Rules
Texas Holdem Poker Australia Rules and Conditions
In Hold'em, players receive two downcards as their personal hand (holecards), after which there is a round of betting. Three boardcards are turned simultaneously (called the ''flop'') and another round of betting occurs. The next two boardcards are turned one at a time, with a round of betting after each card. The boardcards are community cards, and a player may use any five-card combination from among the board and personal cards. A player may even use all of the boardcards and no personal cards to form a hand (play the board). A dealer button is used. The usual structure is to use two blinds, but it is possible to play the game with one blind, multiple blinds, an ante, or combination of blinds plus an ante.
Objective: The best possible five card poker hand, using any combination of hole cards and community cards, wins the pot.
Betting Rules
The dealer deals each player their own two cards face-down (pocket cards)
1st betting round
The dealer burns a card then turns over three community cards face-up(the flop)
2nd betting round
The dealer burns another card then turns over 1 more community card (the turn,4th street)
3rd betting round
The dealer burns another card then turns over 1 final community card (the river,5th street)
Last betting round
Showdown (Every remaining player shows hand with bettor showing first)All remaining players must use one of the following choices at the showdown:
Two pocket cards & three boardcards
One pocket card & four boardcards
No pocket cards & five boardcards (called playing the board)You must declare that you are playing the board before you throw your cards away; otherwise you relinquish all claim to the pot.
Cash Game
The top 5 positions, each night, will qualify for the monthly Final. Tickets must be presented at the Final and cannot be passed-on to other players. Buy-in is $30 and the top 10% positions will be paid. The prize pool will be $500 plus entry fee's. Starting stack will be 10,000 chips and all bonus cards, except membership cards, will be accepted. During the event, there will also be the Highrollers Tournament Final. Buy-in is $105 and the top 10% positions will be paid. The prize pool will be $500 plus entry fee's. Starting stack will be 20,000 chips and no bonus cards will be accepted. Anyone who has played 2 or more times during the month will have a 25,000 starting stack. If you register 24 hours prior to the event you will receive 2000 bonus chips. (All buy-ins go to nightly, monthly and top 50 prize pool)
*Top 10 Shoot-out
The top ten point scorers for the month will qualify for our exclusive “Top 10 Shoot-out”. All players will start with 40,000 chips and there will be no bonus chips for this event. 1st prize will be $1000 and 2nd place will receive $500. A dealer will be provided. Buy-in for the Final will be $55. (All buy-ins go to nightly, monthly and top 50 prize pool)
*If any other player is tied with the 10th positioned point scorer; they shall also qualify.
**Cash & Free to Play Game Points
1st- 750, 2nd- 550, 3rd- 400, 4th- 300, 5th- 275, 6th- 250, 7th- 225,
8th- 200, 9th- 175, 10th- 150
(all other positions receive 75 points)
Additional Rules Regarding Points
**If there is less than one table (10 players), the number of participants will determine the points. For example, if there are 5 players, 1st will receive 250 points, 2nd will receive 225, 3rd is 200, 4th is 175 and 5th (or last place) is 150 points.
1. There is no minimum number of players or events that you can play in, as long as you register and participate in the game.
2. As soon as the Final table decides to do a deal for the prize pool, a chip count will immediately take place to determine the points positions. Following this, play can then continue for any additional prizes.
3. The $100 and $150 dollar High-roller games, top 10 positions, will automatically receive the top bonus level.
4. The top 10 in Games with; 15 to 24 players receive a bonus 150 points, 25 to 34 players receive 250 points, 35 to 44 players receive a bonus 350 points and 45+ players receive a bonus 450 points.
Free to Play
The top 5 positions, each night, will qualify for the Monthly Final. If you obtain any additional top 5 position, during the month, the next person (s), on the Final table, will receive the ticket for the Monthly Final. Tickets must be presented at the Final and cannot be passed-on to other players. The Winner of the Final will receive a $300 Cash, 2nd place will receive a Massage valued at $100. Starting stack will be 6000 chips and all bonus cards, except membership cards, will be accepted.
