1. The Floor Personnel is required to make their decisions in the best interest of the game - with fairness as the highest priority. This means that, in certain situations, technical rules may be “ignored” in favour of the spirit of fairness. Tournament Management decisions are final (as corresponding with official rule #31, regarded by all TDA members as Rule Number One).

 

2. Chip Race: The chip race always begins with the 1st place. A player may receive a maximum of one chip. A player cannot be eliminated from a tournament by a chip race. In case a player has only one chip left when the chip race starts, the chip race shall proceed as usual. If that player then loses the chip race he shall automatically receive one of the smallest chips in the game.

 

3. Odd chips: In split pots the place left of the dealer button always receives the lowest-denomination odd chip. In all Stud games, the odd chip goes to the highest card, ranked according to suit (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs). In all High/Low games, the odd chip goes to High.

 

4. Side Pots: When split each side pot is divided separately and shall not be merged prior to the split.

 

5. Calling “Clock” or “Time”: If some time has elapsed and “Clock” is requested, the player then receives one minute to make his/her move. If the player still hasn’t reached a decision after that minute has passed, a countdown of 10 seconds is initiated by the floorman. If still no action has occurred, that hand is automatically declared “dead”. It is furthermore the dealer’s responsibility to make sure that players make their moves within a reasonable time frame (around 2 minutes). Otherwise, a Floorman is to be called.

 

6. Dead Button Rule: When a player is eliminated, the button may in some cases stay at the same position for two games.

 

7. Penalties: A time penalty may be declared if a player exposes or shows cards during play, throws/drops cards from the table, or engages in “soft play” – such as failing to bet or raise in last position despite holding, for example, “nuts”. A penalty must be declared in cases of collusion, misconduct, wrongdoing or the like.

 

8. A player must be at the table as soon as all players have received their cards, otherwise the hand is declared “dead”. In order for “time” to be called, one player must be at the table. In Stud, the “forced bet” is immediately declared “dead” when the player is not at the table. (The forced bet is placed and the hand is buried.)

 

9. All hole cards of active players must be revealed as soon as a player is “all in” and no more action is possible.

 

10. If a player makes a bet, which is 50% or more of the last bet, he must complete the raise so that the amount of the bet equals the minimum raise

 

11. In Limit games, placing an oversized chip (a chip of higher value) is considered a call without a raise having to be announced. In No Limit games, placing an oversized chip before the Flop is also considered a call. After the Flop, the oversized chip is placed as its real value. If a player announces a raise and places an oversized chip, in all No Limit and Pot Limit games, the highest possible value is valid – up to the value of that chip.

 

12. Only one player is allowed per hand.

 

13. Tournament and satellite seats are assigned by pure chance.

 

14. During games, only English and German may be spoken at the tables.

 

15. Mobile telephones may be used away from the tables.

 

16. Non-tournament chips are to be kept away from tournament tables, with the exception of one card holder per player.

 

17. Card decks are changed at every dealer or limit change, or according to house rules. Players may not request a deck change.

 

18. As soon as the time for a limit has passed, a new limit is announced and is valid as of the next hand. This hand begins with the first shuffle.

 

19. No player may miss a hand. A rebuy must take place immediately following all-in. “Treasure Hunting” is not allowed.

 

20. The chips of the highest value must remain visible at all times.

 

21. Verbal expressions pertaining to the value of a hand are not prohibited per se. However, it is up to the tournament director to ascertain abuse and false statements.

 

22. “Rabbit Hunting” is not allowed.

 

23. A player who intentionally delays changing seats in order to miss paying a blind must come up with both blinds. The chips go into the next pot and are to be considered dead money.

 

24. All chips must remain visible to all players at the table. Players may not take chips from the table and put them into their pockets; concealed chips will be removed by the tournament director. Chip racks are to be used when changing tables.

 

25. When a table is balanced out, the tournament director always takes the big blind and sets it on the new table as close as possible to the big blind.

 

26. A winning open hand is always valid, even when mucked by dealer error.

 

27. Verbal statements bearing on the game made during that players’ turn are binding. Verbal statements bearing on the game made outside of that players’ turn may be binding. (Both according to situation and to be determined by the Floorman.)

 

28. The tournament director, in the best interest of the casino as well as players, reserves the right to cancel tournaments or make certain changes (blinds, intervals, players per table).

 

29. Penalties available to the tournament director are verbal warnings, 10, 20, 30 and 40 minute time penalties away from the table, and disqualification. When a player is disqualified, his/her remaining chips will be removed from tournament play.

 

30. Players are also required to protect their hands from other players; it is furthermore not allowed to speak about thrown cards or in any way to verbally interfere in a running game.

 

31. A player who opens his hand during a game, but before showdown has been announced, shall receive a time penalty of 10 minutes. These cards, however, shall not be considered “dead”.

 

32. A raise in NL PL games may be either verbally announced or made as a bet. When announcing a “raise”, the bet must still be placed in the same move; otherwise the “minimum raise” is valid.

 

33. Verbal interference by anyone, whether participating in the game or not, is penalized with a time penalty of 10 minutes (for example, discussing the contents of active or thrown hands, convincing players to call or fold, or in any way to influence the course of the game for any or all players).

 

34. The minimum raise is equal to the value of the last raise and bet. (Example: Player 1 bets 1000, Player 2 raises 2000, for player 3 the minimum raise is 3000.)

 

35. Only those guests participating in the tournament are allowed in the tournament area. Exceptions can be approved by the tournament director only. It is strictly prohibited for these persons to influence active players in any way whatsoever. Players who have been ejected from the tournament must leave the tournament area right away.

 

36. When a player makes a bet outside of his turn, this bet may be considered binding!

 

37. 3% of the tournament prize money is automatically disbursed to dealers.

 

 

 

Player etiquette during tournament:

 

A player who throws cards from the table, whether intentionally or unintentionally, shall be penalized with a 10-minute time-out.

 

Only English or German may be spoken at the tables. The use of any other form of communication shall be met with a warning. A repeated warning shall be issued in the form of a 10-minute time penalty.

 

It is not allowed for a player to open his hole cards before the showdown. Such behaviour shall be met with a warning. A repeated warning shall be issued in the form of a 10-minute time penalty.

 

The use of abusive or foul language against players or the dealer is not allowed. Furthermore, the throwing or damaging of cards is strictly prohibited. Such behaviour is considered rude and unsporting, requiring a 10-minute time-out.

 

Players sitting out must remove themselves from the tournament area.

 

The Tournament Director