The 2011 Poker TDA Summit
June 29 – 30
Rio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV
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OFFICIAL HOST OF THE
2011 POKER TDA SUMMIT
Many thanks to the Rio Hotel & Casino, and the
World Series of Poker for unmatched hospitality!
Jack Effel, WSOP Tournament Director
Hold your next convention at the Rio!
Website: http://www.RioLasVegas.com Tele: (866) 746-7671
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2011 TDA SUMMIT AGENDA DAY ONE
10:00-10:30am: Registration
10:30-5:00pm
A: Introduction of Host & Sponsors
B: Review & Discussion of Current TDA Rules
C: Discussion & Voting on Proposed New Rules
AM , Lunch, and PM Breaks
5:30pm: Day One Adjourns
7:00pm: WSOP Directors Tournament (optional, $135) 6
2011 TDA SUMMIT AGENDA DAY TWO
10:00am: Meeting Called to Order
10:00-2:00pm:
A: Review of Notable Situations and Procedures
B: Final Review of Outstanding Rules Issues
C: Final Voting on Any Remaining Issues
2:00-3:00pm: Wrap Up of Non-Rules Business, Summit
Photos
Meeting Adjourns After Conclusion of All Business
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2011 POKER TDA SUMMIT:
MAKE THE MOST OF IT !
Discuss tournament rules and review specific cases
Help adopt functional, standardized rules. What you do
at this Summit will affect global tournament standards
Networking: Meet old friends and make new ones
Please be courteous: no cell phones or loud conversation
Don’t forget: Mix some pleasure with business!
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REVIEW OF CURRENT TDA RULES:
CURRENT RULES CATEGORIES
General Tournament Concepts
Button & Blinds
Seating, Breaking & Balancing
Dealing Errors
Pots and the Showdown
Bets & Raises
General Procedures of Play
Play: Other Issues
Player Present & Eligible for Hand
Etiquette & Penalties
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REVIEW OF RULES: GENERAL CONCEPTS
1. Floor People: Floor people are to consider the best interest
of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decisionmaking process. Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate
that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over the
technical rules. The floorperson's decision is final.
2. Official Language: The English-only rule will be enforced in
the United States during the play of hands. English will be used
in international play along with the local or native language.
3. Communication: Players may not talk on the phone while at
the poker table. House rules apply to all other forms of
electronic devices.
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SEATING, BREAKING & BALANCING TABLES
4. Random Seats: Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned.
Accommodations for players with special physical needs will be made when possible.
5. Breaking Tables: Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights
& responsibilities of the position. 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 button.
6. Balancing Tables: In flop and mixed games when balancing tables, players will be
moved from the big blind to the worst position, including taking a single big blind
when available, even if that means the seat will have the big blind twice. Worst
position is never the small blind. The table from which a player is moved will be as
specified by a predetermined procedure. In stud-only games, players will be moved
by position (the last seat to open up at the short table is the seat to be filled). Play
will halt on any table that is three or more players short.
7. Number of Players at Final Table: In flop games, the final table will consist of ten
(10) players. In stud-type games, the final table will consist of nine (9) players.
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POTS & SHOWDOWN PROCEDURES
8. Declarations: Cards speak. Verbal declarations as to the content of a
player's hand are not binding; however, any player deliberately miscalling
his or her hand may be penalized.
9. Face Up: All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all
betting action is complete.
10. Killing Winning Hand: Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was
tabled & was obviously the winning hand. Players are encouraged to assist
in reading tabled hands if it appears that an error is about to be made.
11. Showdown: At the end of last round of betting, the player who made
the last aggressive action in that betting round must show first. If there
was no bet, the player to the left of the button shows first and so on
clockwise. In stud games, the player with the high board must show first.
In razz, the lowest board shows first.
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POTS & SHOWDOWN (cont.)
12. Odd Chips: The odd chip 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 games, the
odd chip will go to the high card by suit. However, when hands have
identical value (e.g., a wheel in Omaha/8) the pot will be split as
evenly as possible.
13. Side Pots: Each side pot will be split separately.
14. Playing the Board: A player must show both cards when playing
the board in order to get part of the pot.
15. Disputed Pots: The right to dispute a hand ends when a new
hand begins. (See rule #18.)
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GENERAL PROCEDURES OF PLAY
16. Chip Race: 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
will always start in the No.1 seat. A player cannot be raced out of a
tournament: a player who loses his or her remaining chip(s) in a chip
race will be given one chip of the smallest denomination still in play.