Final Rules
You must play a minimum of one event to qualify for any Texas Holdem Poker Australia Final.
Dealer Errors
If the first Hole Card dealt is exposed, a misdeal results. The dealer will retrieve the card, reshuffle, and recut the cards.
If any other Hole Card is exposed due to a dealer error, the deal continues. The exposed card may not be kept. After completing the hand, the dealer replaces the card with the top card on the deck, and the exposed card is then used for the Burn Card.
If the Flop contains too many cards, it must be redealt (this applies even if it were possible to know which card was the extra one.)
If the Flop needs to be redealt because the cards were prematurely Flopped before the betting was complete, or the Flop contained too many cards, the Board Cards are mixed with the remainder of the deck. The Burn Card remains on the table. After shuffling, the dealer cuts the deck and deals a new Flop without burning a card.
If the dealer turns the fourth card on the board before the betting round is complete, the card is taken out of play for that round, even if subsequent players elect to fold. The betting is then completed. The dealer burns and turns what would have been the fifth card in the fourth card's place. After this round of betting, the dealer reshuffles the deck, including the card that was taken out of play, but not including the Burn Cards or discards. The dealer then cuts the deck and turns the final card without burning a card.
If the fifth card is turned up prematurely, the deck is reshuffled and dealt in the same manner.
If the dealer mistakenly deals the first player an extra card (after all players have received their starting hands), the card will be returned to the deck and used for the Burn Card. If the dealer mistakenly deals more than one extra card, it is a misdeal.
When the dealer mistakenly does not do the Burn Card, the following will happen:
-if less than 2 players have acted, the turn card is returned to the deck, reshuffled, cut and you Burn and turn as per protocol.
-if 2 or more players have acted, then play continues.
Action Generally
All declarations of action:
must be made orally;
must be made in-turn;
are binding; and
once made, cannot be withdrawn or modified.
If a player ('Player') bets, calls or raises out-of-turn, then the player(s) whose turn it was but for the out-of-turn action ('Player') now has the turn. In that case, if Player A then:
bets less than Player's bet, Player B must call, by retrieving so much of their initial bet from the pot as is the difference in value between their bet and Player's bet; raises Player's bet, Player B must: call, by supplementing their initial bet with such amount as is the difference in value between their bet and Player's bet; re-raise by supplementing their initial bet with such amount as exceeds the difference between their bet and Player's bet; or fold, in which case their initial bet remains in the pot; or checks, Player B must:
check; or fold, in which case the initial bet remains in the pot. If Player B checks out-of-turn and then Player A checks, Player B must also check or fold. If Player B calls out-of-turn and then Player A calls, Player B must also call.
If a player bets less than the amount required to call, they must make up the difference in value between the bet and the call by adding chips to their
initial bet. If the player fails to make up that difference, the player must fold and the initial bet will be surrendered to the pot.
If a player plays a single oversized chip, without expressly declaring the intention of the action, the action will:
(a) in a first betting round, constitute a call; and
(b) in subsequent betting rounds, and only if the action would be the first bet of that betting round, constitute a bet to the value of the oversized chip or to the value of the maximum amount of a bet permitted at the table at the time, whichever is the lesser; and
(c) in subsequent betting rounds, and only if is the action would not be the first bet of that betting round, constitute a call.
If a player plays two chip of the same denomination which is less than the minimum raise and (one chip is less than the value of the bet) without expressly declaring their intentions this will be a call.
Action Raises:
To raise, a player must:
perform the raise in one 'clean' motion; and / or
declare the value of the raise prior to acting.
If a player raises, without simultaneously declaring 'raise', and:
the value of the chips constituting the raise is 50% or more of the value of the preceding bet or raise, then the player must contribute so many
additional chips to the raise as are necessary to equate to 100% of the preceding bet or raise, or go all-in (if a lesser amount); or the value of the chips constituting the raise is less than 50% of the value of the preceding bet or raise, then the player’s action constitutes a call and the additional chips will be returned to the player.
