Roberts Rules of Poker

1. Management reserves the right to make decisions in the spirit of fairness, even if a strict interpretation of the rules may indicate a different ruling.

2. Decisions of the shift supervisor are final.

3. The proper time to draw attention to an error or irregularity is when it occurs or is first noticed. Any delay may affect the ruling.

4. If an incorrect rule interpretation or decision by an employee is made in good faith, the establishment has no liability.

5. A ruling may be made regarding a pot if it has been requested before the next deal starts (or before the game either ends or changes to another table). Otherwise, the result of a deal must stand. The first riffle of the The act of mixing the cards before a hand. shuffle marks the start for a deal.

6. If a pot has been incorrectly awarded and mingled with chips that were not in the pot, but the time limit for a ruling request given in the previous rule has been complied with, management may determine how much was in the pot by reconstructing the betting, and then transfer that amount to the proper player.

7. To keep the A fold, check, call, bet, or raise. For certain situations, doing something formally connected with the game that conveys information about your hand may also be considered as having taken action. Examples would be showing your cards at the end of the hand, or indicating the number of cards you are taking at draw. action moving, it is possible that a game may be asked to continue even though a decision is delayed for a short period. The delay could be needed to To waive the right to initiate the betting in a round, but to retain the right to act if another player initiates the betting. check the overhead camera tape, get the shift supervisor to give the ruling, or some other good reason. In such circumstances, a pot or portion thereof may be impounded by the house while the decision is pending.

8. The same A fold, check, call, bet, or raise. For certain situations, doing something formally connected with the game that conveys information about your hand may also be considered as having taken action. Examples would be showing your cards at the end of the hand, or indicating the number of cards you are taking at draw. action may have a different meaning, depending on who does it, so the possible intent of an offender will be taken into consideration. Some factors here are the person’s amount of poker experience and past record.

1. Management will decide when to start or close any game.

2. Collections (seat rental fees) are paid in advance. In all time-collection games, the dealer is required to pick up the collection from each player before dealing the first hand. A player not wishing to pay collection may play one courtesy hand in stud, and may play until the A required bet made before any cards are dealt. blind in Games in which a dealer button is used. button games, provided no one is waiting for the game. If there is more than one person on the The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list for that game when the collection becomes due, everyone must pay collection. A new player is not required to pay if there is either no The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list or only one person waiting.

3. Cash is not permitted on the table. All cash should be changed into chips in order to play. If a player appears unaware of this rule and attempts to play unnoticed cash that was on the table during a pot, the dealer may let the cash play if no one in the pot objects, then have all the cash changed into chips after the hand. Any chips from another establishment
are not permitted on the table, do not play in the game, and if discovered will be treated similarly to unnoticed cash. [See Section 16 – “Explanations,” discussion #5, for more information on this rule.]

4. Money and chips may be removed for security purposes when leaving the table. The establishment is not responsible for any shortage or removal of chips left on the table during a player’s absence, even though we will try to protect everyone as best we can. All removed funds must be fully restored when returning to the game.

5. If you return to the same game within one hour of cashing out, your buy-in must be equal to the amount removed when leaving that game.

6. All games are table stakes (except “playing behind” as given in the next rule). All chips and money must be kept in plain view. Chips may be removed for security purposes when leaving the table, but must be fully restored upon return. If you return to the same game within one hour of cashing out, your The minimum amount of money required to enter any game. buy-in must be equal to the amount removed when leaving that game.

7. "Playing behind" is allowed only for the amount of purchased chips while awaiting their arrival. The amount in play must be announced to the table, or only the amount of the minimum The minimum amount of money required to enter any game. buy-in plays.

8. Playing out of a (1) A container in which chips are stored while being transported.
(2) A tray in front of the dealer, used to hold chips and cards. rack is not allowed.

9. Only one person may play a hand.

10. No one is allowed to play another player’s chips.

11. Permission is required before taking a seat in a game.

12. Playing over without permission from the A casino employee who seats players and makes decisions. floorperson is not allowed. A A clear plastic box used to cover and protect the chips of an absent player when someone plays over that seat. playover box is required. Permission from the absent player is not necessary.

13. Pushing bets (“saving” or “potting out”) is not allowed.

14. Pushing an A prescribed amount posted before the start of a hand by all players. ante or posting for another person is not allowed.

15. Splitting pots will not be allowed in any game. Chopping the big and In a game with multiple blind bets, the smallest blind. small blind by taking them back when all other players have folded is allowed in Games in which a dealer button is used. button games.

16. Insurance propositions are not allowed. Dealing twice (or three times) when When you have put all of your playable money and chips into the pot during the course of a hand, you are said to be all-in. all-in is permitted at big-bet poker.

17. The game's betting limit will not be changed if two or more players object. Raising the limit is subject to management approval.

18. Players must keep their cards in full view. This means above table-level and not past the edge of the table. The cards should not be covered by the hands in a manner to completely conceal them.

