Basic Rules of Play
Nite Owl Poker is played using the basic rules of No Limit Texas Hold 'Em. Standard tournament rules also apply. If you have a question about any rule, please contact Nite Owl Poker. Below is a summary of the basic rules, but it is not intended to list every rule for every possible circumstance. The judgment of the Tournament Director is final.Starting Stack: 200 chips
*Blind structure may be modified at the discretion of the Tournament Director. Depending on the seating available at the venue, seating will be on a first come, first serve basis. All players must sign up at the venue before beginning play. Players must be 21 years of age. Players may be up to 60 minutes late and be allowed to play at the discretion of the Tournament Director. (Players who arrive beyond the 60 minute mark may be allowed to play at the discretion of the Tournament Director.) Besides the missed blinds, late arriving players will start with less than 200 chips as follows:
1 - 10 minutes late: no chip penalty
11 - 20 minutes late: -5 chip penalty
21 - 30 minutes late: -10 chip penalty
31 - 40 minutes late: -15 chip penalty
Dealer
To start the tournament, each table shall draw randomly for high card to determine the initial dealer at the table. If 2 players draw the same high card, the deal goes to the first to draw it. As tables are broken and players move, a new draw for dealer will be held at a table if the new players to a table are more than, equal to, or one less than, the current number of players at the table. The Final Table will always have a high card for the deal.
General Rules
Players must play their own cards. Players cannot discuss the current hand, whether they are in the hand or not. Players must protect their hands. Mucked cards cannot be recovered, even if the mucked hand would have been the winning hand. Showing mucked cards to one player is not allowed — show one, show all. At a showdown, when all action is complete, the player who was last to bet or raise shall show his cards first. A winning hand must show both hole cards. Any player can request to see a losing player's hand at a showdown, even if the cards are mucked. If a hand does not reach a showdown, the winning player's cards need not be shown.
Betting
An opening bet must be at least equal to the big blind. A raise must be at least double the last bet or raise. Exception: An all-in bet where a player has less than 50% more than the opening bet is not a raise and the original bettor may not reraise. String bets are not allowed.
Leaving a Tournament Early
If a player cannot continue for any reason, the player's chips are forfeited to the Tournament Director. Chips cannot be divided among the remaining players.
Fair Play
The Tournament Director shall have the final word on all poker decisions in the tournament. Players who are abusive or unruly, or disrupt the fair play of the game, may be disqualified from the tournament and prohibited from future play. All players are also subject to the rules of the restaurant or tavern, which has final say over all of its customers. Nite Owl Poker is not responsible for any of the players in the tournament, or for the Tournament Director beyond his poker duties.
