3 SEASONS POKER
TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER LEAGUE
RULES (revised 11/08/08)
All players agree to abide by these game rules. Whilst it is our intention to promote, manage and create a fun and friendly environment for all people wishing to play Texas Hold’Em poker, these rules are intended as a guideline for players and may be changed or amended at any time without notice by 3Seasons Poker for the good of the game and the fairness to other players.
GENERAL RULES
Mobile phones may not be used at any time during play. If a player wishes to receive an incoming call or make an outgoing call then they must leave the table. The sending of text messages to another player is strictly forbidden.
3Seasons Poker reserves the right to cancel or alter any event without prior notice.
All monies for the weekly league games must be paid prior to any player taking their seat.
All monies due for any 3seasons tournament must be paid a minimum of 3 days before the event.
The management reserves the right to make a decision in the spirit of fairness, even when a strict interpretation of the rule may indicate a different ruling.
The venue manager’s decision will be final in any playing disputes.
In the event of circumstances beyond the control of 3Seasons Poker causing the evening to be abandoned then any completed sessions will stand, partially completed league sessions will be deemed to be null and void regardless of the number of players remaining.
VENUE RULES
The management, landlord or landlady, licensee or venue manager reserves the right to refuse any person entry into their venue to play poker.
Any person believed to be significantly intoxicated, under the influence of non-prescribed, performance enhancing or recreational drugs, will not be permitted to play in any session of poker.
Any act deemed to be aggressive towards another player, member of staff or the venue manager will result in the member being evicted from the venue and banned from the league.
All monies are to be kept off the table at all times.
Poker chips have no monetary value.
We do not endorse gambling at any of our league poker evenings and remind players that should they wish to partake in any form of betting then it is only permitted within the constraints of the gaming laws.
Any member found to be cheating, giving or receiving chips not directly played for, or by re-entering a game having been already knocked-out will be expelled from the league and any points earned will be forfeited
Smoking is now illegal in confined public places and is therefore not permitted whilst playing poker, however, 3Seasons will endeavour to provide sufficient breaks but should a smoker choose to take an unofficial break from the table then their hand and any blinds will be mucked immediately after the hole cards have been dealt.
Due to the high number of spillages it is now our policy that drinks are not kept on the playing table.
Eating is not permitted at and plates are not allowed to be left on the poker table.
BASIC PLAYING RULES, TEXAS HOLD 'EM (NO LIMIT)
Each player receives two cards dealt face-down as their personal hand, these are known as the hole or pocket cards and each player may only see his or her cards. This is followed with a round of betting and is called the “Pre-Flop” round.
Three community cards, known as “The Flop”, are then dealt face-up to the table, these are cards that a player may use with their own hand. Another round of betting ensues.
Another community card is dealt face-up to the table and this is referred to as “The Turn” card or “Fourth Street”, and another round of betting follows.
A final card is dealt face-up to the table, this being known as “The River” card or “Fifth Street” and a final round of betting takes place.
At the end of the betting all the remaining players reveal their personal cards, this being “The Showdown”
The player with the best possible ranking hand, which is any five card combination of the community cards and their hand, wins “The Pot”.
“No Limit” is the name of the game and any player may bet any amount of chips ranging from the “Big Blind” up to the value of their chip stack.
ADDITIONAL PLAYING RULES
All hands are self-dealt, excepting where a non-player offers their services and the remaining players at the table have no objection to the ‘celebrity’ dealing.
Once all players are present and seated, they will each draw a card for the deal with the highest card winning. In the event of a tie the suit countdown will apply, this being spades as the highest, followed by hearts, diamonds and then clubs. The winning draw will take the dealer button.
The dealer will shuffle the cards a minimum of three times and offer the pack to their immediate left for cutting. The cards must be cut before dealing and the cutting of the cards signifies the hand is now in play, any new players joining the table may not take a hand from this point.
The player to the left of the dealer will post the small blind and the player to the left of the small blind will post the big blind. The blinds must be posted prior to the dealing of cards.
Cards are to be dealt in a clockwise direction starting with the player to the left of the dealer. Cards will be dealt one at a time. Once the two hole cards have been dealt, no further cards should be burned, dealt or turned until all betting has been completed. Players may only play with the correct number of cards in their hand. The hand will be void and mucked along with any blind or bets placed, unless the player announces to the dealer prior to any action being taken that a misdeal has occurred and all cards are returned, reshuffled and dealt again. Action is deemed to have taken place when 3 or more players have checked or when a player has placed a bet.
It is recommended that a player uses a card guard as this offers protection to their cards from accidents that may happen e.g. another player throws their cards onto the muck pile but they skim over and land on your hole cards, under casino rules your cards would be mucked unless they were protected. A card guard may take the form of any object but must not cover the cards to the point of making then hidden, a poker chip would make a very suitable card guard.
All cards and poker chips must be kept on the playing table and visible to all players and at all times.
Poker chips must not be removed from the table during any form of break. The only exception to chips being taken off the table is when a player is being moved and their chips accompany them, or a chip-up is actioned.
