[psychodave]

Professional poker players Marcel Luske, “The Flying Dutchman,” and Michelle Lau will introduce The Federation Internationale de Poker Association (FIDPA) and “The International Poker Rules” (IP Rules), for tournament play, to promote poker as a sport and unite the poker industry on a global level. Its a little early to say but from all I gather most of the rules they are going to be using are as follows.... Any changes in the future and I will update as needed.

ROBERT’S RULES OF POKER

VERSION 11

“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

Welcome to our 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(1) PROPER BEHAVIOR .........................1

Conduct Code 1

Poker Etiquette 1

Tobacco Use 2

(2) HOUSE POLICIES ...............................3

Decision-Making 3
Procedures 3
Seating 6

(3) GENERAL POKER RULES ................8

The Buy-In 8

Misdeals 8

Dead Hands 9

Irregularities 9

Betting and Raising 11

The Showdown 13

Ties 14

(4) BUTTON AND BLIND USE ...............16

(5) HOLDEM ............................................19

(6) OMAHA .................................................21

(7) OMAHA HIGH-LOW ..........................22

( SEVEN-CARD STUD ...........................23

(9) SEVEN-CARD STUD LOW (RAZZ) ..26
(10) SEVEN-CARD STUD HIGH-LOW ....27

(11) LOWBALL ............................................28

Ace-to-five Lowball 30
Deuce-to-seven Lowball 31
No-limit and Pot-limit Lowball 32

(12) DRAW HIGH .......................................33

The Joker 34

(13) KILL POTS ..........................................35

(14) NO-LIMIT AND POT-LIMIT ...........37

Pot-limit 40

(15) TOURNAMENTS ...............................41

(16) EXPLANATIONS ...............................45

GLOSSARY ........................................48

SECTION 1 - PROPER BEHAVIOR
CONDUCT CODE

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.

Softplaying by refusing to bet against a certain opponent whenever heads-up.

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

(These rules are for an establishment that does not completely bar smoking.)

The seat on each side of the dealer is a nonsmoking seat.

Cigar or pipe smoking is not allowed in the cardroom.

Smoking by a guest or spectator is not 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. Collections (seat rental fees) are paid in advance. In all time-collection games, the dealer is

required to pick up the collection from each player before dealing. A player not wishing to pay collection

may play one courtesy hand in stud, and may play until the blind in button games, provided no one is waiting

for the game. If there is more than one person on the list for that game when the collection becomes due,

everyone must pay collection. A new player is not required to pay if there is either no list or only one

person waiting.

5. Cash is not allowed on the table. All cash should be changed into chips in order to play. If a player

seems unaware of this rule and tries to play unnoticed cash that was on the table during a pot, the dealer

may let the cash play if no one in the pot objects, then have all the cash changed into chips after the hand.

Any chips from another cardroom are not permitted on the table, do not play in the game, and when found will

be treated similarly 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 in the next rule). Only the chips in front

of a player at the start of a deal may play for that hand, except for chips not yet received that a player

has purchased. The amount bought must be announced to the table, or only the amount of the minimum buy-in

plays. Awareness of the amount being in play for each opponent is an important part of poker. All chips and

money must be kept in plain view.

9. "Playing behind" is allowed only for the amount of purchased chips while awaiting their arrival. The

amount in play must be announced to the table, or only the amount of the minimum buy-in plays.

10. Playing out of a rack is not allowed.

11. Permission is required before taking a seat in a game.

12. Playing over without permission from the floorperson is not allowed. A playover box is required.

Permission from the absent player is not necessary.

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.

SEATING

1. You must be present to add your name to a waiting list.

2. It is the player’s responsibility to be in the playing area and hear the list being called. A player

who intends to leave the playing area should notify the list-person, and can leave money for a lockup. The

lockup amount is $20.

3. When there is more than one game of the same stakes and poker form, and a must-move is not being used,

the house will control the seating of new players to best preserve the viability of existing games. A new

player will be sent to the game most in need of an additional player. A transfer to a similar game is not

allowed if the game being left will then have fewer players than the game being entered.

4. A player may not hold a seat in more than one game.

5. The house reserves the right to require that any two players not play in the same game (husband and

wife, relatives, business partners, and so forth).

6. When a button game starts, active players will draw a card for the button position. The button will be

awarded to the highest card by suit for all high and high-low games, and to the lowest card by suit for all

low games.

7. To avoid a seating dispute, a supervisor may decide to start the game with one extra player over the

normal number. If so, a seat will be removed as soon as someone quits the game.

8. In a new game, the player who arrives at the table the earliest gets first choice of remaining seats.

If two players want the same seat and arrive at the same time, the higher player on the list has preference.

A player playing a pot in another game may have a designated seat locked up until that hand is finished.

Management may reserve a certain seat for a player for a good reason, such as to assist reading the board for

a person with a vision problem.

9. To protect an existing game, a forced move may be invoked when an additional game of the same type and

limit is started. The must-move list is maintained in the same order as the original waiting list. If a

player refuses to move into the main game, that player will be forced to quit, and cannot play in the

must-move game or get on that list for one hour.

10. In all button games, a player going from a must-move game to the main game may play until due for the

big blind. The player must then enter the game as a new player, and may either post an amount equal to the

big blind or wait for the big blind. In all stud games, a player may play only one more hand before moving.

11. You must play in a new game or must-move game to retain your place on the list, if with your playing

there would be three or fewer empty seats.

12. A player who is already in the game has precedence over a new player for any seat when it becomes

available. However, no change will occur after a new player has been seated, or after that player’s buy-in or

marker has been placed on the table, unless that particular seat had been previously requested. For players

already in the game, the one who asks the earliest has preference for a seat change.

13. In all button games, a player voluntarily locking up a seat in another game must move immediately if

there is a waiting list of two or more names for the seat being vacated, except that the player is entitled

to play the button if a blind has already been taken. Otherwise, a player may play up to the blind before

moving. In a stud game, a player changing tables may play only the present hand if someone is waiting for the

seat being vacated, or one more hand when no one is waiting.

14. When a game breaks, each player may draw a card to determine the seating order for a similar game. The

floorperson draws a card for an absent player. If the card entitles the absent player to an immediate seat,

the player has until due for the big blind in a button game to take the seat (two hands in a stud game), and

will be put first up on the list if not back in time.

SECTION 3 - GENERAL POKER RULES

THE BUY-IN

1. When you enter a game, you must make a full buy-in. At limit poker, a full buy-in is at least ten

times the maximum bet for the game being played, unless designated otherwise.

2. You are allowed to make only one short buy-in for a game. Adding to your stack is not considered a

buy-in, and may be done in any quantity between hands.

3. A player coming from a broken game or must-move game to a game of the same limit may continue to play

the same amount of money, even if it is less than the minimum buy-in. A player switching games voluntarily

must have the proper buy-in size for the new game. A player switching games is not required to buy in for any

more than the minimum amount.

MISDEALS

1. Once action begins, a misdeal cannot be called. The deal will be played, and no money will be returned

to any player whose hand is fouled. In button games, action is considered to occur when two players after the

blinds have acted on their hands. In stud games, action is considered to occur when two players after the

forced bet have acted on their hands.

2. The following circumstances cause a misdeal, provided attention is called to the error before two

players have acted on their hands.

(a) The first or second card of the hand has been exposed by a dealer error.

(b) Two or more cards have been exposed by the dealer.

(c) Two or more boxed cards (improperly faced cards) are found.

(d) Two or more extra cards have been dealt in the starting hands of a game.

(e) An incorrect number of cards has been dealt to a player, except the top card may be dealt if it goes to

the player in proper sequence.

(f) Any card has been dealt out of the proper sequence (except an exposed card may be replaced by the

burncard).

(g) The button was out of position.

(h) The first card was dealt to the wrong position.

(i) Cards have been dealt to an empty seat or a player not entitled to a hand.

(j) A player has been dealt out who is entitled to a hand. This player must be present at the table or

have posted a blind or ante.
DEAD HANDS

1. Your hand is declared dead if:

(a) You fold or announce that you are folding when facing a bet or a raise.

(b) You throw your hand away in a forward motion causing another player to act behind you (even if not facing

a bet).

(c) In stud, when facing a bet, you pick your upcards off the table, turn your upcards facedown, or mix your

upcards and downcards together.

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

missing the final card may be ruled live, and at lowball and draw high a hand with too few cards before the

draw is live). [See Section 16 - “Explanations,” discussion #4, for more information on the stud portion of

this rule.]

