TDA Rules

1. Chip-race rule: When it is time to color-up chips, they will be raced off with a maximum of one chip going to any player. The chip-race always will start in the No.1 seat.

2. Odd chips: The odd chip(s) will go to the high hand. In flop games, 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. In stud-type games, the odd chip will go to the high card by suit.

3. Side pots: Each side pot will be split as a separate pot. They will not be mixed together before they are split.

4. Calling for the clock procedures: Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called for, a player will be given one minute to make a decision. If action has not been taken by the time the minute is over, there will be a 10-second countdown. If a player has not acted on his hand by the time the countdown is over, the hand will be dead.

5. Dead Button: Tournament play will use a dead button.

6. Penalties: A penalty MAY be invoked if a player exposes any card with action pending, if a card(s) goes off the table, if softplay occurs, or similar incidents take place. Penalties WILL be invoked in cases of abuse, disruptive behavior, or similar incidents.

7. Players must be at the table to call time. In flop games, the big blind's hand will be dead if he is not there to act on it before the flop. In stud-type games, the forced low hand will be immediately dead if the player is not there to act on his hand at the time he is required to put money in the pot (the minimum bring-in will be posted and the hand will be killed).

8. Half-bet rule: If a player puts in a raise of 50% or more of the previous bet, he will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed.

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

10. In limit games, an oversized chip will be constituted to be a call if the player does not announce raise. In no-limit, an oversized chip before the flop is a call; after the flop, an oversized chip put in the pot will constitute the size of the bet.

11. The one player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced.

12. A draw for the button will be held at the beginning of each flop-type event.

13. Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned. In satellites, the dealer will shuffle and give each player a seat assignment that cannot be exchanged.

14. The English-only rule will be enforced during tournament play.

Accepted 2002 TDA Rules

15. A player who wants to use a cellular phone must step away from the table.

16. There will be no foreign chips on the table except for a maximum of one card cap.

17. Deck changes will be on the dealer push or limit changes or as prescribed by the house. Players may not ask for deck changes.

18. When time has elapsed in a round and a new round is announced, the new limits apply to the next hand. A hand has begun with the first riffle.

19. A player may not miss a hand. If a player announces the intent to rebuy before the first card is dealt, that player is playing behind and is obligated to make the rebuy.

20. Players must keep their highest denomination chips visible at all times.

21. Verbal declarations as to the content of a player’s hand are not binding; however at management’s  discretion, any player deliberately miscalling his hand may be penalized.

22. No rabbit hunting is allowed.

23. A player who intentionally dodges his blind(s) when moving from a broken table may forfeit the blind(s) and/or incur a penalty. The money will be put into the next pot and may be considered dead money.

24. All chips must be visibly displayed at all times. Players may not have tournament chips in their pockets at any time. A player who has chips in his pocket will forfeit the chips. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play from the tournament.

25. Moving players: In flop games, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position.

26. In limit events, there will be a limit to raises, even when heads-up. (The limit will be the house limit.) Once the tournament becomes head-up the rule does not apply.

27. In stud-type games, if any of the players’ two down cards are exposed due to dealer error, it is a misdeal.

28. If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to his money back. An exception would be if a player raised and his raise had not been called yet, he would be entitled to receive his raise back.

29. Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was turned face up and was obviously the winning hand.

30. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Action out of turn may be binding.

31. 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 the technical interpretation of the rules be ignored in the interest of fairness. The floor person’s decision is final.

32. Management reserves the right to cancel or alter any event at its sole discretion in the best interest of the casino or its players.

33. Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the seat. 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.

34. Penalties available for use by the TD are verbal warnings, 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes away from the table and may be used with discretion. These may be utilized up to and including disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his chips removed from play.

35. 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.

36. A player who exposes his cards during the play may incur a penalty, but will not have his hand killed.

37. In NL or PL, when raising, you either put the amount of the raise out in one motion or state your raise amount. If you state the amount, you may make more than one motion.