Rules and Regulations - Click here for printable version

Poker League Colorado
Guidelines for Play

League guidelines apply to all Poker League Colorado players and games. League owners reserve the right to amend, add or delete rules/guidelines as deemed necessary for all games, or as required by venue restriction.

Basic Guidelines

• Players must be 18 years of age to play, venue permitting.
• Players under the age of 21 qualifying for monthly tournament held in a 21+ venue are not permitted to play in that particular tournament.
• No purchase, including food or drink is required for play.  No cover charge, or “buy-in” may be applied to patrons be either the host or venue.
• No U.S. currency of any kind, circulated or non-circulated is permitted on the tables as prohibited by state law.
• League hosts are permitted to play in games and are held to the same conduct of play as all players.
• Venue owners/managers/employees are permitted to play and are held to the same conduct of play as all players.
• Players are responsible for keeping track of the games they play and the points they earn each time they play.
• Point discrepancies between player and league records must be brought to the immediate attention of a host.
• Discrepancies for a particular month must be researched and if necessary corrected prior to monthly tournament sign in time.
• Players must be able to provide the host a record of games played and points earned.
• Research will not be done for players simply because they “think” the leagues point standings are incorrect.
• Points will not be retroactively awarded to a player that failed to sign in on a night they played.  Refer to Rule 1 – Sign In/Seating.

Player Behavior

• Respect of venue and league property, fellow players, venue staff and league hosts is required at all times.
• It is assumed that all players participating will act in an “adult manner”.  For as many different players as there are participating, there are equally that many styles of play.  Demeaning, derogatory and disrespectful behavior towards players and hosts will not be tolerated.
• Inappropriate, unsportsmanlike, or “bully” behavior will be subject to penalty, elimination or permanent dismissal.
• Examples of “bully” behavior is a player that continually, over aggressively bets/raises or repeatedly goes all in hand after hand, especially at lower blind levels; a player that states they are going to continually go all in just so that no other player can win a pot.
• A “reasonable” bet/raise is 2 – 5 times the big blind. An aggressive bet is any multiple more than that.
• Players are expected to drink responsibly and avoid overindulgence.
• Usage of the “F” word in any form or fashion is strictly prohibited within 25 feet of the tournament area and is subject to penalty up to and including dismissal from the game/league.
• Rule is in force from 30 minutes prior to game start until all tournament equipment is removed.
• Rule applies to all “live” tables as well as comp tables.
• Players eliminated from play, live or comp are subject to penalties including but not limited to point penalties, removal from tournament area/venue or league suspension.
• Imposed penalties for violations of league guidelines are at the host’s discretion and may include removal from the tournament, even for a “first” offense if the player has been repeatedly reminded of that or multiple other violations or if the behavior is such that it threatens a player, the league or a venue in any way.
• Players are responsible for payment of all food and drink items purchased at a venue.  Failure to pay a tab before departure may be suspended from play until the tab is paid and the host directly notified by the venue or league owner.
• Each venue reserves the right to impose a “skipped tab” penalty, up to and including dismissal from the venue.
• Players are expected to respect venue rules regarding food and beverage purchases including cash on demand tabs, credit card/picture ID hold for tabs, bottled water purchases, etc.
• Dismissal from a venue by venue staff may result in permanent dismissal from the league.  All venues reserve the right to refuse service to any player for any reason.
• Cell phone usage at the tables, live or comp is prohibited at any time during active tournament play.  This includes incoming/outgoing text messaging.
• Cheating, including suspected coercion, will result in permanent dismissal from all league events.

