House Rules input (1 Viewer)

[Sparkynutz]

Finally printing out a set of house rules for display to avoid any confusion or arguments while hosting.
Majority of the people I play with didn't know what a straddle was myself included until I started looking up other peoples rules to get ideas.
I still don't totally understand it and thought it may make more sense to just add it to not allowed to make things easier.
What do you think?

House Rules​

• No Smoking inside House or Garage​
• Horseplay is reserved for horses​
• Chips must be visible on table​
• Bet or raise must be minimum of Big Blind​
• No Splashing Pot- Declare bet and keep chips in countable fashion.​
• One Chip Rule- If you bet a single chip without declaring raise amount before betting it is considered a call and will receive change back from pot.​
• Declare when making change from pot or ask for help doing so.​
• No String Bets- (I'll Call your xxx, Pause, and raise you xxx more)​
• Players out of seat but within talking distance allowed to check or call only with or without assistance at time of turn.​
• Players out of seat without verbal response at time of turn becomes automatic check or fold.​
• No Table Talk- Until hands are over.​
• Exception- Between two players Heads-Up may talk as they wish to each other.​
• No Straddling​
• Cash in/out must be done at end of hand.​

Dealing-​

• When you are finished dealing, Cut the new deck before gathering cards from finished hand and shuffle them.​
• Preferred- (Riffle x3, Box, Riffle) Followed by placing cut card on top​
• Current dealer cuts the shuffled deck and passes it to the current small blind (next dealer) with cut card on the bottom​
• Rinse and repeat​
• Help dealer when asked or ask for help when needed.​
• Please ask for help passing cards to avoid flipped cards when possible.
  
  (NO shady business when doing so)​
  
  
  Misdeal-​
• Either of the First two cards dealt are flipped.​
• 2 or more cards are flipped.​
• Cards dealt to wrong seat.​
• Player receives too many cards.​
  Exception-​
• A flipped card not included in rules above will become burn card and deal continues normally except with last card going to player that would have received the flipped card.​

 

[upNdown]

Off the top of my head:

Bet or raise must be minimum of Big Blind

Usually the minimum raise is the amount of the previous raise - so if you’re playing $1/2 and the first guy limps and the next guy raises to $5, that’s actually a raise of $3, so if the next guy wants to raise, he’d have to raise a minimum of $3, making it $8.

I’m not sure why you want so many rules regarding what players can do out of their seats - that would seem to me to just encourage people to be out of their seats.

Player receives too many cards.

Calling that a misdeal is fine if it’s discovered before action takes place, but the rule is that after significant action takes place, it’s a dead hand.
Consider - I’m first to act and I have KK, so I make a healthy raise. Next guy has AA, so he reraises. Next guy has AK so he calls. Next couple of guys fold and the last guy to act notices that he has 3 cards. Should me and the other two who have put money in with our great cards be penalized because the last guy never checked his cards? The rules say no, his hand is dead. Which stinks for him because he was the big blind and he loses his blind through bo fault of his own. So it’s kind of a controversial rule which some people don’t like. But it’s the actual rule everywhere. Change it if you like; it’s your house. But you should know what somebody who knows the rules would expect.

 

[Sparkynutz]

Off the top of my head:


Usually the minimum raise is the amount of the previous raise - so if you’re playing $1/2 and the first guy limps and the next guy raises to $5, that’s actually a raise of $3, so if the next guy wants to raise, he’d have to raise a minimum of $3, making it $8.

I’m not sure why you want so many rules regarding what players can do out of their seats - that would seem to me to just encourage people to be out of their seats.


Calling that a misdeal is fine if it’s discovered before action takes place, but the rule is that after significant action takes place, it’s a dead hand.
Consider - I’m first to act and I have KK, so I make a healthy raise. Next guy has AA, so he reraises. Next guy has AK so he calls. Next couple of guys fold and the last guy to act notices that he has 3 cards. Should me and the other two who have put money in with our great cards be penalized because the last guy never checked his cards? The rules say no, his hand is dead. Which stinks for him because he was the big blind and he loses his blind through bo fault of his own. So it’s kind of a controversial rule which some people don’t like. But it’s the actual rule everywhere. Change it if you like; it’s your house. But you should know what somebody who knows the rules would expect.

I didn't think about the raises. We do typically play double the raise like you wrote. It slipped my mind when I copied it word for word from another house rules post found on here and nobody mentioned that in the responses. Thanks for that!

Most of us like to eat while we play so grabbing some more food is no biggie 2 feet away if the action goes faster than they anticipated. Going to the bathroom or out for a smoke on the other hand sucks. I was just trying to write a rule in to cover what to do instead of yelling for them to hurry up it's their turn as has happened many times previously.