(e) You act on a hand with a joker as a holecard in a game not using a joker. (A player who acts on a hand

without looking at a card assumes the liability of finding an improper card, as given in Irregularities, rule

#8.)

(f) You have the clock on you when facing a bet or raise and exceed the specified time limit.

2. Cards thrown into the muck may be ruled dead. However, a hand that is clearly identifiable may be

retrieved and ruled live at management’s discretion if doing so is in the best interest of the game. An extra

effort should be made to rule a hand retrievable if it was folded as a result of incorrect information given

to the player.

3. Cards thrown into another player’s hand are dead, whether they are faceup or facedown.

IRREGULARITIES

1. In button games, if it is discovered that the button was placed incorrectly on the previous hand, the

button and blinds will be corrected for the new hand in a manner that gives every player one chance for each

position on the round (if possible).

2. You must protect your own hand at all times. Your cards may be protected with your hands, a chip, or

other object placed on top of them. If you fail to protect your hand, you will have no redress if it becomes

fouled or the dealer accidentally kills it.

3. If a card with a different color back appears during a hand, all action is void and all chips in the

pot are returned to the respective bettors. If a card with a different color back is discovered in the stub,

all action stands.

4. If two cards of the same rank and suit are found, all action is void, and all chips in the pot are

returned to the players who wagered them (subject to next rule).

5. A player who knows the deck is defective has an obligation to point this out. If such a player instead

tries to win a pot by taking aggressive action (trying for a freeroll), the player may lose the right to a

refund, and the chips may be required to stay in the pot for the next deal.

6. If there is extra money in the pot on a deal as a result of forfeited money from the previous deal (as

per rule #5), or some similar reason, only a player dealt in on the previous deal is entitled to a hand.

7. A card discovered faceup in the deck (boxed card) will be treated as a meaningless scrap of paper. A

card being treated as a scrap of paper will be replaced by the next card below it in the deck, except when

the next card has already been dealt facedown to another player and mixed in with other downcards. In that

case, the card that was faceup in the deck will be replaced after all other cards are dealt for that round.

8. A joker that appears in a game where it is not used is treated as a scrap of paper. Discovery of a

joker does not cause a misdeal. If the joker is discovered before a player acts on his or her hand, it is

replaced as in the previous rule. If the player does not call attention to the joker before acting, then the

player has a dead hand.

9. If you play a hand without looking at all of your cards, you assume the liability of having an

irregular card or an improper joker.

10. One or more cards missing from the deck does not invalidate the results of a hand.

11. Before the first round of betting, if a dealer deals one additional card, it is returned to the deck

and used as the burncard.

12. Procedure for an exposed card varies with the poker form, and is given in the section for each game. A

card that is flashed by a dealer is treated as an exposed card. A card that is flashed by a player will play.

To obtain a ruling on whether a card was exposed and should be replaced, a player should announce that the

card was flashed or exposed before looking at it. A downcard dealt off the table is an exposed card.

13. If a card is exposed due to dealer error, a player does not have an option to take or reject the card.

The situation will be governed by the rules for the particular game being played.

14. If you drop any cards out of your hand onto the floor, you must still play them.

15. If the dealer prematurely deals any cards before the betting is complete, those cards will not play,

even if a player who has not acted decides to fold.

16. If the dealer fails to burn a card or burns more than one card, the error should be corrected if

discovered before betting action has started for that round. Once action has been taken on a boardcard, the

card must stand. Whether the error is able to be corrected or not, subsequent cards dealt should be those

that would have come if no error had occurred. For example, if two cards were burned, one of the cards should

be put back on the deck and used for the burncard on the next round. On the last round, if there was no

betting because a player was all-in, the error should be corrected if discovered before the pot has been

awarded, provided the deck stub, boardcards, and burncards are all sufficiently intact to determine the

proper replacement card.

17. If the deck stub gets fouled for some reason, such as the dealer believing the deal is over and dropping

the deck, the deal must still be played out, and the deck reconstituted in as fair a way as possible.

BETTING AND RAISING

1. The smallest chip that may be wagered in a game is the smallest chip used in the antes, blinds, rake,

or collection. (Certain games may use a special rule that does not allow chips used only in house revenue to

play.) Smaller chips than this do not play even in quantity, so a player wanting action on such chips must

change them up between deals. If betting is in dollar units or greater, a fraction of a dollar does not play.

A player going all-in must put all chips that play into the pot.

2. Check-raise is permitted in all games, except in certain forms of lowball.

3. In no-limit and pot-limit games, unlimited raising is allowed.

4. In limit poker, for a pot involving three or more players who are not all-in, these limits on raises

apply:

(a) A game with three or more betting rounds allows a maximum of a bet and three raises.

(b) A game with two betting rounds (such as lowball or draw) allows a maximum of a bet and four raises. [See

“Section 16 - Explanations,” discussion #6, for more information on this rule.]

5. Unlimited raising is allowed in heads-up play except in tournaments. This applies any time the action

becomes heads-up before the raising has been capped. Once the raising is capped on a betting round, it cannot

be uncapped by a subsequent fold that leaves two players heads-up. (For tournament play in limit events there

will be a limit to raises even when heads-up until the tournament is down to two players.)

6. Any wager not all-in must be at least the size of the previous bet or raise in that round.

7. In limit play, an all-in wager of less than half a bet does not reopen the betting for any player who

has already acted and is in the pot for all previous bets. A player who has not yet acted (or had the betting

reopened to him by another player’s action), facing an all-in wager of less than half a bet, may fold, call,

or complete the wager. An all-in wager of a half a bet or more is treated as a full bet, and a player may

fold, call, or make a full raise. (An example of a full raise on a $20 betting round is raising a $15 all-in

bet to $35.) Multiple all-in wagers, each of an amount too small to individually qualify as a raise, still

act as a raise and reopen the betting if the resulting wager size to a player qualifies as a raise.

8. In limit poker, if you make a forward motion with chips and thus cause another player to act, you may

be forced to complete your action.

9. A verbal statement in turn denotes your action, is binding, and takes precedence over a differing

physical action.

10. Rapping the table with your hand is a pass.

11. Deliberately acting out of turn will not be tolerated. A player who checks out of turn may not bet or

raise on the next turn to act. A player who has called out of turn may not change his wager to a raise on the

next turn to act. An action or verbal declaration out of turn is binding unless the action to that player is

subsequently changed by a bet or raise. If there is an intervening call, an action may be ruled binding.

12. To retain the right to act, a player must stop the action by calling “time” (or an equivalent word).

Failure to stop the action before three or more players have acted behind you may cause you to lose the right

to act. You cannot forfeit your right to act if any player in front of you has not acted, only if you fail to

act when it legally becomes your turn. Therefore, if you wait for someone whose turn comes before you, and

three or more players act behind you, this still does not hinder your right to act.

13. A player who bets or calls by releasing chips into the pot is bound by that action and must make the

amount of the wager correct. (This also applies right before the showdown when putting chips into the pot

causes the opponent to show the winning hand before the full amount needed to call has been put into the

pot.) However, if you are unaware that the pot has been raised, you may withdraw that money and reconsider

your action, provided that no one else has acted after you. At pot-limit or no-limit betting, if there is a

gross misunderstanding concerning the amount of the wager, see Section 14, Rule 8.

14. String raises are not allowed. The dealer should enforce obvious infractions to this string-raise law

without being asked. To protect your right to raise, you should either declare your intention verbally or

place the proper amount of chips into the pot. Putting a full bet plus a half-bet or more into the pot is

considered to be the same as announcing a raise, and the raise must be completed. (This does not apply in the

use of a single chip of greater value.)

15. If you put a single chip in the pot that is larger than the bet, but do not announce a raise, you are

assumed to have only called. Example: In a $3-$6 game, when a player bets $6 and the next player puts a $25

chip in the pot without saying anything, that player has merely called the $6 bet.

16. All wagers and calls of an improperly low amount must be brought up to proper size if the error is

discovered before the betting round has been completed. This includes actions such as betting a lower amount

than the minimum bring-in (other than going all-in) and betting the lower limit on an upper limit betting

round. If a wager is supposed to be made in a rounded off amount, is not, and must be corrected, it shall be

changed to the proper amount nearest in size. No one who has acted may change a call to a raise because the

wager size has been changed.

THE SHOWDOWN

1. To win any part of a pot, a player must show all of his cards faceup on the table, whether they were

used in the final hand played or not.

