All the Lima Poker Series tournaments are No-Limit Texas Hold’em. The following is a brief description of the rules to be used in conjunction with all Lima Poker Series tournaments (“Tournament”). A complete list of rules will be posted at the Tournament in plain view of the playing tables. Where there is a discrepancy or dispute, the Tournament Director, Doug Mauch, will have final say. Rules are subject to change.

Winning the Tournament:

Play will continue until a winner is declared. Deals can be made at the final table, but a winner must be declared. If more than one player is eliminated on the same hand, the player(s) with more starting chips at the beginning of the hand will place one position higher than the player(s) also eliminated during that hand.

Late Players:

Players who have committed their attendance to the Tournament but have not arrived by the deal of the first hand will, at the Tournament Director’s discretion, be assigned a seat and issued chips. Another, present player will post all appropriate blinds/antes on behalf of the absent player, until the player has arrived or until all chips have been blinded off.

Cutting Cards:

The player to the right of the dealer must cut the cards, if that player is absent, someone will cut for him.

Dead Cards:

Cards that touch the muck face down are ruled dead. Cards thrown face up that touch other cards must be clearly identifiable by the players at the table or the hand is dead.

Missing Players:

Players who are not at the table are still dealt in. Once the 2nd card is dealt, the absent players hands are ruled dead and mucked immediately upon the completion of the deal.

Protect Cards

It is the player’s responsibility to protect his cards at all times.

Announce Raises:

Please announce your raises to prevent conflicts with string betting. It is not required to do so, but strongly recommended, especially if you are not “experienced.”

Timer Use and Breaks:

When the blinds timer expires, play will stop at every table until all tables are completed with current hand. The next hand will be dealt at the new blind level. For the purpose of thus rule, a hand is considered currently in play once the all blinds/antes are posted AND the dealer has begun shuffling the cards. Breaks will last for ten (10) minutes and will taken every two (2) hours. The timer is stopped during breaks and during any disputes that occur which require attention from the Tournament Director. No additional hands at any table should be started during such a break, although hands already in progress will be completed.

2-Decks Per Table:

In an effort to speed up play, 2-decks will be in use per table. Deck changes are permitted, but out of consideration, please keep this minimal as it does slow up the game.

Seating:

Each table will seat a maximum of 10 players. Players will be distributed by random as evenly as possible between all tables. When the Tournament begins, or when a new table or tables are formed, dealers deal each player one card. The ace or highest card becomes the button.

Breaking Tables

Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the position.  They can get the big blind, the small blind, or the button.  The only place they cannot get a hand is between the small blind and the button.

Balancing Tables

When balancing tables, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position (which is never the small blind).  The table from which a player is moved will be as specified by a predetermined procedure.  Play will halt on any table that is three or more players short.

Moving Players:

Players will be moved throughout the tournament to the best of the tournament staff’s ability. At times, players will redraw seats, and may draw into the Big Blind, even though they just posted their blinds at their previous table. This is the “bad” luck of the draw, and players must still post and cannot “sit out.” To clarify, players may have to post a Big Blind, but can never come to a new table and post a Small Blind or Deal their first hand. In this instance, they will “sit out” until the button passes.

Chips Must Remain on Table:

Chips must remain on the table at all times. If active players remove chips at any time from the table, that player may be disqualified from the remainder of the tournament.

Chips Visible

All chips must be visible at all times. Players may not hold or transport tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of view. A player who does so will forfeit the chips and will face disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play.

Communication Devices

A player may not use a cellular phone, text-messaging device, or other communication device at the table. Cellular phone use at the table will automatically kill the players hand. This includes text-messaging. Player must leave the table in order to use celularl phone.

No Disclosure. No Advice. One Player to a Hand.

Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Therefore, players, whether in the hand or not, may not: 1. Disclose contents of live or folded hands. 2. Advise or criticize play before the action is complete. 3. Read a hand that hasn’t been tabled The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced.

