The 2012 Agenda is Set! Get ready for the Endurance contest to begin!
Mitch's BS Version of Texas Hold-em rules!
Tournament Details:
Subject to change at a moments notice to enhance my winning!
Time: After Opening Ceremonies
Place: Nautical Breeze Gathering Room
Entry: $25 (additional $5 side pool & side games for losers may be conducted as listed below)
Contact: Mitch Walker
*** Please make sure to read all the rules prior to the tournament! ***
The Tournament: The tournament will be separated into levels, each having a time limit, set “blinds”, and betting limits. The details of these are on the level chart provided. The tournament will follow the generally accepted rules of casino hold’em tournament play, some of which are listed in the “General Rules” section below.
Levels: The tournament will be comprised of 10 levels, the first 9 levels will be 20 minutes long, level 10 will continue until a winner is declared. Levels 1-4 will be limit hold’em; levels 5-10 will be no-limit hold’em. (Refer to level chart provided.)
Breaks: There will be a 5 minute break after every two levels of play.
Seating: At the start of the tournament, each player will draw a number/letter combination signifying their seat and table position. As players are eliminated, we will breakdown short-handed tables and consolidate until one table remains, playing until a winner is determined.
Dealers: Although the dealer button will determine the “dealer” for a specific hand in terms of betting, there will be designated dealers at each table that will actually deal the cards each hand. This is to eliminate the likelihood of dealing errors, delays by drunken assholes, etc. The cards are dealt starting with the person left of the dealer button (the “small blind”) and cards are dealt clockwise. Dealers will burn a card (face-down) prior to dealing the flop, turn and river. Two decks will rotate at each table.
Chips: Each player will start with an equal amount of chips. Your $25 entrance fee gets you $2500 in chips. Smaller denomination chips will be exchanged for higher ones when appropriate. All chips must remain on the table at all times. When it is appropriate to exchange chips, any odd ones that can’t be exchanged will be awarded to the player determined in the following process: (For each odd chip a player possess, he will receive one card dealt off the top of a shuffled deck. High card wins all of the odd chips and exchanges them. If there is a tie, another set of cards will be dealt to those who tied until a winner can be determined.)
(Here it is in layman’s terms: As the game progresses the blinds and the minimum bets get much bigger; to the point where there is no sense in having $25 chips on the table. We will at that point exchange the $25 chips for $100 or $500 chips. If you have one odd $25 chip you get one card, if you have three odd $25 chips you get three cards; etc., etc. High card wins ALL the odd chips and then he exchanges them because he will now have an even number of $25 chips that exactly divide by four. GOT THAT – AL?)
The Winner: The tournament ends when there is only one player left with chips. Da!
Payouts: The number and amounts of cash prizes awarded will be dependent upon number of participants; roughly 10–15% of the number of entrants will win some amount. (See attached example pay-out sheet.)
Conflict Resolution: There will be a group of 4-5 players who will act as a conflict resolution group in the event there is a disagreement. These players are versed on the rules of tournament hold’em and will resolve issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the game.
High Hand Pool: There will be an additional pool for those interested for an entry of $5 a person. The person in the pool who had the highest hand during the tournament will win this money. To qualify, the hand must utilize at least one of your hole cards. Depending on the number of entrants there might be 2 places awarded.
Side Games: As people are eliminated, side games of dealer’s choice will start for those interested in not being bored!
General Rules of Texas Hold’em
Basic Rules:
The Basic Concept: Players are dealt two cards facedown, called “hole cards”. Five community cards are placed face-up in three stages listed below. Each player's hand is determined by using the best five out of seven cards. The rank of hands (highest to lowest) is listed after the “general rules”.
The “Dealer”: The first “dealer” is determined by whoever receives the first spade dealt around the table and is given the dealer button. This button indicates that the player is the assigned “dealer” for the current hand of the game. Upon completion of the hand, the button is passed to the left. This “dealer” will not actually be dealing the cards. (See ‘Dealers’ section above.)
The Blinds: Before dealing any cards, “blind” bets are made by the two players to the left of the dealer. These bets are called the “small blind” which is typically half of the “big blind” which is the minimum bet of the level. The first position to left of dealer is “small blind”, second is big. (See level chart to be provided later.)
The Antes: Antes are money put in the pot by each player prior to the deal (including players who have to post blinds). Anteing starts at level 5 and increases each level thereafter. When there are only two players left in the tournament (heads-up), anteing will stop.
Making the Rounds: There are four betting rounds in Texas Hold'em. Betting always proceeds clockwise.
First Round: Each player is dealt their "hole cards," facedown. The player to the left of the "big blind" can fold, call, or raise the bet. Betting proceeds clockwise around the table and three raises are allowed.