2. Cards speak (cards read for themselves). The dealer assists in reading hands, but players are

responsible for holding onto their cards until the winner is declared. Although verbal declarations as to the

contents of a hand are not binding, deliberately miscalling a hand with the intent of causing another player

to discard a winning hand is unethical and may result in forfeiture of the pot. (For more information on

miscalling a hand see “Section 11 - Lowball,” Rule 15 and Rule 16.)

3. Any player, dealer, or floorperson who sees an incorrect amount of chips put into the pot, or an error

about to be made in awarding a pot, has an ethical obligation to point out the error. Please help keep

mistakes of this nature to a minimum.

4. All losing hands will be killed by the dealer before a pot is awarded.

5. Any player who has been dealt in may request to see any hand that was eligible to participate in the

showdown, even if the opponent's hand or the winning hand has been mucked. However, this is a privilege that

may be revoked if abused. If a player other than the pot winner asks to see a hand that has been folded, that

hand is dead. If the winning player asks to see a losing player’s hand, both hands are live, and the best

hand wins.

6. Show one, show all. Players are entitled to receive equal access to information about the contents of

another player’s hand. After a deal, if cards are shown to another player, every player at the table has a

right to see those cards. During a deal, cards that were shown to an active player who might have a further

wagering decision on that betting round must immediately be shown to all the other players. If the player who

saw the cards is not involved in the deal, or cannot use the information in wagering, the information should

be withheld until the betting is over, so it does not affect the normal outcome of the deal. Cards shown to a

person who has no more wagering decisions on that betting round, but might use the information on a later

betting round, should be shown to the other players at the conclusion of that betting round. If only a

portion of the hand has been shown, there is no requirement to show any of the unseen cards. The shown cards

are treated as given in the preceding part of this rule.

7. If there is a side pot, the winner of that pot should be decided before the main pot is awarded. If

there are multiple side pots, they are decided and awarded by having the pot with the players starting the

deal with the greatest number of chips settled first, and so forth.

8. If everyone checks (or is all-in) on the final betting round, the player who acted first is the first

to show the hand. If there is wagering on the final betting round, the last player to take aggressive action

by a bet or raise is the first to show the hand. In order to speed up the game, a player holding a probable

winner is encouraged to show the hand without delay. If there are one or more side pots (because someone is

all-in), players are asked to aid in determining the pot winner by not showing their cards until a pot they

are in is being settled. A player may opt to throw his hand away after all the betting for the deal is over,

rather than compete to win the pot. However, the other players do not lose the right to request the hand be

shown if he does so.

TIES

1. The ranking of suits from highest to lowest is spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs. Suits never break a

tie for winning a pot. Suits are used to break a tie between cards of the same rank (no redeal or redraw).

2. Dealing a card to each player is used to determine things like who moves to another table. If the

cards are dealt, the order is clockwise starting with the first player on the dealer’s left (the button

position is irrelevant). Drawing a card is used to determine things like who gets the button in a new game,

or seating order coming from a broken game.

3. An odd chip will be broken down to the smallest unit used in the game.

4. No player may receive more than one odd chip.

5. If two or more hands tie, an odd chip will be awarded as follows:

(a) In a button game, the first hand clockwise from the button gets the odd chip.

(b) In a stud game, the odd chip will be given to the highest card by suit in all high games, and to the

lowest card by suit in all low games. (When making this determination, all cards are used, not just the five

cards that constitute the player's hand.)

(c) In high-low split games, the high hand receives the odd chip in a split between the high and the low

hands. The odd chip between tied high hands is awarded as in a high game of that poker form, and the odd chip

between tied low hands is awarded as in a low game of that poker form. If two players have identical hands,

the pot will be split as evenly as possible.

(d) All side pots and the main pot will be split as separate pots, not mixed together.

SECTION 4 - BUTTON AND BLIND USE

In button games, a non-playing dealer normally does the actual dealing. A round disk called the button is

used to indicate which player has the dealer position. The player with the button is last to receive cards on

the initial deal and has the right of last action on all but the first betting round. The button moves one

seat clockwise after a deal ends to rotate the advantage of last action. One or more blind bets are usually

used to stimulate action and initiate play. Blinds are posted before the players look at their cards. Blinds

are part of a player’s bet (unless a certain structure or situation specifies otherwise). A blind other than

the big blind may be treated as dead (not part of the poster’s bet) in some structures, as when a special

additional "dead blind" for the collection is specified by a cardroom. With two blinds, the small blind is

posted by the first player clockwise from the button and the big blind is posted by the second player

clockwise from the button. With more than two blinds, the smallest blind is normally left of the button (not

on it). On the initial betting round, action starts with the first player to the left of the blinds. On all

subsequent betting rounds, the action starts with the first active player to the left of the button.

RULES FOR USING BLINDS

1. The minimum bring-in and allowable raise sizes for the opener are specified by the poker form used

and blind amounts set for a game. They remain the same even when the player in the blind does not have enough

chips to post the full amount.

2. Each round every player must get an opportunity for the button, and meet the total amount of the

blind obligations. Either of the following methods of button and blind placement may be designated to do

this:

(a) Moving button – The button always moves forward to the next player and the blinds adjust accordingly.

There may be more than one big blind.

(b) Dead button – The big blind is posted by the player due for it, and the small blind and button are

positioned accordingly, even if this means the small blind or the button is placed in front of an empty seat,

giving the same player the privilege of last action on consecutive hands. [See “Section 16 – Explanations,”

discussion #1, for more information on this rule.]

3. In heads-up play with two blinds, the small blind is on the button. When play becomes heads-up, the

player who had the big blind the most recently is given the button, and his opponent is given the big blind.

4. A new player entering the game has the following options:

(a) Wait for the big blind.

(b) Post an amount equal to the big blind and immediately be dealt a hand. (In lowball, a new player must

either post an amount double the big blind or wait for the big blind.)

5. A new player who elects to let the button go by once without posting is not treated as a player in the

game who has missed a blind, and needs to post only the big blind when entering the game.

6. A person playing over is considered to be a new player, and must post the amount of the big blind or

wait for the big blind.

7. A new player cannot be dealt in between the big blind and the button. Blinds may not be made up

between the big blind and the button. You must wait until the button passes. [See “Section 16 –

Explanations,” discussion #5, for more information on this rule.]

8. Chips posted by the big blind are treated as a bet.

9. A player posting a blind in the game’s regular structure has the option of raising the pot at the first

turn to act. This option to raise is retained if someone goes all-in with a wager of less than the minimum

raise.

10. A player who misses any or all blinds can resume play by either posting all the blinds missed or

waiting for the big blind. If you choose to post the total amount of the blinds, an amount up to the size of

the minimum opening bet is live. The remainder is taken by the dealer to the center of the pot and is not

part of your bet. When it is your next turn to act, you have the option to raise.

11. If a player who owes a blind (as a result of a missed blind) is dealt in without posting, the hand is

dead if the player looks at it before putting up the required chips, and has not yet acted. If the player

acts on the hand and plays it, putting chips into the pot before the error is discovered, the hand is live,

and the player is required to post on the next deal.

12. A player who goes all-in and loses is obligated to make up the blinds if they are missed before a rebuy

is made. (The person is not treated as a new player when reentering.)

13. These rules about blinds apply to a newly started game:

(a) Any player who drew for the button is considered active in the game and is required to make up any missed

blinds.

(b) A new player will not be required to post a blind until the button has made one complete revolution

around the table, provided a blind has not yet passed that seat.

(c) A player may change seats without penalty, provided a blind has not yet passed the new seat.

14. If you move closer to the big blind, you can be dealt in without any penalty.

15. In all multiple-blind games, a player who changes seats will be dealt in on the first available hand in

the same relative position. Example: If you move two active positions away from the big blind, you must wait

two hands before being dealt in again. If you do not wish to wait and have not yet missed a blind, then you

can post an amount equal to the big blind and receive a hand. (Exception: At lowball you must kill the pot,

wait for the same relative position, or wait for the big blind; see “Section 11 – Lowball,” rule #7.)

16. A player who "deals off" (by playing the button and then immediately getting up to change seats) can

allow the blinds to pass the new seat one time and reenter the game behind the button without having to post

a blind.

17. A live “straddle bet" is not allowed at limit poker except in specified games.

SECTION 5 - HOLDEM

In holdem, players receive two downcards as their personal hand (holecards), after which there is a round of

betting. Three boardcards are turned simultaneously (called the “flop”) and another round of betting occurs.

