Aces
& Eights
No
Limit Texas Hold'em
Tournament
House Rules
General
'Robert's Rules' shall be used unless otherwise noted in the House Rules. House rules have precedence in all cases
At any time players in the hand ONLY may agree on any changes specific to that hand. The change will be in force until the pot is awarded. The change must be unanimously agreed by all players in the hand. The house has the right to veto any change.
At any time before a hand is dealt, all players in the game may agree on any changes to the game. The change will be in force until some other agreement is reached. The change must be unanimously agreed by all players in the game. The house has the right to veto any change.
The blind and ante structure will be announced by the house prior to the start of the game
The prize and/or payout structure will be announced by the house when all players have received their chip stacks and prior to the start of the game
Players must be seated before the nominated start time to receive their chip stacks
Where there is a buy in for the tournament, players must buy in prior to taking their seat. Cash only is accepted for the buy in
Play will continue until one player has won all the chips in play. Or until the players remaining agree to end the game. Prize/payout splitting it purely at the discretion of the remaining players.
The house does not extend credit
The house does not take a rake, fee, chip/chair rental or any other form of payment
The house principle is 'fairness to all players'. Where exceptions to rules occur, the matter will be settled by the action deemed fairest to all players.
Seating
The first dealer will be selected by the high card dealt to all players.
Blinds
The player to the left of the dealer will pay the small blind
The player to the left of the small blind will pay the big blind
Where the next dealer and/or small blind are eliminated, there may be a phantom small blind and/or dealer
Where the next big blind is eliminated, the next player to the left becomes the big blind
Where play is down to two players, the dealer button is always the small blind
Dealing
The dealer will shuffle the cards. The player to the right of the dealer will cut the cards, placing the cut portion of the deck onto a cut card
It is considerate if all players assist the dealer by suspending action to point out errors or discrepancies
Pushing cards forward towards is centre of the table is a fold
Folded cards can not be retrieved or used for further play
An exposed card when players have one card or less is a misdeal and the hand will be re-dealt
An exposed card when one or more players have two cards is shown to the table, dealing continues until all players have two cards. The player with the exposed card may elect to keep the card or be dealt another card. If they are dealt another card, the exposed card is then placed face down on the deck and used as the first burn card.
If a community card is exposed prior to the action being completed, the card remains as is. It will not be burned.
If a burn card or a mucked card is exposed, the card is made available to the table. The hand is not re-dealt
If a player is shown a better hand, he is not required to reveal his cards
Betting
Check-raising is allowed
There is no betting cap on any round
A player may bet all their chips and call All-In at any time
Bets made out of turn are binding
Verbally announcing an action is binding. Where more than one mutually exclusive actions are announced, the first action announced is the action that must be taken
If a player mucks cards or folds before the river card is dealt or before the pot is awarded, that players hand is dead and they forfeit any claim on the pot
String bets are not allowed
A raise must be at least the size of the previous bet, except where the raise is all-in
Don't splash the pot. Don't splash the pot when betting either
When only Players all-in remain all players hands must be revealed
In the case of a split pot where the amount is not evenly divisible, the player to the left of the dealer gets the extra chip
Etiquette
Use the side tables for drinks to avoid spillage on the card table
Criticism, abuse or offensive behaviour towards other players, the dealer or the house will require immediate payment of a fine of one big blind to all players
Cards may not be removed from the table area (ie, held below the table or moved past the edge of the table)
Chips may not be removed from the table, except by the house during chip-ups
The chips a player has should be visible to other players at all times, high value chips out front
Making change from the pot is ok, but spread the chips so all players have a chance to double check them before you return them to your stack
Don't slow roll cards
No silent cutting of the cheese. Cheese cutting should be 'loud and proud'. A fine of one big blind paid into the current pot may be levied on the cheese cutter at the discretion of all players.
No smoking, spitting or kicking the dog
Where a player has been called on the river, both cards must be revealed
Do not discuss a hand you are not involved in
When not in a hand, limit your conversation so as not to distract the players in the hand
There is no requirement for players in the hand to lie about or tell the truth about their hand
Any player may reveal one or more hole cards at any time
No criticizing another player who is not your spouse
Revealed cards must be shown to all players
Never reveal another player's mucked cards
Everyone has to handle the chips and the cards. Your cleanliness and personal hygiene is appreciated
Other
A player leaving the table, or the game, will still have cards dealt and blinds removed in their absence. Their cards will be folded in turn by the dealer. Their cards will be folded when they are the big blind, even if there are no raises. If there are no callers, the small blind shall win the big blind. If there is no small blind, the big blind will be returned to the absent player for that hand.
Firearms must be checked in at the door
No fights allowed until side bets have been placed
A Smith & Wesson beats five aces – no cheating
The value of a hand speaks for itself (the cards speak)
All actions should be verbally announced
Players should assist identifying miscalled hands such as missed straights, flushes, full house etc. However once the hand is awarded, there is no going back