I had to read that a few times. It would suck both ways. Can you elaborate on "the rules say no"? I have seen many posts quoting this set of rules, that set of rules etc but never seen what the darn rules are or where they are actually posted to read them. Another reason I'm trying to familiarize myself before being in a bad situation with no clue what to do or best way to handle it when crap happens.

 

[upNdown]

I’m too lazy to do the researching, but if you Google TDA poker rules and Robert’s Rules of poker, you’ll find the most commonly used rules sets.

 

[Sparkynutz]

I’m too lazy to do the researching, but if you Google TDA poker rules and Robert’s Rules of poker, you’ll find the most commonly used rules sets.

Roberts rules mentioned very often here but even with searching PCF no links turned up actually listing them. I did not actually google it until now. Why didn't I think of that lol.

 

[JoeBGo]

No straddling?! What is this? Nana’s poker and knitting room? BOOOOOOOO!

 

[Sparkynutz]

Calling that a misdeal is fine if it’s discovered before action takes place, but the rule is that after significant action takes place, it’s a dead hand.
Consider - I’m first to act and I have KK, so I make a healthy raise. Next guy has AA, so he reraises. Next guy has AK so he calls. Next couple of guys fold and the last guy to act notices that he has 3 cards. Should me and the other two who have put money in with our great cards be penalized because the last guy never checked his cards? The rules say no, his hand is dead. Which stinks for him because he was the big blind and he loses his blind through bo fault of his own. So it’s kind of a controversial rule which some people don’t like. But it’s the actual rule everywhere. Change it if you like; it’s your house. But you should know what somebody who knows the rules would expect.

Am I understanding correctly? The only hand that is dead is the guy with 3 cards? Or could someone not him pick any card from his hand and make that the new burn card and continue the hand showing to all players?

 

[raynmanas]

One Chip Rule- If you bet a single chip without declaring raise amount before betting it is considered a call and will receive change back from pot.

what about if the single chip is less than the bet?

• Help dealer when asked or ask for help when needed.​
• Please ask for help passing cards to avoid flipped cards when possible.​

these aren't really rules.

• Cards dealt to wrong seat.​
• Player receives too many cards.​

should only be a misdeal if it can't be fixed and/or if cards have been looked at.

Bet or raise must be minimum of Big Blind

same comment as above.

No Splashing Pot- Declare bet and keep chips in countable fashion.

declare bet is mutually exclusive from not splashing the pot - but non-verbal bets should be ok anyway as long as they are placed on the betting line.

within talking distance allowed

this rule is too vague and more likely to ADD confusion/arguing

 

[Nine_high]

Majority of the people I play with didn't know what a straddle was myself included until I started looking up other peoples rules to get ideas.
I still don't totally understand it and thought it may make more sense to just add it to not allowed to make things easier.
What do you think?

(UTG) Straddle is just a 3rd blind, voluntarily posted by the player after the big blind. It's typically double the big blind amount. Multiple straddles can be permitted too, each one doubling the previous. Last straddle gets a right to action in an unraised pot (just like the big blind normally does).

People love them because they juice pots, and people hate them because they raise the stakes beyond what was advertised.

I allow multiple straddles to the button in my game. I also understand why someone would ban them and I would have no problem with that.

• Declare when making change from pot or ask for help doing so.​

I don't like this rule simply because I don't like players finger fucking pots or swiping posted bets for change. Leads to trouble and adds confusion. I've seen an entire pot go missing I shit you not. I have them make change from another player, or wait til action closes and the dealer will provide change if a bet is still over the amt owed.

• Misdeal-​
• Either of the First two cards dealt are flipped.​
• 2 or more cards are flipped.​
• Cards dealt to wrong seat.​
• Player receives too many cards.​
  Exception-​
• A flipped card not included in rules above will become burn card and deal continues normally except with last card going to player that would have received the flipped card.​

Seems a little unnecessary to spell all this out in a posted rules sheet. Just call the misdeal or coach the dealer when it happens and most people catch on pretty quick.

 

[Sparkynutz]

Very good points! Thankyou for the input!

 

[glynn]

Am I understanding correctly? The only hand that is dead is the guy with 3 cards? Or could someone not him pick any card from his hand and make that the new burn card and continue the hand showing to all players?

That's fine for a home game, but as @upNdown said, it would be a dead hand in virtually every casino. "Change it if you like."

 

[Sparkynutz]

Changed a few things and printed them to hang behind the table.

 

[Eriks]

No Table Talk- Until hands are over.

Is this really the one player to a hand rule or do everyone have to stfu period during play?