The next two boardcards are turned one at a time, with a round of betting after each card. The boardcards are

common cards used by all players, and a player may use any five-card combination from among the board and

personal cards. A player may even use all of the boardcards and no personal cards to form a hand (play the

board). A dealer button is used. The usual structure is to use two blinds, but it is possible to play the

game with one blind, multiple blinds, an ante, or combination of blinds plus an ante.
RULES

These rules deal only with irregularities. See the previous chapter, “Button and Blind Use,” for rules on

that subject.

1. If the initial holecard dealt to the first or second player is exposed, a misdeal results. The dealer

will retrieve the card, reshuffle, and recut the cards. If any other holecard 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 burncard. If more than one

holecard is exposed, this is a misdeal and there must be a redeal.

2. 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 burncard. If the dealer mistakenly

deals more than one extra card, it is a misdeal.

3. If the flop contains too many cards, it must be redealt. (This applies even if it were possible to

know which card was the extra one.)

4. If the dealer failed to burn a card before dealing the flop, or burned two cards, the error should be

rectified by using the proper burncard and flop, if no boardcards were exposed. The deck must be reshuffled

if any boardcards were exposed.

5. If the dealer burns and turns before a betting round is complete, the card(s) may not be used, even if

all subsequent players elect to fold. Nobody has an option of accepting or rejecting the card. The betting is

then completed, and the error rectified in the prescribed manner for that situation.

6. If the dealer fails to burn a card or burns more than one card, the error should be corrected if

discovered before betting action has started for that round. Once action has been taken on a boardcard by any

player, the card must stand. Whether the error is able to be corrected or not, subsequent cards dealt should

be those that would have come if no error had occurred. For example, if two cards were burned, one of the

cards should be put back on the deck and used for the burncard on the next round. If there was no betting on

a round because a player was all-in, the error should be corrected if discovered before the pot has been

awarded.

7. If the flop needs to be redealt for any reason, the boardcards are mixed with the remainder of the

deck. The burncard 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 #4, for more information on this rule.]

8. A dealing error for the fourth boardcard is rectified in a manner to least influence the identity of

the boardcards that would have been used without the error. The dealer burns and deals 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 burncards or discards. The dealer then

cuts the deck and deals 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 #4, for

more information on this rule.]

9. You must declare that you are playing the board before you throw your cards away. Otherwise, you

relinquish all claim to the pot. (The rule for tournament play is you must retain your hand and show it if

asked, in order to win part of the pot.)

SECTION 6 - OMAHA

Omaha is similar to hold’em in using a three-card flop on the board, a fourth boardcard, and then a fifth

boardcard. Each player is dealt four holecards (instead of two) at the start. In order to make a valid hand,

a player must use precisely two holecards with three boardcards. The betting is the same as in holdem, using

a preflop, flop, turn, and river betting rounds. At the showdown, the entire four-card hand should be shown

to receive the pot.
RULES OF OMAHA

1. All the rules of holdem apply to Omaha except the rule on playing the board, which is not possible in

Omaha (because you must use two cards from your hand and three cards from the board).

SECTION 7 - OMAHA HIGH-LOW

Omaha is often played high-low split. The player may use any combination of two holecards and three

boardcards for the high hand and another (or the same) combination of two holecards and three boardcards for

the low hand.

The rules governing kill pots are listed in “Section 13 – Kill Pots.”

RULES OF OMAHA HIGH-LOW

1. All the rules of Omaha apply to Omaha high-low split except as below.

2. A qualifier of 8-or-better for low is used. This means to win the low half of the pot, a player’s hand

at the showdown must have five cards of different ranks that are an eight or lower in rank. (An ace is the

highest card and also the lowest card.) If there is no qualifying hand for low, the best high hand wins the

whole pot.

3. Straights and flushes do not impair the low value of a hand.

SECTION 8 - SEVEN-CARD STUD

Seven-card stud is played with a starting hand of two downcards and one upcard dealt before the first betting

round. There are then three more upcards and a final downcard, with a betting round after each, for a total

of five betting rounds on a deal played to the showdown. The best five-card poker hand wins the pot. In all

fixed-limit games, the smaller bet is wagered for the first two betting rounds, and the larger bet is wagered

for the last three betting rounds (on the fifth, sixth, and seventh cards). If there is an open pair on the

fourth card, any player has the option of making the smaller or larger bet. Deliberately changing the order

of your upcards in a stud game is improper because it unfairly misleads the other players.
RULES OF SEVEN-CARD STUD

1. If your first or second holecard is accidentally turned up by the dealer, then your third card will be

dealt down. If both holecards are dealt up, you have a dead hand and receive your ante back. If the first

card dealt faceup would have been the lowcard, action starts with the first hand to that player’s left. That

player may fold, open for the forced bet, or open for a full bet. (In tournament play, if a downcard is dealt

faceup, a misdeal is called.)

2. The first round of betting starts with a forced bet by the lowest upcard by suit. On subsequent

betting rounds, the high hand on board initiates the action (a tie is broken by position, with the player who

received cards first acting first).

3. The player with the forced bet has the option of opening for a full bet.

4. If the player with the lowcard is all-in for the ante (or any player designated to start the action on

a round of betting is all-in), betting action proceeds to the first active player to the left of the all-in

player. If the player with the lowcard has only enough chips for a portion of the forced bet, the wager is

made. All other players must enter for at least the normal amount in that structure.

5. When the wrong person is designated as low and bets, if the next player has not yet acted, the action

will be corrected to the real lowcard, who now must bet. The incorrect lowcard takes back the wager. If the

next hand has acted after the incorrect lowcard wager, the wager stands, action continues from there, and the

real lowcard has no obligations.

6. Increasing the amount wagered by the opening forced bet up to a full bet does not count as a raise,

but merely as a completion of the bet. For example: In $15-$30 stud, the lowcard opens for $5. If the next

player increases the bet to $15 (completes the bet), up to three raises are then allowed when using a

three-raise limit.

7. In all fixed-limit games, when an open pair is showing on fourth street (second upcard), any player

has the option of betting either the lower or the upper limit. For example: In a $5-$10 game, if you have a

pair showing and are the high hand, you may bet either $5 or $10. If you bet $5, any player then has the

option to call $5, raise $5, or raise $10. If a $10 raise is made, then all other raises must be in

increments of $10. If the player high with the open pair on fourth street checks, then subsequent players

have the same options that were given to the player who was high.

8. If you are not present at the table when it is your turn to act, you forfeit your ante and your forced

bet, if any. If you have not returned to the table in time to act, the hand will be killed when the betting

reaches your seat. (In tournament play, the dealer is instructed to kill the hand of any absent player as

soon as everyone has received their entire starting hand.)

9. If a hand is folded when there is no wager, that seat will continue to receive cards until the hand is

killed as a result of a bet (so the fold does not affect who gets the cards to come).

10. When facing a wager, picking up your upcards without calling is a fold. This act has no significance at

the showdown because betting is over; the hand is live until discarded.

11. A card dealt off the table is treated as an exposed card.

12. The dealer announces the lowcard, the high hand, all raises, and all pairs. Dealers do not announce

possible straights or flushes (except for specified low-stakes games).

13. If the dealer burns two cards for one round or fails to burn a card, the cards will be corrected, if at

all possible, to their proper positions. If this should happen on a final downcard, and either a card

intermingles with a player's other holecards or a player looks at the card, the player must accept that card.

14. If the dealer burns and deals one or more cards before a round of betting has been completed, the

card(s) must be eliminated from play. After the betting for that round is completed, an additional card for

each remaining player still active in the hand is also eliminated from play (to later deal the same cards to

the players who would have received them without the error). After that round of betting has concluded, the

dealer burns a card and play resumes. The removed cards are held off to the side in the event the dealer runs

out of cards. If the prematurely dealt card is the final downcard and has been looked at or intermingled with

the player's other holecards, the player must keep the card, and on sixth street betting may not bet or raise

(because the player now has all seven cards).

15. If there are not enough cards left in the deck for all players, all the cards are dealt except the last

card, which is mixed with the burncards (and any cards removed from the deck, as in the previous rule). The

dealer then scrambles and cuts these cards, burns again, and delivers the remaining downcards, using the last

card if necessary. If there are not as many cards as players remaining without a card, the dealer does not

burn, so that each player can receive a fresh card. If the dealer determines that there will not be enough

fresh cards for all of the remaining players, then the dealer announces to the table that a common card will

be used. The dealer will burn a card and turn one card faceup in the center of the table as a common card

that plays in everyone’s hand. The player who is now high using the common card initiates the action for the

last round.