The value of a raise:
cannot be less than that particular table’s minimum amount of a raise (if any);
cannot be less than any initial bet, or previous raise, made in that round of play;
Note: A player going all-in for a less than the minimum value required to make an otherwise valid raise, is deemed not to have raised.
There is no maximum number of times a player may raise during a round of play.
Straddling
Straddling is allowed in Tournament play but you must double the big blind and be first to act when play commences.
Other
Upon going all-in or the conclusion of all action in a round of play, a player must reveal their hand by turning all their cards face-up as well as all other players in contention for the pot. The caller has the right to muck his hand, after all other players have showed their cards. However, the caller has the right to see anyone’s hand, if they have mucked their cards. Any player who is live at the showdown, may ask to see both pockets from a player who only reveals one. In the event of a split pot, the odd chip in the pot will be broken down to the lowest denomination chip in play on the table at that time and will be given to the first player to the left of the big blind in contention for the pot.
Play will continue on the final table until only one player remains active in a Tournament.
Time
When it is a player’s turn to play, the Promoter may impose (and must notify the player accordingly) a 70 second time limit on that player to decide
and act. When 40 seconds remain before the time limit expires, the Promoter will advise the player. The Promoter will then count down the final 10
seconds of the time limit. If a player fails to decide and act before the time limit expires, the player must fold their hand.
Late Entry
You may not register and enter into any game, once the major break has commenced (60 minutes). However, you may pre-register by paying the full buy-in amount. Your stack will be in play, from the commencement and any missed blinds will be deducted from your playing stack. If you do not arrive by the time we reach the Final table; the chips will be removed from play, you will not earn points and you will forfeit all monies paid. Drink and food bonuses will only be accepted at the commencement of play or at the start of play following the major break. You can only play in one game at a time and cannot register in another game until you are out of the first.
Player conduct – during a round of play
During a round of play, players must ensure that at all times their chips are arranged so that each chip is clearly visible and its denomination clearly discernible to all players and the Promoter. In relation to the chip(s) carrying the highest denomination of a player’s chips that chip must sit in the position relative to the player’s other chips that is most prominent from the point of view of other players and the Promoter.
Players seated at a table at which a round of play has not concluded must not:
(a) use or refer to any tool, instrument or artificial aid, including electronic devices, except their own wristwatch, and only insofar as the watch isused only for displaying the time;
(b) obtain or seek the advice or assistance of other players, bystanders or the Promoter when making decisions about their play (ie “one player to a hand”);
(c) place foreign chips on the table, other than a maximum of one foreign chip that is being used as a card protector;
(d) alter, supplement or tamper with the whole or part of any chips on any table, except pursuant to an authorised re-buy or add-on;
(e) disclose or reveal a live or folded hand, or a hand that has not yet been tabled;
(f) miscall a hand;
(g) weaken or forfeit their own prospects in a round of play in order to benefit themselves or any other player (ie “chip dumping”);
(h) refrain from competing against any other player for the purpose of benefiting any player (ie “soft play”);
(i) advise, criticise or otherwise comment on play;
(j) leave their seat while their action is pending;
(k) fail to perform a compulsory ante, blind or minimum bet;
(l) attempt to increase table stakes other than as expressly permitted in these Championship Conditions and the Rules; or
(m) deliberately conceal, pocket or otherwise hide chips.