Concerns/Complaints

• Concerns regarding the league are to be directed to league hosts as quickly as possible.
• Concerns regarding active play at the table are to be brought to a host’s attention immediately.
• Error correction cannot occur once a hand has ended and a pot awarded; it can only be clarified for future reference.
• Poker host decisions and penalties are final and may vary slightly depending on the situation as it is evaluated by the host.
• Hosts will do their best to be as fair and consistent as possible. They make the best decision based on the info they are provided.
• If it is determined later that the wrong action was taken, poker hosts will do all possible to rectify the situation, knowing that some situations cannot be retro-actively fixed.
• Situations occurring without any clear-cut established guidelines for resolution will be handled as fairly as possible and when possible with full consensus of players involved.
• Concerns regarding the venue or venue staff are to be directed to the venue owners/management.
• Any player having a concern regarding a hand, pot count, etc, during an active hand, has the right to request play halted until the concern is clarified/resolved.
• Rule clarification can be called by any player at any time; on or off the table.
• Players not active on the table involved are asked to bring violations to the host’s attention. The host will then decide if the table is to be notified of the violation initiated by outside source.
• Table consensus is honored, regarding any concern as long as all players at the table, active in the hand or not, are in agreement.
• What applies for one applies for all.
• In the event a host is called for clarification, play stops and all cards and chips are to remain as they are until the host states play can continue.
• Hosts are always available to clarify procedure before, during and after play, however hosts may only enforce while play is still active.
• Repercussions, verbal or otherwise, against a player for requesting host clarification will not be tolerated.

Sign In/Seating

• Players must be signed in before each tournament. Players are solely responsible for signing themselves in. Players not signed in by first break may not be awarded points for that tournament.
• All players signing in under the New Player Sign In are required to list a first and last name.  Nicknames may be used for a first name however a legal last name is required.
• Hand written sign in is to be clear and legible for points to be awarded. Applies to all players.
• Table seating is random and is controlled by pre-numbered name tag distribution.  All players must have a name tag present at their seat.  It is not required to be worn.
• After signing in, players are required to add their name to the next available tag. Tags are distributed top to bottom, left to right.  If it is determined that tags are not being taken in order seating will be reassigned.  Habitual offenders may be suspended from play.
• Spouses, significant others, close friends or family members are to be distributed to different tables at initial seating, whenever possible. If seating at the same table occurs then a minimum of one seat is to separate the applicable players.
• New players to the game and the league may be seated with a known player however Rule 3a still applies.
• Initial table seating will have no less than six players and no more than nine players. Only exception is venues that require ten-top table seating due to space limitations.
• Players arriving after game start time are not guaranteed a seat.  When possible late arrivers will be accommodated.
• Players arriving after game start are penalized two 100 pt. chip. Players arriving after second blinds are called are penalized four 100 pt. chips.
• Players must arrive before the start of the first break to be considered for seating.
• Late arriving players may call a host or the venue, prior to the start of the game, to be “blinded in” and have until the end of first break to claim his/her seat.
• It is at the host’s discretion to “hold” a seat for these players. Present players have priority over open seats.
• Call-in players may be penalized according to Rule 5a if a seat is not available to be held and chips blinded in.
• Players must arrive before the third blinds are called to claim seat, otherwise chips and seat are forfeited.
• When seating late arrivals:
•  If the only seat available puts the player in the small blind, the player must “sit out” the next two hands and allow the deal to pass to the player’s immediate left.
• Late arrival can assume the dealer position and play the next hand as long as table is in agreement with this action.
• Only exception would be if the player would be seated in a “dead” small blind vacated by another player. Then the joining player is expected to be small blind.
• If the only seat available puts the player in the big blind, the player is not permitted to “sit out” until the blinds pass.
• If the only seat available puts the player in between the dealer and the small blind position during an active hand, the player will allow the deal to pass to the player’s immediate left and can be dealt into the next hand.