16. An all-in player should receive holecards dealt facedown, but if the final holecard to such a player is

dealt faceup, the card must be kept, and the other players receive their normal card.

17. If the dealer turns the last card faceup to any player, the hand now high on the board using all the

upcards will start the action. The following rules apply to the dealing of cards:

(a) If there are more than two players, all remaining players receive their last card facedown. A player

whose last card is faceup has the option of declaring all-in before betting action starts, meaning that the

player does not put any more chips into the pot and subsequent betting by the other active players will be on

the side.

(b) If there are only two players remaining and the first player's final downcard is dealt faceup, the second

player's final downcard will also be dealt faceup, and the betting proceeds as normal. In the event the first

player's final card is dealt facedown and the opponent's final card is dealt faceup, the player with the

faceup final card has the option of declaring all-in (before betting action starts).

18. A hand with more than seven cards is dead. A hand with less than seven cards at the showdown is dead,

except any player missing a seventh card may have the hand ruled live. [See “Section 16 – Explanations,”

discussion #2, for more information on this rule.]

19. A player who calls a bet even though beaten by an opponent’s upcards is not entitled to a refund. (The

caller receives information about the opponent that is not available for free.)

SECTION 9 - SEVEN-CARD STUD LOW (RAZZ)

The lowest-ranking hand wins the pot. Aces are low only, and two aces are the lowest pair. The high card

(aces are low) is required to make the forced bet on the first round; the low hand acts first on all

subsequent rounds. Straights and flushes have no adverse effect on the low value of a hand, so the best

possible hand is 5-4-3-2-A. An open pair does not affect the betting limit.
RULES OF RAZZ

1. All seven-card stud rules apply in razz except as otherwise noted.

2. The highest card by suit starts the action with a forced bet. The low hand acts first on all

subsequent rounds. If the low hand is tied, the first player clockwise from the dealer starts the action.

3. Fixed-limit games use the lower limit on third and fourth streets and the upper limit on subsequent

streets. An open pair does not affect the limit.

4. The dealer announces all pairs the first time they occur, except pairs of facecards, which are never

announced.

SECTION 10 - SEVEN-CARD STUD HIGH-LOW

A qualifier of 8-or-better for low applies to all high-low split games. To win for low, a player’s hand at

the showdown must have five cards of different ranks that are an eight or lower. If there is no qualifier for

low, the best high hand wins the whole pot. Any five cards may be used to make the best high hand, and the

same or any other five cards to make the best low hand.
RULES OF SEVEN-CARD STUD HIGH-LOW

1. All rules for seven-card stud apply to seven-card stud high-low split, except as noted.

2. A player may use any five cards to make the best high hand and any five cards, whether the same as the

high hand or not, to make the best low hand.

3. An ace is the highest card and also the lowest card.

4. The low card by suit initiates the action on the first round, with an ace counting as a high card for

this purpose. On subsequent rounds, the high hand initiates the action. If the high hand is tied, the first

player in the tie clockwise from the dealer acts first. If the high hand is all-in, action proceeds clockwise

as if that person had checked.

5. Straights and flushes do not affect the value of a low hand.

6. Fixed-limit games use the lower limit on third and fourth streets and the upper limit on subsequent

rounds. An open pair on fourth street does not affect the limit.

7. Splitting pots is determined only by the cards, and not by agreement among players.

8. When there is an odd chip in a pot, the chip goes to the high hand. If two players split the pot by

tying for both the high and the low, the pot shall be split as evenly as possible, and the player with the

highest card by suit receives the odd chip. When making this determination, all cards are used, not just the

five cards used for the final hand played.

9. When there is one odd chip in the high portion of the pot and two or more high hands split all or half

the pot, the odd chip goes to the player with the high card by suit. When two or more low hands split half

the pot, the odd chip goes to the player with the low card by suit.

SECTION 11 - LOWBALL

Lowball is draw poker with the lowest hand winning the pot. Each player is dealt five cards facedown, after

which there is a betting round. Players are required to open with a bet or fold. The players who remain in

the pot after the first betting round now have an option to improve their hand by replacing cards in their

hands with new ones. This is the draw. The game is normally played with one or more blinds, sometimes with an

ante added. Some betting structures allow the big blind to be called; other structures require the minimum

open to be double the big blind. In limit poker, the usual structure has the limit double after the draw

(Northern California is an exception). The most popular forms of lowball are ace-to-five lowball (also known

as California lowball), and deuce-to-seven lowball (also known as Kansas City lowball). Ace-to-five lowball

gets its name because the best hand at that form is 5-4-3-2-A. Deuce-to-seven lowball gets its name because

the best hand at that form is 7-5-4-3-2 (not of the same suit). For a further description of the forms of

lowball, please see the individual section for each game. All rules governing kill pots are listed in

“Section 13 – Kill Pots.”
RULES OF LOWBALL

1. The rules governing misdeals for holdem and other button games will be used for lowball. [See “Section

16 – Explanations,” discussion #7, for more information on this rule.] These rules governing misdeals are

reprinted here for convenience.

“The following circumstances cause a misdeal, provided attention is called to the error before two

players have acted on their hands:

(a) The first or second card of the hand has been exposed by a dealer error.

(b) Two or more cards have been exposed by the dealer.

(c) Two or more extra cards have been dealt in the starting hands of a game.

(d) An incorrect number of cards has been dealt to a player, except the button may receive one more card to

complete a starting hand.

(e) The button was out of position.

(f) The first card was dealt to the wrong position.

(g) Cards have been dealt out of the proper sequence.

(h) Cards have been dealt to an empty seat or a player not entitled to a hand.

(i) A player has been dealt out who is entitled to a hand. This player must be present at the table or have

posted a blind or ante.”

2. In limit play, a bet and four raises are allowed in multihanded pots. [See “Section 16 –

Explanations,” discussion #6, for more information on this rule.]

3. As a new player, you have two options:

(a) To wait for the big blind.

(b) To kill the pot for double the amount of the big blind.

4. In a single-blind game, a player who has less than half a blind may receive a hand. However, the next

player is obligated to take the blind. If the all-in player wins the pot or buys in again, that player will

then be obligated to either take the blind on the next deal or sit out until due for the big blind.

5. In single-blind games, half a blind or more constitutes a full blind.

6. In single-blind games, if you fail to take the blind, you may only be dealt in
_________________
"The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one. " IN HOC SIGNO VINCES "

[psychodave]

7. In multiple-blind games, if the big blind passes your seat, you may either wait for the big blind or

kill the pot in order to receive a hand. This does not apply if you have taken all of your blinds and changed

seats. In this situation, you may be dealt in as soon as your position relative to the blinds entitles you to

a hand (the button may go by you once without penalty).

8. Before the draw, whether an exposed card must be taken depends on the form of lowball being played;

see that form. (The player never has an option.)

9. On the draw, an exposed card cannot be taken. The draw is completed to each player in order, and then

the exposed card is replaced.

10. A player may draw up to four consecutive cards. If a player wishes to draw five new cards, four are

dealt right away, and the fifth card after everyone else has drawn cards. If the last player wishes to draw

five new cards, four are dealt right away, and a card is burned before the player receives a fifth card. [See

“Section 16 – Explanations,” discussion #9, for more information about this rule.]

11. You may change the number of cards you wish to draw, provided:

(a) No card has been dealt off the deck in response to your request (including the burncard).

(b) No player has acted, in either the betting or indicating the number of cards to be drawn, based on the

number of cards you have requested.

12. Five cards constitute a playing hand; more or fewer than five cards after the draw constitutes a fouled

hand. Before the draw, if you have fewer than five cards in your hand, you may receive additional cards,

provided no action has been taken by the first player to act (unless that action occurs before the deal is

completed). However, the dealer position may still receive a missing fifth card, even if action has taken

place. If action has been taken, you are entitled on the draw to receive the number of cards necessary to

complete a five-card hand.

13. If you are asked how many cards you drew by another active player, you are obligated to respond until

there has been action after the draw, and the dealer is also obligated to respond. Once there is any action

after the draw, you are no longer obliged to respond and the dealer cannot respond.

14. Rapping the table in turn constitutes either a pass or the declaration of a pat hand that does not want

to draw any cards, depending on the situation.

