Home Game House Rules (1 Viewer)

[Dale_Doback]

I thought it might be helpful to fellow members organizing a cash game if there was a thread dedicated to general home game House Rules that we all use. If not, at least here's a copy of mine lol...which are a combination of @MrTree & @justsomedude rules along with a few suggestions from @BGinGA from another thread.

 

[Kensco]

This is taken largely from Dealer's Choice by Ernest, Foglio & Selinker.

As you can see, we'll never have to worry about a "Your stack cannot exceed $300..." rule!

 

[jbutler]

Re: your "Do Not Forget" #3, this came up in a home game recently. You state there that the $15 straddle would be the triple straddle. By your rule, I'm inferring that the structure of the blinds and straddles would be:

SB: $1
BB: $2
UTG: $5 (First Straddle)
UTG+1: $10 (Second Straddle)
UTG+2: $15 (Third Straddle)

The way I've always played, each subsequent straddle would be double the previous straddle, so a triple straddle here would actually be $20. However, in a home game the host recently ruled that the double straddle in a home game would be $9.

Does anyone else use rules that provide for second (or third or fourth, etc.) straddles that are less than double the previous straddle?

 

[bergs]

That first item under "Do Not Forget" is worded unusually. I know what you're getting at but taken literally it reads that regardless of whether you're playing on your initial buy-in or via reloading, your stack can never exceed $300. Example - I buy in for $100, 4 way all in for $100 each on the turn, and I scoop, but I can't claim the pot because it exceeds $300.

 

[Wils]

This is taken largely from Dealer's Choice by Ernest, Foglio & Selinker.

As you can see, we'll never have to worry about a "Your stack cannot exceed $300..." rule!

View attachment 42439

They need to learn how to spell "unsuited."


On a related note (sorta), what penalties do you guys apply for different "offences" such as acting out of turn, looking through mucked cards etc?

 

[Kensco]

They need to learn how to spell "unsuited."


On a related note (sorta), what penalties do you guys apply for different "offences" such as acting out of turn, looking through mucked cards etc?

Thanks, the typos were on me.

No penalties assessed here; our "rules" are gentle reminders more than they are regulations, and all the players are friends.

 

[detroitdad]

They need to learn how to spell "unsuited."


On a related note (sorta), what penalties do you guys apply for different "offences" such as acting out of turn, looking through mucked cards etc?

I've never given a penalty in my home game. Were amateur players that are drinking and bullshitting. Anytime someone makes a mistake we give them a little shit and move on. There hasn't been anything egregious at my games.

The only "penalty" I guess was I stopped inviting two guys to my place. That was mainly because I simply didn't enjoy playing cards with them.

 

[ChaosRock]

The only "penalty" I guess was I stopped inviting two guys to my place. That was mainly because I simply didn't enjoy playing cards with them.

^^ I.E.: They cleaned you out...

j/k

 

[bergs]

They need to learn how to spell "unsuited."


On a related note (sorta), what penalties do you guys apply for different "offences" such as acting out of turn, looking through mucked cards etc?

 

[bentax1978]

Does anyone else use rules that provide for second (or third or fourth, etc.) straddles that are less than double the previous straddle?

My personal feeling is that a straddle is a blind raise, and as such, I don't think I would require it to be double the previous straddle. So long as it's a legal raise, I think I'd be ok with it. But to be honest, I hadn't given it a ton of thought. When I used to host, we allowed a single UTG straddle (of any amount), but double straddles weren't live and were just considered a blind raise without the option to raise (and therefore seldom done).

 

[Dale_Doback]

This is taken largely from Dealer's Choice by Ernest, Foglio & Selinker.

As you can see, we'll never have to worry about a "Your stack cannot exceed $300..." rule!

Haha. Baby steps...

Re: your "Do Not Forget" #3, this came up in a home game recently. You state there that the $15 straddle would be the triple straddle. By your rule, I'm inferring that the structure of the blinds and straddles would be:

SB: $1
BB: $2
UTG: $5 (First Straddle)
UTG+1: $10 (Second Straddle)
UTG+2: $15 (Third Straddle)

The way I've always played, each subsequent straddle would be double the previous straddle, so a triple straddle here would actually be $20. However, in a home game the host recently ruled that the double straddle in a home game would be $9.

Does anyone else use rules that provide for second (or third or fourth, etc.) straddles that are less than double the previous straddle?

Yeah, that structure is what I had in mind. I was at a Casino in WI playing $1/$2 NL and their straddle was $4. Me and a handful of guys did several rounds with a quadruple straddle and they were $4, $8, $12 and $16 so they just kept raising it by the min. raise. I see your point though and by that rule, it's only adding $5 to the UTG+2 so $5, $10 and $20. What do you think's better? Curious to see what others think, too.

That first item under "Do Not Forget" is worded unusually. I know what you're getting at but taken literally it reads that regardless of whether you're playing on your initial buy-in or via reloading, your stack can never exceed $300. Example - I buy in for $100, 4 way all in for $100 each on the turn, and I scoop, but I can't claim the pot because it exceeds $300.