A player that has acted immediately after a player who has their cards hidden will not be penalised for their action and may amend their action accordingly, excepting where they have mucked their cards, these may not be retrieved.
A misdeal is called if the first or second hole card dealt is exposed. If any other hole card is exposed during the deal then the deal continues, the exposed card cannot be kept and after completing the deal the dealer replaces the exposed card with the top card from the deck. The exposed card is taken and returned to the top of the pack to take the place as the first burn card.
Incorrect procedure by the dealer will be deemed a misdeal, this could be failure to cut the cards, shuffle properly or dealing to the wrong player first.
A round of betting will commence prior to the flop being dealt, starting with the player to the left of the big blind and continues round in a clockwise direction until coming back to the big blind player, this person may check or raise the bet. Another round of betting will commence prior to the turn card, this time starting with the person immediately left of the dealer, then again before the river card and once more after the river card.
A player may not fold, call, check or raise any bet out of turn.
A player wishing to raise must bet to twice the big blind or greater and subsequent players wishing to raise the bet further must bet twice the incoming bet or greater.
The opening bet on any new round of betting must be either equal to the big blind or at least twice the big blind or greater.
A player must make a verbal call to declare their intended action and this call is binding.
A player that checks out of turn may only check or call any preceding bet, upon their actual turn to act they cannot make a new bet or raise any bet placed for that betting round only.
A player may go all-in at any time they choose as long as it is called in turn. When a player is “All In” the action passes to the next participating player. When betting has concluded due to one or more players being “All In” and no further chips are available for betting then the cards are turned “On Their Backs” prior to the completion of the deal.
If a player bets or calls “All In” out of turn then this player may only check or call the preceding bet and is prohibited from creating action for the rest of the hand.
A player that is “All-In” may only win the same amount of chips that they have bet from the blinds or bets from each calling player.
Any excess chips from a player calling an “All-In” player to the next raise level that is not subsequently called by another player will automatically win those chips, e.g. blinds are 5000/10000, player moves all-in for 4000, next player raises to 20000, both small and big blinds fold, player that bets wins 1000 from small blind and 6000 from big blind and takes back the excess chips of 16000, another example, blinds are 5000/10000, player moves all-in for 4000, small blind folds giving 4000 to the pot and 1000 as an automatic win to the big blind who takes back 6000.
Under-raising is not supported at 3seasons. If a player making an “All-In” bet that invokes a raise that is less than the current raise in play, an “Under-raise” then calling players must call the next minimum raise level, e.g. blinds are 400/800, player goes “All-In” with 1300 chips, then to call the bet will be 1600. Should only one player call then the 300 excess chips are returned to the caller. Should two or more players call the bet then a side-pot will be created between those players containing the 300 chips from each caller. Betting may continue between players involved in the side-pot. There may be hands with multiple “All-Ins” and side-pots resulting in different winning hands for each pot – should assistance be required in controlling this event then call for the Venue Manager.
Upon a showdown the player making the last bet should be the first to expose their cards followed by each caller in turn.
If the hand is completed before all the community cards are dealt then the remaining balance of the community cards are not allowed to be shown (known as rabbit hunting).
Rapping the table is deemed to be a check (beware when tapping or drumming as this can be construed as a check).
String betting is not permitted, any placing of chips must be made in a single motion and not counted onto the table excepting where an “All In” has already been called.
Unless a raise is verbally declared before the placing of a single chip then it is deemed to be a call only, any change due will be returned to the player.
If a player places a multiple of chips in a single motion that can be construed as a single bet denoting their obvious intention to raise, then the raise may be permitted. However, a player should declare their intended actions verbally before making such an action and this would dispel any issue before it arises.
Players making a bet must place their chips directly in front of them and not into the pot. Any chips thrown into the pot are deemed to be mucked and must be reinvested by the player. Chips are only pushed into the centre of the table or the existing pot upon the dealer declaring that the “Pot’s good – Chips in”.
The top card from the deck will be burned each time before subsequently dealing the flop, the turn and the river cards.
The flop will be dealt one card at a time.
If the flop contains too many cards then it must be re-dealt. If the flop cards need to be re-dealt then the board cards are collected and mixed with the remainder of the pack. The burn cards remain in place and are left on the table. The cards are shuffled, cut and a new flop is dealt without burning any cards.
If any community cards are exposed in error prior to the completion of the round of betting then these cards will be returned to the pack, any cards already burned remain burned, the pack must be reshuffled and then re-cut before dealing recommences. The betting will be completed before any further cards are dealt.
If a burn card fails to be dealt prior to the flop, turn or river cards being shown and action has subsequently taken place then the board cards stand. Any error may only be corrected prior to the first player to act stating their intentions.
If a player mucks their cards unintentionally or inadvertently exposes their pocket cards prior to a showdown then they forfeit their right to the pot to the highest live hand.
Once cards are mucked (folded) they must not be revisited.
The burn cards and the muck pile must be kept separate until the hand has been completed.