Oversized Chip

A single oversized chip will be considered a call if the player does not announce a raise. If a player puts an oversized chip into the pot and states raise but does not state the amount, the raise will be the maximum allowable up to the size of that chip. After the flop, an initial bet of a single oversized chip without comment will constitute the size of the bet. To make a raise with a single oversized chip a verbal declaration must be made before the chip hits the table surface.

Higher Denomination Chips Visible

Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible at all times.

Raises

There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit games.  A raise must be at least the size of the previous raise.

Misdeals

Exposure of one of the first two cards dealt is a misdeal.  Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button.

Unprotected Hands

If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to a refund of bets.  However, if a player had raised and the raise had not yet been called, the raise will be returned to the player.

Killing Winning Hand

Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was tabled and was obviously the winning hand.  Players are encouraged to assist in reading tabled hands if it appears that an error is about to be made.

Verbal Declarations

Verbal declarations in turn are binding.  Action out of turn may be binding and will be binding if the action to that player has not changed.  A check, call, or fold is not considered action changing.

Exposing Cards

A player who exposes his cards with action pending may incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand.  The penalty will begin at the end of the hand.

Methods of Raising

A raise must be made by (1) placing the full amount in the pot in one motion; or (2) verbally declaring the full amount prior to the initial placement of chips into the pot; or (3) verbally declaring “raise” prior to the placement of the amount to call into the pot and then completing the action with one additional motion.

Button in Heads-up

When heads-up the small blind is on the button and acts first.  When beginning heads-up play the button may need to be adjusted to ensure that, no player takes the big blind twice in a row.

Action Pending

Players must remain at the table if they still have action pending on a hand.

Showdown

At the end of last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive action in that betting round must show first.  If there was no bet the player to the left of the button shows first and so on clockwise.

Playing the Board

A player must show both cards when playing the board in order to get part of the pot.

Re-buys

A player may not miss a hand.  If a player announces the intent to re-buy before a new hand begins, that player is playing chips behind and is obligated to make the re-buy.

Random Seats

Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned.

Raise Requirements

If a player puts in a raise of 50% or more of the previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she will be required to make a full raise.  The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed.  An all-in bet of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted.

Face Up

All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all betting action is complete.

At Your Seat

A player must be at his or her seat by the time all players have been dealt complete initial hands in order to have a live hand.  Players must be at their seat to call time.

Penalties and Disqualification

A penalty MAY be invoked if a player exposes any card with action pending, throws a card off the table, violates the one-player-to-a-hand rule, or similar incidents take place.  Penalties WILL be invoked in cases of soft play, abuse, or disruptive behavior.  Penalties available to the TD include verbal warnings and “missed hand” penalties.  A missed hand penalty will be assessed as follows: The offender will miss one hand for every player, including the offender, who is at the table when the penalty is given multiplied by the number of rounds specified in the penalty; for the period of the penalty the offender shall remain away from the table. Tournament staff can assess one-, two-, three-, or four-round penalties or disqualification.  A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips removed from play.  Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties.

Dead Button

Tournament play will use a dead button.

Odd Chips

The odd chip(s) will go to the high hand.  When there are two or more high hands or two or more low hands the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button.

Rabbit Hunting

Rabbit hunting is not allowed.

Dealers:

Dealers will be provided for the final tables of the tournament.

Floor People

Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process.  Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over the technical rules.  The floor person’s decision is final.

Tournament Director:

The Tournament Director is responsible for all table, seating and dealer decisions. The Tournament Director is responsible for the handling of the timer, although he may delegate this task to another authorized Tournament staff member. In the case of disputes and rules interpretations, the Tournament Director will have final authority. If the dispute directly involves the Tournament Director, a Lima Warriors Amateur Football Club, Inc. representative will be appointed to resolve the dispute and his or her decision will be final.

There are numerous more rules to poker that will be followed at this tournament, most of which come from the Tournament Director’s Association (TDA,) If at anytime a problem or question arises, please call for the tournament director immediately. The tournament director will make the final ruling in any disputes or problems that arise.