Active Play

• Present players are expected to be at the tables consistently during active play. Players consistently away from the tables may have their chips removed from the table and seat forfeited at the host’s discretion.
• Players may leave the tournament at any time and are required to turn in their chips. Chips are never permitted to be distributed among remaining players at the table.
• Players leaving from the final table are awarded points at the level of the next place to be awarded, regardless of chip count.
• Players needing to leave for a short time but not wishing to turn in their chips are given 30 minutes to return before seat and chips are forfeited.
• This is not an option for players already on the final table. Rule 1.a.i applies.
• Tournament host must be notified for either case.
• Each player is issued one set of chips at the start of play. Players are never permitted to re-chip or obtain additional chips as a result of a food or beverage purchase.
• Players may not relinquish their chips to another player nor may another player sit as a substitute for a player on an active table.
• Blind times are 16 – 20 minutes long, depending on required tournament length.
• The “riffle of the shuffle” constitutes the start of a hand not the posting of the blinds.
• If blinds are called and a player has not yet begun to shuffle the next blind level is expected to be posted.
• If break is called and a player has not yet begun to shuffle the table is expected to start the break.
• Breaks are given every other set of blinds for 5 – 10 minutes.
• Once final table has been achieved, breaks are five minutes in length and consistent with normal schedule. 
• Players are responsible for returning on time; cards will be mucked in a player’s absence regardless if they are in the blinds or not.
• At start of play, cards are “washed” and each player draws a card to determine dealer.
• High card is dealer.  League does not play suit hierarchy. If two or more players draw the highest card of the same valued card then all applicable players draw again and the highest card of the second draw wins the deal.
• Lowest card on the table is the “bounty” player.
• Any player taking out a bounty receives an additional 50 points.
• Any bounty player “surviving” to win the entire tournament receives an additional 100 points.
• Should the bounty need to leave the game and turn in chips, the remaining, original players can redraw to determine a new bounty.  Players that joined as a result of table consolidation should not draw, only the players that started on the original table.
• Also applies to comp table bounties.
• Dealer duties shall rotate clockwise around the table. Players seated to the right of any player with an inability to shuffle/deal are asked to assist with dealer duties.
• Cards are to be shuffled face down.
• Cards are to be cut by a player to the right of the dealer.
• Cards must be cut once and only once with no less than three cards remaining in either pile.
• Dealer button will be placed on top of the card deck when cards are not being dealt.
• During play, chip handling is done by the dealer and betting players only.  If a player is absent from the table, but in the blind, only the dealer may post the blind in the player’s absence, or request a specific player to post the absent player.
• Dealers are expected to control the action at the table.
• All cards and chips will be on or above the level of the table and visible at all times.
• Cards and chips are to remain on the table during breaks. Players are responsible for knowing their chip count before leaving the table and upon returning to the table.
• Food and drink are permitted near the tables.  It is preferred that food never be on the tables during live play.
• A dealing player is asked to move his/her drink from proximity until after the deal is finished.
• Players need to be aware of drinks kept beneath and next to chairs.
• All raises must be equal to or greater than the big blind.
• Any raise following an initial raise action also can be equal to or greater than the big blind; it does not have to be double the initial raise as is the case in other games.
• Initial bets occurring after the “turn” and “river” cards have been dealt must be at least double the big blind amount.
• Pot splashing is prohibited. Chips are never to be slid, rolled, tossed or dropped into betting area.
• String betting is prohibited. In the case of betting or raising players are only permitted to reach once for chips unless it is determined that a player’s verbalized action is not consistent with the chip count placed in the betting area. (I.e. a player verbalizes an 800 pt raise but only places 700 in the betting area.)