Players are encouraged to witness the chip race.
17. Deck Changes: Deck changes will be on the dealer push or level
changes or as prescribed by the house. Players may not ask for deck
changes.
18. New Limits: When time has elapsed in a round and a new level is
announced by a member of the tournament staff, the new level
applies to the next hand. A hand begins with the first riffle. If an
automatic shuffler is being used, the hand begins when the green
button is pushed.
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GENERAL PROCEDURES (cont.)
19. Re-buys: A player may not miss a hand. If a player
announces the intent to re-buy before a new hand, that player is
playing chips behind and is obligated to make the re-buy.
20. Calling for a Clock: Once a reasonable amount of time has
passed and a clock is called for, a player will be given a
maximum of 1 minute to make a decision. If action has not been
taken before time expires, there will be a 10-second countdown.
If a player has not acted by the time the countdown is over, the
player's hand will be dead.
21. Rabbit Hunting: No rabbit hunting is allowed. Rabbit hunting
is revealing any of the cards “that would have come” if the hand
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had not ended.
PLAYER PRESENT &
ELIGIBLE FOR A HAND
22. At Your Seat: A player must be at his or her seat
by the time all players have been dealt complete
initial hands in order to have a live hand. A player
must be at his/her seat to call time.
23. Action Pending: A player must remain at the
table if he has a live hand.
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BUTTON & BLINDS
24. Dead Button: Tournament play will use a dead button.
25. Dodging Blinds: A player who intentionally dodges any
blind when moving from a broken table will incur a penalty.
26. Button in Heads-up: In heads-up play, the small blind is
on the button and acts first. When beginning heads-up
play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no
player takes the big blind twice in a row.
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DEALING RULES
27. Misdeals: In stud-type games, if any of the player's two
down cards are exposed due to dealer error it is a misdeal.
In flop games, exposure of one of the first two cards dealt is
a misdeal. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on
the button.
28. Four-Card Flop: If the flop contains four (rather than
three) cards, whether exposed or not, the dealer shall
scramble the 4 cards face down. A floorperson will be called
to randomly select one card to be used as the next burn
card and the remaining three cards will become the flop.
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BETS & RAISES
29. Verbal Declarations/ Acting in Turn: Verbal declarations in turn are binding.
Players are required to act in turn. Action out of turn is binding if the action to the
player has not changed. A check, call or fold is not considered action changing.
30. Methods of Raising: In no-limit or pot-limit, a raise must be made by (1)
placing the full amount in the pot in one motion; or (2) verbally declaring the full
amount prior to the initial placement of chips into the pot; or (3) verbally declaring
“raise” prior to the placement of the amount to call into the pot and then
completing the action with one additional motion. It is the player's responsibility
to make his intentions clear.
31. Raises: A raise must be at least the size of the largest previous bet or raise of
the current betting round. If a player puts in a raise of 50% or more of the
previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she must make a full raise.
The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed (see exception for multiple
same-denomination chips Rule 33). In no-limit and pot limit, an all-in wager of less
than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted. 19
BETS & RAISES (cont.)
32. Oversized Chip: Anytime when facing a bet (or blind), placing a single
oversized chip in the pot is a call if a raise is not first verbally declared. To
raise with a single oversized chip, a declaration must be made before the
chip hits the table surface. If a raise is declared (but not an amount), the
raise is the maximum allowable for that chip. When not facing a bet,
placing an oversized chip in the pot without declaration is a bet of the
maximum allowable for the chip.
33. Multiple Chips: When facing a bet, unless a raise is first declared,
multiple same-denomination chips is a call if removing one chip leaves
less than the call amount. Example of a call: preflop, blinds 200-400: A
makes it 1200 (an 800 raise), B puts out two 1000 chips without
declaring raise. Placing chips of mixed denominations in the pot is
governed by the 50% standard in Rule 31.
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BETS & RAISES (cont.)
34. Number of Raises: There is no cap on the number of
raises in no-limit games. In limit events there will be a limit
to raises even when heads-up until the tournament is down
to two players; the house limit will apply.
35. Pot Size: Players are entitled to be informed of the pot
size in pot-limit games only. Dealers will not count the pot
in limit and no-limit games.
36. String Bets and Raises: Dealers will be responsible for
calling string bets and raises.
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PLAY: OTHER
37. Chips on the Table: Players must keep their higher
denomination chips visible and identifiable at all times.