15. Cards speak (cards read for themselves). However, you are not allowed to claim a better hand than you

hold. (Example: If a player calls an "8", that player must produce at least an "8" low or better to win. But

if a player erroneously calls the second card incorrectly, such as “8-6” when actually holding an 8-7, no

penalty applies.) If you miscall your hand and cause another player to foul his or her hand, your hand is

dead. If both hands remain intact, the best hand wins. If a miscalled hand occurs in a multihanded pot, the

miscalled hand is dead, and the best remaining hand wins the pot. For your own protection, always hold your

hand until you see your opponent’s cards.

16. Any player spreading a hand with a pair in it must announce "pair" or risk losing the pot if it causes

any other player to foul a hand. If two or more hands remain intact, the best hand wins the pot.

ACE-TO-FIVE LOWBALL

In ace-to-five lowball, the best hand is any 5-4-3-2-A. An ace is the lowest-ranking card. For hands with a

pair, A-A beats 2-2. Straights and flushes do not count against your hand.

1. If a joker is used, it becomes the lowest card not present in your hand. The joker is assumed to be

in use unless the contrary is posted.

2. In limit play, check-raise is not permitted (unless the players are alerted that it is allowed).

3. In limit ace-to-five lowball, before the draw, an exposed card of seven or under must be taken, and an

exposed card higher than a seven must be replaced after the deal has been completed. This first exposed card

is used as the burncard. [See “Section 16 – Explanations,” discussion #8, for more information on this rule.]

4. In limit play, the “sevens rule” is assumed to be in use (the players should be alerted if it is

not). If you check a seven or better and it is the best hand, all action after the draw is void, and you

cannot win any money on any subsequent bets. You are still eligible to win whatever existed in the pot before

the draw if you have the best hand. If you check a seven or better and the hand is beaten, you lose the pot

and any additional calls you make. If there is an all-in bet after the draw that is less than half a bet, a

seven or better may just call and win that bet. However, if another player overcalls this short bet and

loses, the person who overcalls receives the bet back. If the seven or better completes to a full bet, this

fulfills all obligations.
DEUCE-TO-SEVEN LOWBALL

In deuce-to-seven lowball (sometimes known as Kansas City lowball), in most respects, the worst conventional

poker hand wins. Straights and flushes count against you, crippling the value of a hand. The ace is used only

as a high card. Therefore, the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2, not all of the same suit. The hand 5‑4‑3‑2‑A is not

considered to be a straight, but an ace-5 high, so it beats other ace-high hands and pairs, but loses to

king-high. A pair of aces is the highest pair, so it loses to any other pair.

The rules for deuce-to-seven lowball are the same as those for ace-to-five lowball, except for the following

differences:

1. The best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 of at least two different suits. Straights and flushes count against you,

and aces are considered high only.

2. Before the draw, an exposed card of 7, 5, 4, 3, or, 2 must be taken. Any other exposed card must be

replaced (including a 6).

3. Check-raise is allowed on any hand after the draw.

4. After the draw, a seven or better is not required to bet.

NO-LIMIT AND POT-LIMIT LOWBALL

1. All the rules for no-limit and pot-limit poker (see Section 14 - No-limit and Pot-limit) apply to

no-limit and pot-limit lowball. All other lowball rules apply, except as noted.

2. A player is not entitled to know that an opponent does not hold the best possible hand, so these rules

for exposed cards before the draw apply:

(a) In ace-to-five lowball, a player must take an exposed card of A, 2, 3, 4, or 5, and any other card must

be replaced.

(b) In deuce-to-seven lowball, the player must take an exposed card of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7, and any other card

including a 6 must be replaced.

3. After the draw, any exposed card must be replaced.

4. After the draw, a player may check any hand without penalty (The sevens rule is not used).

5. Check-raise is allowed.

SECTION 12 - DRAW HIGH

There are two betting rounds, one before the draw and one after the draw. The game is played with a button

and an ante. Players in turn may check, open for the minimum, or open with a raise. After the first betting

round the players have the opportunity to draw new cards to replace the ones they discard. Action after the

draw starts with the opener, or next player proceeding clockwise if the opener has folded. The betting limit

after the draw is twice the amount of the betting limit before the draw. Some draw high games allow a player

to open on anything; others require the opener to have a pair of jacks or better.

RULES OF DRAW HIGH

1. A maximum of a bet and four raises is permitted in multihanded pots. [See “Section 16 – Explanations,”

discussion #6, for more information on this rule.]

2. Check-raise is permitted both before and after the draw.

3. The rules governing misdeals for hold’em and other button games will be used for draw.

4. Any card that is exposed by the dealer before the draw must be kept.

5. Five cards constitute a playing hand. Less than five cards for a player (other than the button) before

action has been taken is a misdeal. If action has been taken, a player with fewer than five cards may draw

the number of cards necessary to complete a five-card hand. The button may receive the fifth card even if

action has taken place. More or fewer than five cards after the draw constitutes a fouled hand.

6. A player may draw up to four consecutive cards. If a player wishes to draw five new cards, four are

dealt right away, and the fifth card after everyone else has drawn cards. If the last player wishes to draw

five new cards, four are dealt right away, and a card is burned before the player receives a fifth card. [See

“Section 16 – Explanations,” discussion #9, for more information about this rule.]

7. You may change the number of cards you wish to draw, provided:

(a) No cards have been dealt off the deck in response to your request (including the burncard).

(b) No player has acted, in either the betting or indicating the number of cards to be drawn, based on the

number of cards you have requested.

8. On the draw, an exposed card cannot be taken. The draw is completed to each player in order, and then

the exposed card is replaced.

9. If you are asked how many cards you drew by another active player, you are obligated to respond until

there has been action after the draw, and the dealer is also obligated to respond. Once there is any action

after the draw, you are no longer obliged to respond and the dealer cannot respond.

10. Rapping the table in turn constitutes either a pass or the declaration of a pat hand that does not want

to draw any cards, depending on the situation. A player who indicates a pat hand by rapping the table, not

knowing the pot has been raised, may still play his or her hand.

11. You may not change your seat between hands when there are multiple antes or forfeited money in the pot.

12. You have the right to pay the ante (whether single or multiple) at any time and receive a hand, unless

there is any additional money in the pot that has been forfeited during a hand in which you were not

involved.

13. If the pot has been declared open by an all-in player playing for just the antes, all callers must come

in for the full opening bet.

14. If you have only a full ante and no other chips on the table, you may play for just the antes. If no

one opens and there is another ante, you may still play for that part of the antes that you have matched,

without putting in any more money.
THE JOKER

1. The players will be alerted as to whether the joker is in use.

2. The joker may be used only as an ace, or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush. (Thus it is

not a completely wild card.)

3. If the joker is used to make a flush, it will be the highest card of the flush not present in the hand.

4. Five aces is the best possible hand (four aces and joker).

SECTION 13 - KILL POTS

To kill a pot means to post an overblind that increases the betting limit. A full kill is double the amount

of the big blind, and doubles the betting limits. A half kill is one-and-a-half times the big blind, and

increases the betting limits by that amount. A kill may be optional in a game, and is often used at lowball

when a player wants to be dealt in right away instead of waiting to take the big blind. A kill may be

required in a game for any time a specified event takes place. In high-low split games using a required kill,

a player who scoops a pot bigger than a set size must kill the next pot. In other games using a required

kill, a player who wins two consecutive pots must kill the next pot. In this type of kill game, a marker

called a “kill button” indicates which player has won the pot, and the winner keeps this marker until the

next hand is completed. If the player who has the kill button wins a second consecutive pot and it qualifies

monetarily, that player must kill the next pot.
RULES OF KILL POTS

1. The kill button is neutral (belonging to no player) if:

(a) It is the first hand of a new game.

(b) The winner of the previous pot has quit the game.

(c) The previous pot was split and neither player had the kill button.

2. In a kill pot, the killer acts in proper turn (after the person on the immediate right).

3. There is no pot-size requirement for the first pot or "leg" of a kill. For the second "leg" to qualify

for a kill, you must win at least one full bet for whatever limit you are playing, and it cannot be any part

of the blind structure.

4. If a player with one "leg up" splits the next pot, that player still has a "leg up" for the next hand.

If the player who split the pot was the kill in the previous hand, then that player must also kill the next

pot.

5. A person who leaves the table with a “leg up” toward a kill still has a “leg up” upon returning to the

game.

