SCA POKER CLUB RULES

These rules and procedures are for the guidance and governance of poker games in the Poker Club of Sun City Anthem. The purpose of these rules is to provide a framework and guidance for enjoyable play for everyone. The rules are assembled and stated by the Rules Committee at the request and approval of the Poker Club members and are intended for the benefit of the members and particularly for the avoidance of any disputes or ill feelings. Most of the rules are generally accepted and utilized throughout the poker world and are not the product of any one individual or group. Players who play in Poker Club games agree to abide by these rules. Although the intent of the Club is to be welcoming and friendly to any SCA resident or guest who wishes to play, players who consistently violate these rules will be asked to leave the games and will not receive a refund.

 

RULES AND PROCEDURES

 

TOURNAMENTS:

All SCA Poker Club tournaments will start with chip stacks equal to a minimum of 100 big blinds.  For tournaments with 10,000 starting chips the initial blind level will be 100/100, progressing to 100/200, 200/400 and so on.

 

GAME PLAY:

Dealers shall insure that blinds are posted before they finish dealing the hand.

 

Players must remain alert as to the current action, blind levels, and players turn for action in the hand.  Players must act in turn and make no indication of their intent prior to their turn.

 

Players must act promptly and in turn when the action is on that player. A player may request more time to think or consider their action by saying “time“; “I’m thinking”; “just a moment“ or similar wording. If two players act after a player who has not requested more time for considering or asked for a temporary hold on the action, then that player's hand will be declared dead.  If a player takes an excessive amount of time to act, any other player at that table may call a clock by saying “clock”.  The Onsite Tournament Director will then tell the player that they have 60 seconds to act.  If the player does not act by the end of the 60 seconds their hand will be declared dead.  If the designated Tournament Director or other Club officers are not present, the “Onsite Tournament Director” is defined as whichever Club member is holding the money for the tournament.

 

Players must absolutely refrain from making any action or statement which might indicate to the other players which cards they have folded or discarded during the play of a hand while action is pending. Similarly, no player may make comments or state opinions about the betting action or card holdings of any player still active in the hand.  In order to assist some players in making a decision on their action, the Dealer may announce the rank and suit of the cards on the board (e,g, “Jack of hearts, 5 of diamonds” etc) but will make no statement about possible hands.  Similarly, players shall make no comment or observation about the cards on the board (e.g. “Possible flush”, “Just need one for a straight”, etc.) if they are not currently active in the hand.  Players may not show a folded hand to a player not active in the hand or reserve discarded hole cards to show at the end of the hand.

 

In a pot where there are no All-in player hands, the player who initiated the last betting action (bet or raise) must, if the betting action is called by one or more players, table both of their cards by placing them face up on the table directly in front. The remaining active players in the hand may, at their choice, table or muck their cards. In pots where one or more players are All-in and the remaining active players have completed any remaining betting action, all active players must table their hands by laying both cards face up on the table in front of them. Throwing live hands on the discards or dealt board cards is not allowed and will result in the hand being declared dead.

 

“Cards speak for themselves“. At showdown, when all betting is concluded, all properly tabled hands will be live and will remain live. Hands thrown face down into the discards are dead and cannot be retrieved. All players at the table may read and declare the tabled hands. Regardless of any verbal declaration the best hand of the tabled hands is entitled to win and claim the pot. No player may win the pot who has not properly tabled his/her hand in full view of all the players at the table in a timely manner.

 

To prevent confusion about which players hold active live hands, folded hands should be put in the center of the table and left there until the start of the following hand.  No player should be holding or handling the discarded hands. Players with active hands should place their cards on the table in such a way that all players can see that they hold live cards.  A card protector may also be used for this purpose.  If a player actively tries to disguise in any way that they hold live cards their hand will be declared dead.  Players who have folded should leave the area in front of them clear so that it is obvious that they have no cards.

 

“Show one, show all”.  Players showing their cards to another player at the conclusion of a hand must show them to all of the players at the table by placing them face up on the table.

 

1. A player's hand will be declared dead if that player deliberately exposes the hand in order to elicit a response or reaction to the cards.  A hand which is accidentally or inadvertently exposed will be played as an “open hand.” The hand will be placed face up and the betting action will proceed as if the hand were not exposed.

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If a player chooses not to show their hand, either during play of the hand or at the conclusion of the hand, no player shall make any attempt to look at the folded hand.

 

BETTING:

Before the flop: The player acting first or subsequently to the big blind must either fold, call the big blind, or make a legal raise as defined below. The next player to act must fold, call the raised bet or make a legal raise.