38. Chips in Transit: Players may not hold or transport
tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of view. A
player who does so will forfeit the chips and will face
disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play.
39. Unprotected Hands: If a dealer kills an unprotected hand,
the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to a
refund of bets. However, if a player had raised and the raise
had not yet been called, the raise will be returned to the player.
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ETIQUETTE & PENALTIES
40. Penalties and Disqualification: A penalty MAY be invoked if a player
exposes any card with action pending, throws a card off the table, violates
the one-player-to-a-hand rule, or similar incidents take place. Penalties WILL
be invoked in cases of soft play, abuse, or disruptive behavior. Penalties
available to the TD include verbal warnings & “missed hand” penalties. Except
for a one-hand penalty, missed hand penalties will be assessed as follows:
The offender will miss one hand for every player, including the offender, who
is at the table when the penalty is given multiplied by the number of rounds
specified in the penalty. For the period of the penalty, the offender shall
remain away from the table but will continue to be dealt in.
Tournament staff can assess a one-hand penalty, 1, 2, 3, or 4-round penalties
or disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips
removed from play. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties.
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ETIQUETTE & PENALTIES (cont.)
41. No Disclosure: Players are obligated to protect the other players in the
tournament at all times. Therefore, players, whether in the hand or not, may
not: 1. Disclose contents of live or folded hands, 2. Advise or criticize play at any
time, 3. Read a hand that hasn't been tabled. The one-player-to-a-hand rule will
be enforced.
42. Exposing Cards: A player who exposes his cards with action pending may
incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. Penalty will begin at the end of
the hand.
43. Ethical Play: Poker is an individual game. Soft play will result in penalties,
which may include forfeiture of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping
and/or all other forms of collusion will result in disqualification.
44. Etiquette Violations: Repeated etiquette violations will result in penalties.
Examples include, but are not limited to, unnecessarily touching other players’
cards or chips, delay of game, repeatedly acting out of turn or excessive chatter.
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PROPOSED NEW RULES:
GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES
1: Official Action Terminology of Tournament Poker: Official terms
are simple, unmistakable, time-honored declarations like: bet, raise,
call, fold, check, all-in, pot (in PL), complete, etc. Use of non-standard
language is at player’s risk because it may result in a ruling other than
what the player intended. Per Rule 31 it is the responsibility of
players to make their intentions clear. See Bets & Raises.
2: Are players entitled to a precise count of opponents chips and if
so under what conditions? Should stacks of 20 be adopted as a
standard not requiring counting? NOTE: This rule may end up in Bets
and Raises.
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PROPOSED NEW RULES:
BUY-IN, SEATING, & MOVING
1: Players in wrong seat at start of tournament: What is standard
procedure? Player must be moved to the correct table and seat.
2: Wrong Seat/ Wrong Stack. After break player sits at wrong seat &
wins / loses chips. What to do? Bottom line: reconstruct original
stack as close as possible. Move wrong player to right seat. Players
may not gain chips as a result. If caught during a hand, treat like
fouled deck & return chips to players of that hand.
26
PROPOSED NEW RULES:
BUY-IN, SEATING, & MOVING (cont.)
3: Payout Rules on Bubble. How are payoffs split in different situations?
A: 3 players / 3 tables paying 1 spot? Paying 2 spots?
B: 3 players / 2 tables paying 1 spot? Paying 2 spots?
4: Payout Rules at Final Table.
5: Consecutive bust outs when not hand for hand on money jump
6: Late Entrants Stacks: How should chipstacks of late entrants to the
tournament be handled? See also Situations & Procedures.
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PROPOSED NEW RULES:
POTS & SHOWDOWN
1-A: When is a Hand Irretrievably Dead at Showdown?: i.e. can no longer be
tabled & compete for the pot? A: When player “capitulates” (I fold, you win,
nice hand)?; B: When dealer takes possession?; C: When dealer taps the
muck?; D: When cards are in muck & can’t be identified?
1-B: “Fold” at Showdown: A) Is verbal capitulation binding (“I fold”, “you
win”) or can hand still be tabled to compete?; B) Is there such a thing as a
binding “fold” at showdown or can known cards always be tabled?