6. A player who is required to post a kill must do so that same hand even if wishing to quit or be dealt

out. A player who fails to post a required kill blind will not be allowed to participate in any game until

the kill money is posted.

7. Kill blinds are considered part of the pot. If a player with a required kill wins again, then that

player must kill it again (for the same amount as the previous hand).

8. When a player wins both the high and the low pot (“scoops”) in a split-pot game with a kill provision,

the next hand will be killed only if the pot is at least five times the size of the upper limit of the game.

9. If you are unaware that the pot has been killed and put in a lesser amount, If it is a required kill

pot with the kill button faceup, you must put in the correct amount. If not, you may withdraw the chips and

reconsider your action.

10. In lowball, an optional rule is allowing players to look at their first two cards and then opt whether

to kill the pot. The pot may no longer be killed if any player in the game has received a third card. In

order to kill the pot voluntarily, you must have at least four times the amount of the kill blind in your

stack. For example: If the big blind is two chips, and the kill blind is four chips, the voluntary killer

must have at least 16 chips prior to posting the kill. If this rule is used, it is in conjunction with having

the killer act last on the first betting round rather than in proper order.

11. Only one kill is allowed per deal.

12. A new player is not entitled to play in a killed pot, but may do so by agreeing to kill the next pot.

13. Broken game status is allowed only for players of the same limit and game type. For this purpose, a

game with a required kill is considered a different type of game than an otherwise similar game without a

required kill.

SECTION 14 - NO LIMIT AND POT-LIMIT

A no-limit or pot-limit betting structure for a game gives it a different character from limit poker,

requiring a separate set of rules in many situations. All the rules for limit games apply to no-limit and

pot-limit games, except as noted in this section. No-limit means that the amount of a wager is limited only

by the table stakes rule, so any part or all of a player’s chips may be wagered. The rules of no-limit play

also apply to pot-limit play, except that a bet may not exceed the pot size. The player is responsible for

determining the pot size at no-limit, not the dealer. The dealer is responsible for determining the pot size

at pot-limit, and should enforce the pot-size cap on wagers without waiting to be asked to do so by a player.

For those rules that apply only to no-limit and pot-limit lowball, see the sub-section at the end of “Section

11 – Lowball.”
NO-LIMIT RULES

1. The number of raises in any betting round is unlimited.

2. The minimum bet size is the amount of the minimum bring-in, unless the player is going all-in. The

minimum bring-in is the size of the big blind unless the structure of the game is preset by the house to some

other amount (such as double the big blind). The minimum bet remains the same amount on all betting rounds.

If the big blind does not have sufficient chips to post the required amount, a player who enters the pot on

the initial betting round is still required to enter for at least the minimum bet (unless going all-in for a

lesser sum) and a preflop raiser must at least double the size of the big blind. At all other times, when

someone goes all-in for less than the minimum bet, a player has the option of just calling the all-in amount.

If a player goes all-in for an amount that is less than the minimum bet, a player who wishes to raise must

raise at least the amount of the minimum bet. For example, if the minimum bet is $100, and a player goes

all-in on the flop for $20, a player may fold, call $20, or raise to at least a total of $120.

3. All raises must be equal to or greater than the size of the previous bet or raise on that betting

round, except for an all-in wager. Example: Player A bets 100 and player B raises to 200. Player C wishing to

raise must raise at least 100 more, making the total bet at least 300. A player who has already acted and is

not facing a fullsize wager may not subsequently raise an all-in bet that is less than the minimum bet or

less than the full size of the last bet or raise. (The half-the-size rule for reopening the betting is for

limit poker only.)

4. Multiple all-in wagers, each of an amount too small to qualify as a raise, still act as a raise and

reopen the betting if the resulting wager size to a player qualifies as a raise. Example: Player A bets $100

and Player B raises $100 more, making the total bet $200. If Player C goes all in for less than $300 total

(not a full $100 raise), and Player A calls, then Player B has no option to raise again, because he wasn’t

fully raised. (Player A could have raised, because Player B raised.)

5. “Completing the bet” is a limit poker wager type only, and not used at big-bet poker.

6. At non-tournament play, a player who says "raise" is allowed to continue putting chips into the pot

with more than one move; the wager is assumed complete when the player’s hands come to rest outside the pot

area. (This rule is used because no-limit play may require a large number of chips be put into the pot.) In

tournament play, the TDA rules require that the player either use a verbal statement giving the amount of the

raise or put the chips into the pot in a single motion, to avoid making a string-bet.

7. A wager is not binding until the chips are actually released into the pot, unless the player has made

a verbal statement of action.

8. If there is a discrepancy between a player's verbal statement and the amount put into the pot, the bet

will be corrected to the verbal statement.

9. If a call is short due to a counting error, the amount must be corrected, even if the bettor has shown

down a superior hand.

10. A bet of a single chip or bill without comment is considered to be the full amount of the chip or bill

allowed. However, a player acting on a previous bet with a larger denomination chip or bill is calling the

previous bet unless this player makes a verbal declaration to raise the pot. (This includes acting on the

forced bet of the big blind.)

11. If a player tries to bet or raise less than the legal minimum and has more chips, the wager must be

increased to the proper size (but no greater). This does not apply to a player who has unintentionally put

too much in to call.

12. Because the amount of a wager at big-bet poker has such a wide range, a player who has taken action

based on a gross misunderstanding of the amount wagered may receive some protection by the decision-maker. A

"call" or “raise” may be ruled not binding if it is obvious that the player grossly misunderstood the amount

wagered, provided no damage has been caused by that action. Example: Player A bets $300, player B reraises to

$1200, and Player C puts $300 into the pot and says, “call.” It is obvious that player C believes the bet to

be only $300 and he should be allowed to withdraw his $300 and reconsider his wager. A bettor should not show

down a hand until the amount put into the pot for a call seems reasonably correct, or it is obvious that the

caller understands the amount wagered. The decision-maker is allowed considerable discretion in ruling on

this type of situation. A possible rule-of-thumb is to disallow any claim of not understanding the amount

wagered if the caller has put eighty percent or more of that amount into the pot.

Example: On the end, a player puts a $500 chip into the pot and says softly, “Four hundred.” The opponent

puts a $100 chip into the pot and says, “Call.” The bettor immediately shows the hand. The dealer says, “He

bet four hundred.” The caller says, “Oh, I thought he bet a hundred.” In this case, the recommended ruling

normally is that the bettor had an obligation to not show the hand when the amount put into the pot was

obviously short, and the “call” can be retracted. Note that the character of each player can be a factor.

(Unfortunately, situations can arise at big-bet poker that are not so clear-cut as this.)

13. All wagers may be required to be in the same denomination of chip (or larger) used for the minimum

bring-in, even if smaller chips are used in the blind structure. If this is done, the smaller chips do not

play except in quantity, even when going all-in.

14. Since all a player’s chips may be put at risk on a hand, the house has the right to set a maximum

amount for the buy-in to help control the effective size of a game.

15. In non-tournament games, one optional live straddle is allowed. The player who posts the straddle has

last action for the first round of betting and is allowed to raise. To straddle, a player must be on the

immediate left of the big blind, and must post an amount twice the size of the big blind. A straddle bet sets

a new minimum bring-in; it is not treated as a raise.

16. In all no-limit and pot-limit games, the house has the right to place a maximum time limit for taking

action on your hand. The clock may be put on someone by the dealer as directed by a floorperson, if a player

requests it. If the clock is put on you when you are facing a bet, you will have one additional minute to act

on your hand. You will have a ten-second warning, after which your hand is dead if you have not acted.

17. The cardroom does not condone "insurance" or any other “proposition” wagers. The management declines to

make decisions in such matters, and the pot will be awarded to the best hand. Players are asked to refrain

from instigating proposition wagers in any form. The players are allowed to agree to deal twice (or three

times) when someone is all-in. “Dealing twice” means the pot is divided in two, with each portion being dealt

for separately.

POT-LIMIT RULES

A bet may not exceed the pot size. The maximum amount a player can raise is the amount in the pot after the

call is made. Therefore, if a pot is $100, and someone makes a $50 bet, the next player can call $50 and

raise the pot $200, for a total wager of $250.

1. If a wager is made that exceeds the pot size, the surplus will be given back to the bettor as soon as

possible, and the amount will be reduced to the maximum allowable.

2. The dealer or any player in the game can and should call attention to a wager that appears to exceed

the pot size (this also applies to heads-up pots). The oversize wager may be corrected at any point until all

players have acted on it.