Yeah, I know I worded it kinda weird...was trying to be concise. It's not saying your stack can never exceed $300. If you win some pots of course you'll go over $300, like the example you noted. What I'm saying in the rule is a) your initial buy-in cannot exceed $300 and b) if you get down to $100 and want to reload, the most you can add to your stack is $200 (so you don't exceed $300).

Thanks, the typos were on me.

No penalties assessed here; our "rules" are gentle reminders more than they are regulations, and all the players are friends.

Yeah, same here.

 

[Dale_Doback]

My personal feeling is that a straddle is a blind raise, and as such, I don't think I would require it to be double the previous straddle. So long as it's a legal raise, I think I'd be ok with it. But to be honest, I hadn't given it a ton of thought. When I used to host, we allowed a single UTG straddle (of any amount), but double straddles weren't live and were just considered a blind raise without the option to raise (and therefore seldom done).

That's a good point, too (about considering it a blind raise w/o the option to raise. Maybe that would be the way to go and capping it at the $20 "triple straddle/2nd blind raise" (for my game at least).

 

[stocky]

Yeah, I know I worded it kinda weird...was trying to be concise. It's not saying your stack can never exceed $300. If you win some pots of course you'll go over $300, like the example you noted. What I'm saying in the rule is a) your initial buy-in cannot exceed $300 and b) if you get down to $100 and want to reload, the most you can add to your stack is $200 (so you don't exceed $300).

I would change it to.

Maximum buyin is $300. You can reload at anytime not during a hand to a maximum of $300.

Or something like that. I had to read it a couple of times to understand what you were actually saying.

 

[inca911]

@palindrome is in the signage business, so I'm thinking about getting a sign made with my House Rules to hang in the basement corner--just in case. Anything big missing from this one page list? Thanks to @Mr Tree for sharing his list as a starting place.

House Rules

1. This game is for fun, not making money. If you are only here to make money, go to a casino.
   
2. All chips must be purchased from the house. Please bring small bills. The cash rebuy amount is capped at half the big stack in play. Amounts less than a dollar are rounded down at cash-out.
   
3. In cash games, you may not remove any portion of your buy-in or winnings from the table.
4. Higher denomination chips must be easily viewable by everyone at the table (i.e., in front / on top).
   
5. Protect your hand at all times (e.g., use a card protector). This includes not mucking your hand until the dealer awards the pot to a specific player at showdown.
   
6. One player to a hand. No sharing live or folded hands, and don’t dig in the muck. Refrain from comments on a hand in play. You may discuss a hand only if you are heads-up with only one player.
   
7. Don’t splash the pot. Players should keep bets in front of them until the end of action for that round of betting. Change will be made at the end of action, then chips will be pushed into the pot.
   
8. For split pots, players should confirm payouts from the dealer before chips are taken from any side pots or main pot. Put chips in the pot, then split any pots. Avoid doing splitting math in your head.
   
9. If you throw a single chip into the pot without first announcing a raise, then you have called. Change will be made at the end of the action for any round of betting.
   
10. Please act in turn, as Folding, Checking, or Betting out of turn can affect the other players in the hand. 4 bet max (i.e., Bet—Raise—ReRaise—Cap) unless players become heads-up prior to the end of the hand, in which case the number of bets is uncapped.
    
11. Verbal bets are binding, and no string betting. Any verbal bet starting with “I see/call your bet, and XXX” is a call. If you want to raise, start with “Raise”. A single forward motion of chips in the pot is binding. Cut chips before moving a stack toward the pot, else you are betting the stack.
    
12. Out-of-turn action is binding, unless a player sitting before that action changes it with a bet or raise.
    
13. Cards speak. The pot will be awarded to the best shown hand, even if a player misreads the hand.
    
14. If you show one person your cards, you must show all at end of play. This includes shown folds.
    
15. DELETED
    
16. Shuffle behind the button. Someone who didn’t shuffle the deck must always cut the deck with a single hand. Keep all cards on the table, and in view of all players at all times. If you notice a damaged or unusual card, please call the house for replacement.
    
17. The clock may be called on any player who has taken more than 3 minutes to make a decision. The host will give the player an additional 2 minutes to announce/make a decision, else their hand is folded. Please avoid slow play. Repeated delaying of the game is not allowed.
    
18. Don’t pre-deal hands, as burn cards are used to protect players. Don’t rearrange cards or announce possible hands when dealing. Deal Flop, Turn, and River in order, so players can reconstruct the hand
19. Only play with what you can afford to lose. This is for fun.
    
20. If the house provides food/drink, throwing in a few bucks to help is appreciated. There is no rake.
    
21. No smoking inside, take it outside and use a can for an ashtray. Keep it legal.
    
22. If any situation outside of these limited rules arises, Robert’s Rules of Poker will be used to make a decision. A copy is kept on site, and house interpretations / decisions are final. If the house is involved in a dispute, a non-partisan party will be chosen to make a ruling (ideally announced in advance).

Please respect the players, the house, and the game. Failure to do so or to follow these rules will result in your ejection and exclusion from future events.

 

[JustinInMN]

I just got mine online today

http://frclub.mygamesonline.org/FreeRiverClubBasic.html