2: Mucked Hand Face Down At Showdown (not all-in). A) If player mucks
face down at showdown must winning hand be shown?; B) If a mucked hand
catches air and turns up by accident, is it live?; C) Can the mucking player
change his mind & table the cards? If so, when is the hand dead (See 1 above)
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PROPOSED NEW RULES:
GENERAL PROCEDURES
1: Color-Ups to Reduce Stacks: Should TDs have
the right to change chips at any time?
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PROPOSED NEW RULES:
DEALING RULES
1: Misdeal Conditions: Should misdeal conditions be clarified?
Add 2 exposed or boxed cards to the list?
NOTE: This is proposed amendment topic for Current Rule 27
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PROPOSED NEW RULES:
BETS & RAISES
1: Non-standard or unclear betting terms: Raise it a quarter,
five, nickel? Upstairs? Alright / okay? Are these bets at all? If so
who decides what they mean?
See also Official Terminology of Tournament Poker.
2: Bet the pot in a non pot-limit game: is it a bet at all? How
should it be handled? Penalty? See also Proposed New Rule
regarding Official Action Terminology
3: Player declares bet amount while cutting chips: How to
handle?
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PROPOSED NEW RULES:
BETS & RAISES (cont.)
4-A: Improper Bet Count: Can player rely on dealer’s count of a bet
stack? On the bettor’s count? Or must caller determine the correct
bet amount before calling? If player can rely on dealer or bettor’s
count, what are caller’s options if the real bet is more? Does it matter
if the difference is minor vs. major? If so, what is minor/ major?
4-B: Accepted Action: see WSOP Rule 91. How does the TDA
membership feel about an Accepted Action rule?
See also Situations & Procedures: Misunderstandings. NOTE: An
accepted action rule answers a lot of questions misunderstandings,
but is it the fairest and most functional rule?
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PROPOSED RULES: BETS & RAISES,
CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS
1-A: In general, are if-then or other conditional statements always
binding, never binding or it depends? Are these penalizable?
1-B: I’ll do what you want: Example, “If you want me to call I will”.
Are these binding?
1-C: If-Then-Else Statements that Include All Options. Example:
“If you bet I call otherwise I will bet 5000”. Do we enforce this?
2: TD Discretion At Player’s Risk: Should these be left up to the
TD given the circumstances at the time & considering best interest
of the game, or is it never right to bind a conditional statement?
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PROPOSED RULES: BETS & RAISES,
ACTION OUT OF TURN
Action Out of Turn is a frequently discussed and complicated
issue. Many questions have been submitted on this topic for
the 2011 TDA Summit.
In the interest of looking at this subject comprehensively, it is
included in the Situations & Procedures Section.
Review of this topic in Situations & Procedures may in turn
result in rules amendments and/or new rules if appropriate.
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PROPOSED RULES: BETS & RAISES,
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
Misunderstandings of betting action is a frequently discussed
and complicated issue. Many questions have been submitted
on this topic for the 2011 TDA Summit.
In the interest of looking at this subject comprehensively, it is
included in the Situations & Procedures Section.
Review of this topic in Situations & Procedures may in turn
result in rules amendments and/or new rules if appropriate.
35
PROPOSED NEW RULES:
PLAY, OTHER
1: Heads Up Play: When tournament is down to 2 players,
should some rules be relaxed such as right to expose cards?
Or do all rules remain in full force & effect when heads up?
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PROPOSED RULES- PLAY, OTHER:
SUBSTANTIAL ACTION
1: Should TDA adopt substantial action rules, for example:
A: Misdeal: What is S.A. such that play must proceed despite misdeal?
See also WSOP Rule 81.
B: OOT Action: What is S.A., if any, such that 1) when action backs up
to a skipped player he can’t act aggressively; 2) Skipped hand is dead
C: Incorrect Bet Amount. Example: Player A pushes 5k silently, B says “I
call the 2k”, C says “I call 2k too”. At what point, if at all, do enough
undercalls bind the bet to 2k?
D: Do any other substantial action situations need to be defined?37
PROPOSED NEW RULES:
ETIQUETTE & PENALTIES
1-A: Soft Play. What's the rule when last player to act checks
the river holding the nuts? [Note: “last to act”]
1-B: Any other soft-play specific rules language needed?
2: Bad Spectator Behavior: How to manage this?
3: Excessive personal items on the table surface.
4: Civility & Hygiene: Is a rule needed here?
5: Public disclosure of offending players: is registry needed?
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PROPOSED NEW RULES:
SPECIFIC RULES FOR STUD
1: Player picks up cards in stud, is it a dead hand?
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