• Players placing more chips into the betting area than required to call and not verbalizing a raise are only held to the call amount.
• Players acting out of turn lose the option to raise.  They are only held to the action preceding them.
• A player acting out of turn as a result of the previous out of turn action is not penalized.
• A player in the big blind may not initially post more than the big blind.  This is considered out of turn action.
• Players are asked to verbalize all actions.
• Only single term actions are permitted: Check, Fold, Call, Bet/Raise
• The league does not permit “double action” (I.e. “I call and raise you.” – the player may only call since that was the first action verbalized).
• Players are bound to their verbalized action.
• Example: A player stating he/she is calling the preceding bet not realizing that it was actually raised above a bet preceding the last action is bound to the call the newly raised amount. Folding is not an option once action has been announced.
• Example: A player stating a raise is bound to raise at least the appropriate minimum amount even if that amount is double what was initially believed to be the appropriate raise.  Folding is not an option once action has been announced.
• Players are never permitted to touch the muck pile even after the hand has ended. This can be viewed as cheating regardless of what a player verbalizes as his/her intention of doing so.
• No peeking at “what would have been”. If the cards were that good, they would’ve been played.
• A player is NEVER permitted to reveal another player’s cards for any reason.
• Discussion of hand contents, mucked or otherwise while play is in process is prohibited.
• Any player may request a deck change at any time, for any reason.  A newly introduced deck must be played long enough for the deal to pass completely around the table before a new deck will be introduced.  Damaged or marked decks will be exchanged immediately.
• A deck change can only be done by, or with the full knowledge, of the host. Only cards provided by the league are permitted to be used for tournament play.
• Only active players are permitted to sit at an active table.  Observers must remain at least one arm’s length from any player.
• Advice of any kind among from players on or off the tables is prohibited.
• Pocket cards are to be viewed by the holding player only. Cards intentionally shown to any player, on or off of the table may be required to be shown to all at the table.
• It is not illegal for players to expose their cards during a live hand, but rather considered poor etiquette.
• Players consistently exposing their cards during live play will be referred to Rule 3 – Player Behavior and will be penalized at host’s discretion.
• Cards prematurely revealed and then quickly turned face down again must be revealed to all players at the table.
• Players are expected to maintain control of their cards at all times. Any player tossing their cards, at any time during play, in such a manner that they land on the muck pile results in the hand being mucked, even if it would’ve been the winning hand.
• The “board/community” cards are not considered part of the muck pile
• A card accidentally exposed during the initial deal becomes the first burn card. Deal continues with the next player to receive a card and the “missed” player receives the last card dealt.
• If a second card is exposed the hand is considered misdealt.  All cards are collected, shuffled and dealt.
• Cards accidentally exposed by the dealer during the hand will be randomly placed back into the deck, shuffled three times, cut and readied for the next deal of the cards.
• Players are permitted to “run the rabbit” during regular play; it is strictly prohibited at all monthly and special invitational tournaments.
• The “cards speak for themselves” rule applies when determining the winning hand.  A player does not have to verbalize the winning hand to claim the pot.
• Both cards from the winning hand must be shown for the pot to be claimed, unless all other players have folded.
• In the case of an all-in action:
• Players active in the hand are permitted to leave cards face down until the river card is exposed.
• If multiple players are involved, a player may surrender his/her hand at any time.
• If only two players are involved, both players are required to show his/her hand.
• A host is to be called in the event a player in heads up refuses to show. Only the host may reveal a player’s cards.
• In the case of heads up play, the dealer is always small blind.
• A player may not post big blind two hands in a row.
• A player last posting small blind and now in heads up must post big blind.
• There are no “dead” blinds in heads up play.