Player conduct – all times during a Tournament
At all times during a Tournament, players must not carry or otherwise remove any chips from a table unless:
(a) the player is following the Promoter’s express instructions to take a seating position at a different table; or (b) the tournament director (ie not merely any representative of the Promoter) expressly authorises the player to do so
(c) Under these circumstances a chip tray (rack) must be used to transfer the chips
At all times during a Tournament, players must not:
(a) offer unsolicited advice to players participating in a round;
(b) ask the dealer to reveal the cards that would have come if a player had decided to play their hand (ie “rabbit hunt”);
(c) behave unlawfully;
(d) abuse other players or the Promoter or otherwise behave disruptively, anti-socially or in such a manner as to bring any player, the Promoter or the Tournament into disrepute;
(e) engage in collusive activity relating to the Tournament;
(f) speak any language other than English during a round of play;
(g) display any thing, including advertising material or a thing forming part of their apparel, that the Promoter regards as inappropriate;
(h) without limiting paragraph (g) or the Deed, display any logo pursuant to a sponsorship arrangement that has not been notified to the Promoter; or
(i) avoid paying a blind when moving from a broken table.
Inveundertake any lawful act to investigate whether these Championship Conditions, the Rules or any law has been contravened by any player or bystander in relation to any Tournament. For the avoidance of doubt, the Promoter may count a player’s chips or read any unexposed cards. It is a condition of a player’s ongoing entitlement (if any) to participate in a Tournament that the player performs all their obligations contained in these Championship Conditions for the duration of that Tournament. Subject to the express provisions of these Championship Conditions and the Rules, the Promoter may remedy the absence (if any) of a player’s ongoing entitlement to participate in a Tournament by imposing a range of penalties on the player, including penalties that have effect retrospectively.
The penalties that the Promoter may impose include immediate disqualification from the Tournament, which includes theforfeiture of all chips, Fees and prizes (or entitlements to them). The Promoter may impose penalties from the following range of penalties. The penalised player’s blinds, antes and / or forced bets will be forfeited for:
(a) one round;
(b) 2 rounds;
(c) 3 rounds; or
(d) 4 rounds.
(e) 10 minutes
In each case, the forfeiture remains in effect until the button returns to the same position it was in when the penalty was imposed after the applicable number of rounds has passed.
Except insofar as these Championship Conditions expressly provide otherwise, any decision that the Promoter may or must make in relation to the Tournament, including pursuant to any provision of these Championship Conditions, will be made by the Promoter at its sole and absolute discretion in every respect (including timing) and without imposing any obligation on the Promoter to have or provide reasons for the Promoter’s conduct in this regard. To the extent that circumstances arise for which these Championship Conditions or the Rules make no provision or in relation to which the relevant provisions of the Championship Conditions or Rules are unclear, the Promoter may make a decision regarding those circumstances.
All decisions made by the Promoter are final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into.
Membership Rules
· Registration to Texas Holdem Poker Australia is required by all participants and is free to join.
· All Participants must be over 18 years to register.
· Photo ID must be shown, if under the age of 21 years.
· No form of fee, charge, rake, commission or purchase is required to participate in THPA Free to Play events.
· The game played is ‘No Limit Texas Holdem Poker’.
· Standard ‘No Limit Texas Holdem’ game rules are in play at all THPA events; rules are available from the Tournament Host or on this website.
· Unless otherwise specified, THPA events are ‘self dealt’; meaning the person holding the dealer button is required to deal the poker hand for that round of play.
· THPA ‘FTP’ events are ‘Play for fun’ Free poker tournaments; you play until there is a winner.
· Chips used at THPA events have absolutely no value monetary or otherwise. They cannot be exchanged for cash or any currency as prohibited by law.
· Any participant caught cheating or behaving inappropriately, as deemed by the tournament host, may be disqualified from the event, the league and from future participation in THPA events.
· Prizes awarded by THPA cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash.
· THPA members agree to be photographed whilst they are participating in any THPA events and agree to the publication of those photographs in various forms of media, website, newspapers and magazines and agree to waive any rights they may have in that regard.
· Where permitted by law, THPA ‘Tournament Series’ events will incur a charge that will be predetermined and advertised prior to such events.
· Please check this website for current rules.
· All rulings and decisions are left solely with the tournament host. They are there to settle all disputes and their decision is final. Their decision will be made in keeping the best interest of all THPA members in mind.
Is gambling a problem for you? G-line (NSW) is a counselling service CALL 1800 633 635.