On the first round of betting, the “big blind” acts as the opening bet thus there is no checking. When the action gets to the “small blind” he must put in enough to call any bets (the other half of the “big blind” at a minimum) or fold. The “small blind” can also raise as long as there were not three raises before him. The “big blind” also has the option to raise as long as there were not three raises before him. (See Betting Section)
Second Round: After burning a card, the dealer places three community cards face-up on the table. These cards are called "the flop." The player to the left of the dealer button begins the round by betting, checking or folding. Players can now check if there is no bet ahead of them. If there is a bet ahead of a player, they can fold, call, or raise. Raises can only be made in increments of the betting structure and only three raises can be made. (See Betting Section)
Third Round: After burning a card, the dealer places another community card face-up, called "the turn" or "Fourth Street". The player to the left of the dealer button begins the round by betting, checking or folding. Raises can only be made in increments of double the big blind and only three raises can be made. (See Betting Section)
Final Round: After burning a card, the dealer places the last community card face-up, called "the river" or "Fifth Street". The player to the left of the dealer button begins this final round by betting, checking or folding. Raises can only be made in increments of double the big blind and only three raises can be made. The winner is the player with the best five-card hand selected from the players “hole cards” and the five community cards. (Someone may also win the pot by betting and no one calling before completion of the betting round, called “taking it down”). (See Betting Section)
Betting & Raising: The first 4 levels of the tournament are limit hold’em which means there are set limits on betting and raising. For example, in a 25/50 level the 25 signifies the increment of the bets in the first two rounds of the hand (pre-flop and post-flop). An initial bet of 25 and 3 incremental raises of 25 each are allowed. On the second two rounds of the betting (post-turn & post-river) the increments are 50. During a betting round, chips considered in the pot for that round should be place in front of the player, towards the center of the table, not thrown in the center of the pot which is called “splashing the pot”. This causes difficulty in assuring the right amount of chips are in play, thus you should not “splash the pot”. Starting at level 5 the tournament switches to no-limit hold’em. (Refer to the no-limit section and the level chart provided.)
No-Limit: Starting at level 5 the tournament switches to no-limit hold’em in which players may bet the minimum bet, all of their chips, or anything in between, in any round. After dealing the hole cards an initial (or subsequent) minimum bet is always the “big blind” amount. If someone bets, the next player to raise must raise at least the amount of the previous bet or in the event that the player doesn’t have enough chips, must go “all-in”, call, or fold.
All In: A player puts all of their chips in as a bet, raise, or call. The money from any betting or raising that goes above this amount is put into a side pot for the remaining players in the hand
Other Miscellaneous Rules:
Check Raising: A player may check and subsequently raise in the same round if another player bets or raises after his initial check.
Cards on the Table: Your hole cards must remain on the table at all times.
Exposed Card: If a card is exposed during the deal, the card is shown to each player and the next subsequent card off the deck is dealt to replace it. If a player’s card is exposed during the hand, the card is still considered part of the player’s hand. As there could be several different circumstances around exposed cards, in the event of a disagreement with the treatment of an exposed card, the Conflict Resolution Group will determine the best course of action.
Acting Out of Turn: It is courtesy to play in turn, please do not fold, check, call, bet, or raise until it is your turn to act.
String Betting: String betting is not allowed. For example “I’ll call your 500 and raise you 500” is considered a string bet. When betting, it is best to say exactly what you intend to do. “I check”, “I call”, “I raise to 1000” prior to putting any chips in the pot. Verbal betting supercedes and is binding if in contrast to the number of actual chips you put in the pot.
Mucking Cards: Once you have folded your hand and or any part of your “hole cards” touches any other cards your hand is considered mucked and is deemed out of play. Any amount of your money in the pot is lost. If you are folding, your “hole cards” should be mucked with the other cards out of play.
Discussing Cards: Players should not discuss their hole cards whether they are in the hand or not, until after the entire hand is complete. It is acceptable to discuss them when heads up (against only one other person).
No Chopping: Chopping means two players splitting a pot or taking back the blinds in the event everyone else folds. The hand MUST be played out.
No Back-To-Back “Big Blind”: No player shall be assessed back-to-back “big blind” payments due to the elimination of another player. This can possibly occur when two players remain. Whoever previously paid the “small blind” must accept responsibility for the next “big blind”.
Not at the table: Players not seated at their assigned seat will still be dealt cards. If the player is still absent when the action gets to them, their hand will be folded. If the player has money currently in the pot, he will be considered “all-in” with that amount and a side pot will be created for all other action. This includes players in the “blind” positions who will be forced to post the appropriate “blind”. (Reasonable time will be allowed for a player to return to his seat)
Time to play: Players may take time to make decisions on how to act (check, call, bet, raise, and fold). If another player feels this is being abused, they can ask for “a clock” on the player, which will start a 2 minute countdown to act. If the player with the action fails to make a decision in this time, he will be treated similarly to the “Not at the Table” rule above. This should only be used for players abusing the right to take their time.
Showing at Showdown: Anyone at the table may ask to see any “called” hand prior to mucking the cards in question.
Show One, Show All: If a player shows a person his cards, he must show everyone at the table, whether they were in the hand or not.
Rank of Hands:
Royal flush (ten, jack, queen, king and ace of same suit)
Straight flush (five cards in a sequence all of the same suit)
Four of a kind (four cards of same face value)
Full house (three cards of one face value and two cards of another face value)
Flush (five cards of same suit)
Straight (five cards in a sequence)
Three of a kind (three cards of same face value)
Two pair (two sets of two cards with the same face value)
One pair (two cards with the same face value)
High card (A is high unless used in a low straight)