3. If an oversize wager has stood for a length of time with someone considering what action to take, that

person has had to act on a wager that was thought to be a certain size. If the player then decides to call or

raise, and attention is called at this late point to whether this is an allowable amount, the floorperson may

rule that the oversize amount must stand (especially if the person now trying to reduce the amount is the

person that made the wager).

4. In pot-limit play, it is advisable in many structures to round off the pot size upward to produce a

faster pace of play. This is done by treating any odd amount as the next larger size. For example, if the pot

size was being kept track of with $25 units, then a pot size of $80 would be treated as a pot size of $100.

5. In pot-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha money games, many structures treat the little blind as if it

were the same size of the big blind in computing pot size. In such a structure, a player can open for a

maximum of four times the size of the big blind. For example, if the blinds are $5 and $10, a player may open

with a raise to $40. (The range of options is to either open with a call of $10, or raise in increments of

five dollars to any amount from $20 to $40.) Subsequent players also treat the $5 as if it were $10 in

computing the pot size, until the big blind is through acting on the first betting round. This rule of

treating the little blind as if it were the size of the big blind is especially desirable in a structure

where the little blind uses a lower-denomination chip than the big blind, as in using blinds of $10 and $25

(two $5 chips and a $25 chip). At tournament play, strict pot-limit rules are normally used, so there the

maximum opening wager is 3.5 times the size of the big blind.

6. In pot-limit, a player who puts a chip or a bill larger than the pot size into the pot without comment

is considered to be making a bet of the pot size (unless he is facing a bet).

SECTION 15 - TOURNAMENTS

By participating in a tournament, you agree to abide by the rules and behave in a courteous manner. A

violator may be verbally warned, suspended from play for a specified length of time, or disqualified from the

tournament. Chips from a disqualified participant will be removed from play. Players, whether in the hand or

not, may not discuss the hands until the action is complete. Players are obligated to protect the other

players in the tournament at all times. Discussing cards discarded or hand possibilities is not allowed. A

penalty may be given for discussion of hands during the play.

1. Whenever possible, all rules are the same as those that apply to live games.

2. Initial seating is determined by random draw or assignment. (For a one-table satellite event, cards to

determine seating may be left faceup so the earlier entrants can pick their seat, since the button is

assigned randomly.)

3. A change of seat is not allowed after play starts, except as assigned by the director.

4. The appropriate starting amount of chips will be placed on the table for each paid entrant at the

beginning of the event, whether the person is present or not.

5. If a paid entrant is absent at the start of an event, at some point an effort will be made to locate and

contact the player. If the player requests the chips be left in place until arrival, the request will be

honored. If the player is unable to be contacted, the chips may be removed from play at the discretion of the

director anytime after a new betting level is begun or a half-hour has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

6. A starting stack of chips may be placed in a seat to accommodate late entrants (so all antes and blinds

have been appropriately paid). An unsold seat will have such a stack removed at a time left to the discretion

of the director.

7. A no-show or absent player is always dealt a hand. That player’s stack will post chips for blinds and

antes, and have the forced lowcard bet put into the pot at stud.

8. In all tournament games using a dealer button, the starting position of the button is determined by the

players drawing for the high card.

9. Limits and blinds are raised at regularly scheduled intervals.

10. If there is a signal designating the end of a betting level, the new limits apply on the next deal. (A

deal begins with the first riffle of the shuffle.)

11. The lowest denomination of chip in play will be removed from the table when it is no longer needed in the

blind or ante structure. All lower-denomination chips that are of sufficient quantity for a new chip will be

changed up directly. The method for removal of odd chips is to deal one card to a player for each odd chip

possessed. Cards are dealt clockwise starting with the 1-seat, with each player receiving all cards before

any cards are dealt to the next player. A player may not be eliminated from the event by the chip-change

process. If a player has no chips after the race has been held, he will be given a chip of the higher

denomination before anyone else is awarded a chip. Next, the player with the highest card by suit gets enough

odd chips to exchange for one new chip, the second-highest card gets to exchange for the next chip, and so

forth, until all the lower-denomination chips are exchanged. If an odd number of lower-denomination chips are

left after this process, the player with the highest card remaining will receive a new chip if he has half or

more of the quantity of lower-denomination chips needed, otherwise nothing.

12. A player must be present at the table to stop the action by calling “time.”

13. A player must be at the table by the time all players have their complete starting hands in order to have

a live hand for that deal. (The dealer has been instructed to kill the hands of all absent players

immediately after dealing each player a starting hand.)

14. As players are eliminated, tables are broken in a pre-set order, with players from the broken tables

assigned to empty seats at other tables.

15. In button games, if a player is needed to move from a table to balance tables, the player due for the big

blind will be automatically selected to move, and will be given the earliest seat due for the big blind if

more than one seat is open.

16. New players to a table as a result of balancing tables are dealt in immediately unless they are in the

small blind or button position, where they must wait until the button has passed to the player on their left.

17. The number of players at each table will be kept reasonably balanced by the transfer of a player as

needed. With more than six tables, table size will be kept within two players. With six tables or less, table

size will be kept within one player.

18. In all events, there is a redraw for seating when the field is reduced to three tables, two tables, and

one table. (Redrawing at three tables is not mandatory in small tournaments with only four or five starting

tables.)

19. If a player lacks sufficient chips for a blind or a forced bet, the player is entitled to get action on

whatever amount of money is left in his stack. A player who posts a short blind and wins does not need to

make up the blind.

20. A player who declares all in and loses the pot, then discovers that one or more chips were hidden, is not

entitled to benefit from this. That player is eliminated from the tournament if the opponent had sufficient

chips to cover the hidden ones (A rebuy is okay if allowable by the rules of that event). If another deal has

not yet started, the director may rule the chips belong to the opponent who won that pot, if that obviously

would have happened with the chips out in plain view. If the next deal has started, the discovered chips are

removed from the tournament.

21. All players must leave their seat immediately after being eliminated from an event.

22. Showing cards from a live hand during the action injures the rights of other players still competing in

an event, who wish to see contestants eliminated. A player in a multihanded pot may not show any cards during

a deal. Heads-up, a player may not show any cards unless the event has only two remaining players, or is

winner-take-all. If a player deliberately shows a card, the player may be penalized (but his hand will not be

ruled dead). Verbally stating one’s hand during the play may be penalized.

23. The limitation on the number of raises at limit poker is also applied to heads-up situations (except the

last two players in a tournament are exempted from a limitation on raises).

24. At pot-limit and no-limit play, the player must either use a verbal statement giving the amount of the

raise or put chips into the pot in a single motion. Otherwise, it is a string bet.

25. Non-tournament chips are not allowed on the table.

26. Higher-denomination chips must be placed where they are easily visible to all other players.

27. All tournament chips must remain visible on the table throughout the event. Chips taken off the table

will be removed from the event, and a player doing this may be disqualified.

28. Inappropriate behavior like throwing cards that go off the table may be punished with a penalty such as

being dealt out for a length of time or number of hands. A severe infraction such as abusive or disruptive

behavior may be punished by eviction from the tournament.

29. The decks is changed only when dealers change, unless a card is damaged.

30. The dealer button remains in position until the appropriate blinds are taken. Players must post all

blinds every round. Because of this, last action may be given to the same player for two consecutive hands by

the use of a “dead button.” [See “Section 16 – Explanations,” discussion #1, for more information on this

rule.]

31. In heads-up play with two blinds, the small blind is on the button. When play becomes heads-up, the

player who had the big blind the most recently is given the button, and his opponent is given the big blind.

32. At stud, if a downcard on the initial hand is dealt faceup, a misdeal is called.

33. If a player announces the intent to rebuy before cards are dealt, that player is playing behind and is

obligated to make the rebuy.

34. All hands will be turned faceup whenever a player is all-in and betting action is complete.

35. If multiple players go broke on the same hand, the player starting the hand with the larger amount of

chips finishes in the higher place for prize money and any other award. Players eliminated on the same deal

who start their final hand with an equal amount of chips receive equal prize money, with the best hand on

that deal receiving any non-divisible award.

36. Management is not required to rule on any private deals, side bets, or redistribution of the prize pool

among finalists.

37. Private agreements by remaining players in an event regarding distribution of the prize pool are not

condoned. (However, if such an agreement is made, the director has the option of ensuring that it is carried

out by paying those amounts.) Any private agreement that does not include one or more active competitors is

improper by definition.

38. A tournament event is expected to be played until completion.