19. Any player is entitled to a clear view of an opponent’s chips. Higher denomination chips should be easily visible.

20. Your chips may be picked up if you are away from the table for more than 30 minutes. Your absence may be extended if you notify a A casino employee who seats players and makes decisions. floorperson in advance. Frequent or continuous absences may cause your chips to be picked up from the table.

21. A A chip marker that holds a seat for a player. lock-up in a new game will be picked up after five minutes if someone is waiting to play. No seat may be locked up for more than ten minutes if someone is waiting to play.

22. A new deck must be used for at least a full round (once around the table) before it may be changed, and a new Two suited decks, each with different colored backs, to replace the current decks in a game. setup must be used for at least an hour, unless a deck is defective or damaged, or cards become sticky.

23. Looking through the In a draw game, to throw cards out of your hand to make room for replacements, or the card(s) thrown away; the muck. discards or deck stub is not allowed.

24. After a deal ends, dealers are asked to not show what card would have been dealt.

25. A player is expected to pay attention to the game and not hold up play. Activity that interferes with this such as reading at the table is discouraged, and the player will be asked to cease if a problem is caused.

26. A non-player may not sit at the table.

27. In non-tournament games, you may have a guest sit behind you if no one in the game objects. It is improper for a guest to look at any hand other then your own.

28. Speaking a foreign language during a deal is not allowed.

1. You must be present to add your name to a waiting The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list .

2. It is the player’s responsibility to be in the playing area and hear the The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list being called. A player who intends to leave the playing area should notify the The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list-person, and can leave money for a lockup. The lockup amount is $20.

3. When there is more than one game of the same stakes and poker form, and a In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur.In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur. must-move is not being used, the house will control the seating of new players to best preserve the viability of existing games. A new player will be sent to the game most in need of an additional player. A transfer to a similar game is not allowed if it makes the game being left shorter-handed than the game being entered.

4. A player may not hold a seat in more than one game.

5. The house reserves the right to require that any two players not play in the same game (husband and wife, relatives, business partners, and so forth).

6. When a Games in which a dealer button is used. button game starts, active players will draw a card for the A player who is in the designated dealer position. button (1) The relation of a player\'s seat to the blinds or the button. (2) The order of acting on a betting round or deal. position . The A player who is in the designated dealer position. button will be awarded to the highest card by suit for all high and high-low games, and to the lowest card by suit for all low games.

7. In a new game, the player who arrives at the table the earliest gets first choice of remaining seats. If two players want the same seat and arrive at the same time, the higher player on the The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list has preference. A player playing a pot in another game may have a designated seat locked up until that hand is finished. Management may reserve a certain seat for a player, as to assist in ease of reading the (1) The board on which a waiting list is kept for players wanting seats in specific games.
(2) Cards faceup on the table common to each of the hands. board for a person with a vision problem, or some other good reason.

8. To avoid a seating dispute, a supervisor may decide to start the game with one extra player over the normal number participating. If so, a seat will be removed as soon as someone quits the game.

9. In order to protect an existing game, a forced move may be invoked when an additional game of the same type and limit is started. The In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur.In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur. must-move The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list is maintained in the same order as the original waiting The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list . If a player refuses to move into the main game, that player will be forced to quit, and may not play in the In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur.In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur. must-move game or get on that The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list for one hour.

10. You must play in a new game or In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur.In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur. must-move game to retain your place on the The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list , if by your playing there would be three or fewer empty seats.

11. In all Games in which a dealer button is used. button games, a player going from a In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur.In order to protect the main game, a situation where the players of a second game must move into the first game as openings occur. must-move game to the main game may play until due for the The largest regular blind in a game. big blind . The player must then enter the game as a new player, and may either post an amount equal to the The largest regular blind in a game. big blind or wait for the The largest regular blind in a game. big blind . In all stud games, a player may play only one more hand before moving.

12. A player who is already in the game has precedence over a new player for any seat when it becomes available. However, no change will occur after a new player has been seated, or after that player’s The minimum amount of money required to enter any game. buy-in or marker has been placed on the table, unless that particular seat had been previously requested. For players already in the game, the one who asks the earliest has preference for a seat change.

13. In all Games in which a dealer button is used. button games, a player voluntarily locking up a seat in another game must move immediately if there is a waiting The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list of two or more names for the seat being vacated, except that the player is entitled to play the A player who is in the designated dealer position. button if a blind has already been taken. Otherwise, a player may play up to the blind before moving. In a stud game, a player changing tables may play only the present hand if someone is waiting for the seat being vacated, or one more hand when no one is waiting.

14. When a game breaks, each player may draw a card to determine the seating order for a similar game. The A casino employee who seats players and makes decisions. floorperson draws a card for an absent player. If the card entitles the absent player to an immediate seat, the player has until due for the The largest regular blind in a game. big blind in a Games in which a dealer button is used. button game to take the seat (two hands in a stud game), and will be put first up on the The ordered roster of players waiting for a game. list if not back in time.