Table Consolidation

• Total number of players at each table will be kept within two players.
• Tables with four or less players must cease play and notify a host immediately so they can be consolidated into other tables.
• Tables to be “folded” and consolidated, and how they are done so, are at the host’s discretion.
• Whenever possible players will be moved in accordance with Rule 3a – Sign In/Seating
• Hosts will try to be as fair as possible when moving players with larger chip counts so that no one table “holds” a majority of the chips.
• Players brought from a “folded” table into another table are to be brought in behind, or within one position of the button.
• Draw for deal will occur when four or more players are introduced to a table from a “folded” table
• In this case, seating behind the button is not required.  Introduced players may sit in any available seat.
• Blind timer may be stopped or adjusted at the host’s discretion if table consolidation takes longer than expected or multiple tables are being “folded”.
• In most cases, table consolidation occurs while play is being finished and new players can be seated before a new hand begins.

Comp Tables

• Rules of play are the same for comp as they are for the regular tournament.
  • Breaks are taken at the discretion of the comp table. Breaks are to last no longer than ten minutes.
    • Three or more players requesting a break requires the entire table to break.
• All players are permitted to play on comp tables. Only those signed into the regular tournament are eligible for any points on the comp table.
  • This rule allows for those not yet comfortable to play the larger game the opportunity to get comfortable with the group.
  • The last eligible player on the table will be awarded the win automatically if all others remaining are not eligible for points.
  • EXCEPTION: Any active player may sit a comp table at a monthly tournament and be eligible for points. Any new player may play comp at a monthly but is not eligible for points.
• Players not eligible for points can draw the “bounty” position but are not eligible for “bounty win” points.
• Substitution of one player for another is permitted only with full table consensus.
  • Only one substitution permitted. Chips must be turned in otherwise.
• Players may play as many comp tables as they wish, but may only win one.
  • Players are eligible for bounty points at all tables they play.
• Minimum of six players required for points. Maximum of eight players permitted.
  • Win for a table of six players is worth 50 points
  • Win for a table of eight players is worth 100 points
  • Monthly tournament comp tables are worth 100 pts for six players and 200 pts for eight players.
• Three types of comp table structure:
  • Regular
    • Blinds go up once the deal has returned to the original dealer. If at any point the dealer is eliminated than the “start point” shifts to the player to the original dealer’s left.
    • Once heads up occurs, blinds go up every fourth hand.
  • Speed
    • Blinds go up every fourth hand.
    • Once heads up occurs, blinds go up every other hand.
  • Suicide
    • Blinds go up every hand even through heads up play.
• A player may re-chip once on a comp table with an existing stack of chips not yet introduced into play once the deal has gone all the way around the table and returned to the original dealer. 
  • New players joining a comp table have priority on unused chip stacks over eliminated comp players.
  • In the event there is one set of chips but two players wishing to play, high card draw will determine which players receives the chips for play.
• Comp tables have ten minutes to complete play once the regular tournament has ended.
  • The player with the highest valued chip stack wins the table.
    • In the case where two players remain and one is the bounty:
      • If the non-bounty player has the higher stack he/she receives the win and bounty points.
      • If the bounty player has the higher stack he/she receives the win and bounty win points.
        • A “non-eligible” player cannot win any points. In this case the remaining opponent would earn win points only; not bounty points.

Heads Up Challenges

• Players waiting for enough players for a comp table may participate in a “heads up challenge”.
• Only two players at a time play for 50 pts. (thus the term “heads up”)
• High card draw determines dealer.
• Blinds go up consistent with tournament structure and after every 6th hand.
• Should players wish to end game due to comp table starting, the player with the highest chip count earns the points.
• No bounties are played.
• Any player may play as often as they like until two wins are achieved.
• Cannot play the same opponent more than once.

Monthly Tournaments

• Dates, times and venue locations for each monthly are established at the start of the poker year; consistent with the calendar year
• Subject to change at the request of a hosting venue.  When possible as much notice will be given of any changes to the published schedule.
• Qualified players are those finishing in the top sixty four positions of the final point standings each month.
• Actual seating may be more if additional players past position #64 have the same point total.
• Alternates are those finishing within the next ten positions past the cut off for qualified play.
• Actual number of alternates designated may be more if additional players past the tenth alternate position have the same point total.
• Unless otherwise noted all monthly tournaments will begin at noon on the scheduled day with sign in beginning at 11:30 a.m.
• Sign in will always begin 30 minutes prior to, and end 10 minutes prior to tournament start time.
• Alternate seating will begin 10 minutes prior to tournament start time.
• All players, qualified or alternate, are required to be signed in no later than 10 minutes prior to tournament start time.  Qualified seats are not guaranteed after that time.
• Each player is required to check him/herself in to receive his/her table assignment from the tournament director.
• Call-ins will not be accepted.  Players must be present to be considered checked in and seated.
• Players may check in and then leave the venue if necessary but are required to be present at the start of tournament announcements
• Seating of alternate players will begin at 11:50 a.m., or ten minutes prior to game start time.
• The number of alternates seated will not exceed the number of vacant qualified seats regardless of number of alternates checked in.
• Alternate seating will be determined by total points acquired.  Priority is highest amount of points to lowest.
• In the event that there are multiple alternates having the same point total but not enough seats to accommodate all of them, high card draw will occur to determine which players are seated.
• A qualified player or alternate arriving too late for check in but prior to the start of tournament announcements may be seated only if there are still available seats and all on-time alternates have been seated.
• The late player will not be accommodated if tables have been consolidated due to low turnout resulting in no available seats
• A player may be removed from the tournament without compensation at the organizer’s discretion for any violation of league rules no matter how minor.
• This includes any player at the final table and in a position to win a “paid” finish.

Revised 05/01/10

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