Example of legal raise: Blinds are 200 and 400. Player A raises to a total of 800 (a 400 chip raise); Player B may raise an additional 400 to a total of 1200 or any raise amount larger than 400.  If a player’s statement is unclear as to the amount of the raise (e.g. “I raise to five” and it is unclear whether they meant 500 or 5000) the raise will be determined to be whatever the lower legal raise would be.

 

After the flop: The first active player to the left of the dealer may check or bet an amount equal to the big blind or greater. The next player(s) to act to the left may call the bet or raise an amount equal to or greater than the previous raise.

Example: Blinds are 200 and 400. Player A may bet an additional 400 (800 total) or any amount greater. Player B may raise any amount equal to or greater than Player A’s initial bet. As before, all raises must be equal to the previous raise or greater.

 

“Going All-in”.  In all forms of No-Limit Poker a player may go “All-In“ (betting all of their chips) any time it is that player’s turn to act.  The player may simply declare “All-In“ or place all their chips in front of them.

 

An All-in raise or re-raise which is not the amount of a full permitted raise and is the final action in that betting round will not re-open the betting for further betting or raising.

Example: Blinds are 200 and 400. Player A raises the big blind (or previous caller) 400 to a total of 800; Player B calls; Player C (who is the last to act in that round) goes all in for 1100, which is a 300 chip raise. Since the re-raise is not a full permitted raise the betting is not re-opened for further raises.

 

If the All-in player is not the last to act in the round, any subsequent player may make a legal raise.

Example: Blinds are 200 and 400. Player A raises the big blind (or previous caller) 400 to a total of 800; Player B goes all in for 1100 (a 300 chip raise).  Player C may still make a legal raise above the 1100.  Any additional chips above the 1100 will be put in a side pot that may only be won by Player A or Player C, whichever has the better hand.  The main pot will be won by whoever has the best hand among Players A, B, and C.

 

Players calling a bet without realizing that there has been a raise before that player's turn must leave the chips in the pot and either match the raise amount, re-raise, or fold. Chips pushed forward must remain in the pot.

 

A chip placed in the pot which is larger than the amount of the current call amount without the bettor announcing “raise“ will be considered a call.

 

“String bets“ are not allowed. A player must announce the amount of a raise or push forward in one motion the amount of a raise. Going back to the chip stack and adding more chips to a raise is not allowed.

 

The amount of chips a player has must be readily visible to all players. Chips must be stacked in regular unmixed (same color) stacks in plain and open view. Chips must not be hidden in the table chip well, behind drinks, chip protector,  cell phone, good luck charm or anything else.

 

Verbal declarations are binding and announced betting action must be completed. If a “call “ is announced the player must match the amount of the current bet.  If “raise“ is announced the player must make a legal raise as defined above.

 

“Don’t splash the pot“.  Players should place their bets directly in front of them and not throw the chip(s) into the pot. If change is required to make the bet correct, that should be done at the conclusion of the betting round and then the correct bets placed into the pot in the center of the table.

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PRIZES

The Club has determined a table of prizes based on the number of entrants.  The table of prizes is available from the Tournament Director at any tournament.  The SCA Poker Club does not award a prize to the "bubble" at any tournament.

 

SPLITTING TABLES

If it becomes necessary to split tables before play begins because the number of players who wish to play is more than the table can accommodate, tables shall be split into as equal number of players as possible.  Splitting tables shall be accomplished as follows:

 

1. The dealer shall ask for volunteers to move to the new table

2. If there are not enough volunteers to balance the tables, seating will be assigned on a strictly “first come, first served” basis.  Players who arrived first will have their choice of tables.  

3. Any additional players arriving after the tables are split will be assigned alternately to the tables in play.

 

COMBINING TABLES

As tournaments progress, it will become necessary to combine tables. Seating at the combined table will be determined by a random draw of cards, Ace thru 9 (or however many players will be seated at the table) shuffled and placed face down on the table. Seat 1 will be the seat closest to the railing.  After players are seated, seat 1 will deal for dealer.  If two or more players receive a card of the same rank, the player with the higher suit shall be the Dealer.  Suit ranks are Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs.

 

Tournament play will proceed until one player wins all the chips or until a deal (chop) is made among remaining players in the money.

 

No set of rules can be completely comprehensive and cover every situation. If disputes arise for a situation which is not covered by these rules, a resolution should be sought which is common sense, fair to all concerned, and in a friendly manner.  If players cannot agree on a solution, the final determination shall be made by either a Club Officer or the Onsite Tournament Director as defined above.