If the pack is accidentally dropped at any stage after the hole cards have been dealt causing one or more cards to be exposed then the cards must be re-shuffled and re-cut before any community cards are dealt, the hole cards stand. If the dropped pack has landed in such a manner as to make it easy to recover the cards and the order they were in without any cards being exposed, then the deal stands.
To win the pot in hands where betting has been concluded and a showdown has been reached then the winning hand must be exposed. If a player mucks their cards unintentionally then they forfeit the pot to the highest live hand.
Upon a showdown, any player at the table may request to see the hand of any losing player.
Upon a showdown, any player may point out the winning hand if that hand has been under called.
Players should not discuss their folded cards whilst the current pot is live.
Tables are to be kept evenly balanced and this may cause a player to be moved from one table to another to permit this. A general rule would be to take the last dealer from one table and place them immediately behind the dealer button of the table they join. Players being moved from one table to another will not be placed into a position that causes them to take the blinds any earlier than at the point that they left the previous table, this circumstance is apparent when a table is being broken down as it can be unfair to other players if a person being moved is allowed to skip the blinds. Should two or more players be moved then the players must remain in the same playing order as they were on the table they have vacated. Should three players be moved to a new table then all players will re-draw for the deal.
Players being moved to play on the “Final table” will re-draw for the deal. This may cause a player to take successive blinds but this is deemed to be the luck of the draw.
A player showing their pocket cards to any person at the table that is still in the hand will have their hand mucked but must first show them to everyone at the table so that no advantage is gained by the one player seeing the cards.
A player that shows their hand to another player after the hand has been completed must also show them to everyone at the table, “Show one – Show all”.
A player is not permitted to show their hand and seek advice on how to play the hand. If any advice is given then the hand will be mucked regardless.
A player mistakenly calling a bet by putting chips of a lesser amount into the pot may either retrieve their chips or make it up to the full amount unless their action has caused someone else to act. Then they must make up the difference and continue in the pot or discard their hand and forfeit any chips in the pot.
A player may be given a reasonable amount of time to make a betting decision. A player who is felt by the other players at the table to be taking an unreasonable amount of time to act may, at the discretion of the venue manager and upon the display of the blind timer, be put “On the clock” and then that person will be given ten seconds to make a decision, after which their hand will be declared dead.
An absent player must be dealt a hand and post any blind that is due at that time. If a player is absent from the table immediately upon completing the deal of the pocket cards then their cards along with any blind will be mucked. Should it become the absent players turn to deal then the previous dealer will resume the deal.
Only the dealer is allowed to touch the muck pile and any chips in the pot. Should any assistance be required to split the pot then call for the venue manager.
A player who knows that they are going to be late may make arrangements with the venue manager to be “Blinded-In”. In so doing, the member agrees to pay the entrance fee regardless of what time they arrive. The player will have another player assume the responsibility of dealing on their behalf, folding the cards and ensuring the blinds are posted.
Players arriving late without having given notice will be short chipped, this will be the full starting amount less 3x the current big blind. Players may not join a game once the 200-400 blind has started. The player will be seated behind the current dealer upon arrival and may play immediately
No player may join either session late if another player has already been knocked-out from the game unless they are already being blinded-in.
Only players notifying the venue manager of their late arrival prior to the commencement of the second session will be permitted to play.
Should the player in the small blind position be eliminated then the dealer button moves to the empty position and the person behind the button becomes the dealer for the eliminated player as a “Phantom dealer”.
Should the player that is the big blind be eliminated from the game then the next hand will carry a phantom small blind, this ensures that the blinds are not skipped. In the event of a player being eliminated on the hand prior to their becoming the big blind then the blind will move to the next player. There will always be a big blind in play.
A player can not be the big blind in consecutive hands. Should a situation arise on the final table where this could potentially be the case then the dealer button moves straight to this person making them the small blind.
Any “Chipping-Up” will be at the discretion of the Venue Manager. Chips will be rounded up to the smallest chip value still in play.
When a player has lost all their chips they are eliminated and must sign-out in order that any points may be awarded.
If a table is reduced to three players only, excepting “Final Table”, then play must stop at that table.
As players are eliminated then the Venue Manager will consolidate the remaining players over the remaining tables to maintain an even balance of play.
If two or more players are eliminated from the same hand, then the player with the least chips takes the lower position. In the event of there being a tie, then the person with the lowest ranked hand will take the lowest finishing position.
Accidents can and will happen, a drink gets spilled over the table whilst a hand is in play, the dealer inadvertently drops the cards, a player loses some chips on the floor. Should any player be involved in a situation that is not directly covered by these rules then the venue manager will make a ruling that is for the good of the game and is fair to all the players involved. We remind all our players that 3Seasons is an amateur poker league that promotes the fun, friendly and social aspects of playing Texas Hold’Em poker.
Poker Etiquette
The following actions are deemed to be improper and are grounds for warning, suspending, or expelling a member:
Deliberately acting out of turn.
Deliberately splashing chips into the pot.
Agreeing to check-out a hand out when a third player is all-in.
Needlessly stalling the action of a game.
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, for example, discussing the contents of your hand or your mucked cards whilst the hand is in play. This would also include passing information across the table such as “I am playing my/your favourite hand”.