table. One warning will be given, if the player chooses to disregard the warning, then their hand will be declared dead. House rules apply to all other forms of electronic devices.
Seating Players; Breaking & Balancing Tables
4. Random Seats
Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned. Accommodations for players with special physical needs will be made when possible.
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
In flop and mixed games when balancing tables, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position, including taking a single big blind when available, even if that means the seat will have the big blind twice. Worst position 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.
7. Number of Players at Final Table
In flop games, the final table will consist of ten (10) players.
Pots / Showdown
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. (Refer to Rule # 40)
9. Face Up
All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all betting action is complete. The dealer and players should insist on timely compliance with this rule.
10. 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.
11. Showdown
In a non-all-in showdown, at the end of last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive action must show first.
CONTESTED SHOWDOWN: All hole cards must be shown to win a contested showdown even if playing the board.
UNCONTESTED SHOWDOWN: In a non all-in showdown, when all opponent(s) cards have been mucked without being revealed, the last live hand wins. Opponents who muck at showdown without revealing their hands also lose the right to ask to see the winning hand.
12. Odd Chips
The odd chip 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. (Closest to the dealer)
13. Side Pots
Each side pot will be split separately.
14. Playing the Board
When playing the board, a player must show both cards and declare they are “playing the board” in order to get part of the pot.
15. Disputed Pots
The right to dispute a hand ends when a new hand begins. (See rule #18.)
General Procedures
16. 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.
(DPD does not utilize this rule in Color Up)
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. Re-buys
A player may not miss a hand. If a player announces the intent to rebuy before a new hand, that player is playing chips behind and is obligated to make the re-buy.
(This rule does not apply to DPD)
20. 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.
21. 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
22. 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.
RULE INTERPRETATION: If a player is not in their seat by the time the dealer receives their second card, that player’s hand is dead and moved into the muck by the dealer.
23. Action Pending
A player must remain at the table if he has a live hand.
Example: A Player may not call, raise or go all-in and get up and leave the table
Button / Blinds
24. Dead Button
Tournament play will use a dead button.
25. Dodging Blinds
A player who intentionally dodges any blind when moving from a broken table will incur a penalty. (Refer to Rule #40)
26. Button in Heads-up
In heads-up play, the small blind is on the button and acts first. 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 Errors
27. Misdeals
In flop games, misdeals include, but are not necessarily limited to:
a) exposure of one of the first two cards dealt
b) two or more exposed cards
c) first card dealt to the wrong seat
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. If substantial action occurs, a misdeal cannot be declared and the hand must proceed.
28. 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.
DBD does not utilize this Rule, but chooses to use the rule for misdealt flops as maintained in our Pit Boss Manual: Dealer Errors and Irregularities)
Play: Bets & Raises
29. Verbal Declarations / Acting in & out of turn
VERBAL DECLARATIONS/ACTING IN TURN:
Players must act in turn. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Chips placed in the pot in turn must stay in the pot.
ACTION OUT OF TURN:
Action out of turn will be binding if the action to that player has not changed. A check, call of fold does not change action. If action changes, the out of turn bet is not binding and is returned to the out of turn player who then has all options including calling, raising, or folding. An out of turn fold is binding.
30. 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.
31. Raises
A raise must be at least the size of the previous raise. 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.
32. 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 an 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.
33. Multiple Chips
Unless a raise has been declared, placing multiple chips in the pot that add to less than double the bet one is facing will be deemed a call if removal of any one chip leaves less than the bet the player could have called.
34. Number of Raises
There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit games.
35. 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.
36. String Bets and Raises
Dealers will be responsible for calling string bets and raises.
Play: Other
37. Chips on the Table
Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible and identifiable at all times.
38. 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.
39. Unprotected Hands
If a dealer kills an unprotected hand and the player has no chips committed to the pot, the player will have no redress and the hand declared dead. However, in the interest of fair play, if a player has chips committed, i.e. blinds, call, raise, Dragon’s Poker Den rules may apply. If this situation arises, the Tournament Director/Pit Boss should be advised immediately for determination.(Refer to Rule No. 1.)
Etiquette & Penalties
40. 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. 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.
Tournament staff can assess a one-hand penalty, 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.
41. 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.
In some instances, Rule #1 may come into effect: 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.
If a player discloses his hand to other players who have action pending, this players hand may be declared Dead and other penalties may apply including missed hand/round penalties, disqualification from the tournament or total disqualification, depending on the severity of the players actions
42. Exposing Cards
A player who exposes (tables his cards face up) with action pending may incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. If a penalty is accessed by the TD, the penalty will begin at the end of the hand.
43. 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.
44. Etiquette Violations
Repeated etiquette violations will result in penalties. (Refer to Rule #40) 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.
Dealer Errors and Irregularities
45. If the first or second hole card dealt is exposed, a misdeal results. The dealer will retrieve the cards, reshuffle, and re-cut the cards. If any other hole card is exposed due to a dealer error, the deal continues. The exposed card may not be kept. After completing the hand, the dealer replaces the card with the top card on the deck, and the exposed card is then used for the burn card. If more than one hole card is exposed, this is a misdeal and there must be a re-deal.
46. If the flop contains too many cards, it must be re-dealt. (This applies even if it were possible to know which card was the extra one.)
47. If the flop needs to be re-dealt because the cards were prematurely flopped before the betting was complete, or the flop contained too many cards, the board cards are mixed with the remainder of the deck. The burn card remains on the table. After shuffling, the dealer cuts the deck and deals a new flop without burning a card. [See “Section 16 Explanations,” discussion #2, of Robert’s Rules of Poker) for more information on this rule.]
48. If the dealer turns the fourth card on the board before the betting round is complete, the card is taken out of play for that round, even if subsequent players elect to fold.
The betting is then completed.
The dealer burns and turns what would have been the fifth card in the fourth card’s place.
After this round of betting, the dealer reshuffles the deck, including the card that was taken out of play, but not including the burn cards or discards.
The dealer then cuts the deck and turns the final card without burning a card.
If the fifth card is turned up prematurely, the deck is reshuffled and dealt in the same manner. [See “Section 16 Explanations,” discussion #2, of Roberts Rules of poker, for more information on this rule.]
49. If the dealer mistakenly deals the first player an extra card (after all players have received their starting hands), the card will be returned to the deck and used for the burn card.
50. To win a pot you must show both your cards.
Showing one but discarding the other will cause a player to lose the pot.
PLAYING THE BOARD. A player must declare they want to play the five community cards (play the board) and show both hole cards face up.
If a player discards their hand, they relinquish their claim to the pot.