 

[inca911]

Here's my top 20 list, built with help from many on the forum and fits on a single posted sign. Might be useful!

1. This game is for fun, so only play with what you can afford to lose. Please no chip souvenirs!
2. All chips must be purchased from the house. Cash games are table stakes. Rebuys are capped at the initial buy-in or half the big stack, whichever is greater. 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 until cash-out.
4. Higher denomination chips must be easily viewable by the entire table (i.e., in front/on top). Tournament chips must never be pocketed, else they will be forfeited from tournament play.
5. Protect your hand at all times (e.g., use a card protector). This includes not folding your hand until the dealer reads all hands and 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 with an opponent 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 pot games, both players should confirm the split before chips are taken from any side pots or main pot. Put chips in the pot, then do the split(s), and avoid doing splitting math in your head. Resolve the last side pot first, and then work back to the main pot.
9. If you throw a single chip into the pot without first announcing a raise, then you have called. Change should 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 for Limit (i.e., Bet—Raise—ReRaise—Cap) unless players are heads-up prior to the beginning of a betting round, in which case the number of bets is uncapped. No cap on betting rounds for Pot Limit or No Limit.
11. Verbal declarations are binding. 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 your 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. A "call" or “raise” may be ruled not binding if it is obvious that the player grossly misunderstood the amount wagered (e.g., did not notice a raise, or mis-heard a raise amount). In a gross misunderstanding situation, the player may withdraw the wager and reconsider the action, provided that no one else has subsequently acted.
13. Cards speak once all cards are tabled for all to see. The pot will be awarded to the best hand showing, even if a player misreads the hand. Players should not comment on any hand with all cards not tabled for all to see.
14. If you show one person your cards, you must show all at end of play. This includes shown folds.
15. 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, call the house for replacement.
16. Don’t pre-deal hands, as the burn cards protect the players. Don’t rearrange cards or announce possible hands. Keep the Flop, Turn, and River in order, so players can reconstruct the hand.
17. The clock may be called on any player who has taken more than 2 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. If the house provides food/drink, throwing in a few bucks to help is appreciated. There is no rake.
19. No smoking inside, take it outside and use a can for an ashtray.
20. 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 / exceptions that are made to preserve the best interests of the game are final. If the house is involved in a dispute, a non-partisan person 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, may result in your ejection and exclusion from future events.

 

[Azalenko]

No straddling?! What is this? Nana’s poker and knitting room? BOOOOOOOO!

First thing I thought of when I saw your post;
‘What is this, a poker room for ants!?’

 

[Azalenko]

Here's my top 20 list, built with help from many on the forum and fits on a single posted sign. Might be useful!

Ashamed to admit I tried zooming in on the picture to read for the first 5 rules before realising you had free texted them below.

 

[merkong]

View attachment 1067395
Here's my top 20 list, built with help from many on the forum and fits on a single posted sign. Might be useful!

1. This game is for fun, so only play with what you can afford to lose. Please no chip souvenirs!
2. All chips must be purchased from the house. Cash games are table stakes. Rebuys are capped at the initial buy-in or half the big stack, whichever is greater. 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 until cash-out.
4. Higher denomination chips must be easily viewable by the entire table (i.e., in front/on top). Tournament chips must never be pocketed, else they will be forfeited from tournament play.
5. Protect your hand at all times (e.g., use a card protector). This includes not folding your hand until the dealer reads all hands and 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 with an opponent 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 pot games, both players should confirm the split before chips are taken from any side pots or main pot. Put chips in the pot, then do the split(s), and avoid doing splitting math in your head. Resolve the last side pot first, and then work back to the main pot.
9. If you throw a single chip into the pot without first announcing a raise, then you have called. Change should 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 for Limit (i.e., Bet—Raise—ReRaise—Cap) unless players are heads-up prior to the beginning of a betting round, in which case the number of bets is uncapped. No cap on betting rounds for Pot Limit or No Limit.
11. Verbal declarations are binding. 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 your 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. A "call" or “raise” may be ruled not binding if it is obvious that the player grossly misunderstood the amount wagered (e.g., did not notice a raise, or mis-heard a raise amount). In a gross misunderstanding situation, the player may withdraw the wager and reconsider the action, provided that no one else has subsequently acted.
13. Cards speak once all cards are tabled for all to see. The pot will be awarded to the best hand showing, even if a player misreads the hand. Players should not comment on any hand with all cards not tabled for all to see.
14. If you show one person your cards, you must show all at end of play. This includes shown folds.
15. 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, call the house for replacement.
16. Don’t pre-deal hands, as the burn cards protect the players. Don’t rearrange cards or announce possible hands. Keep the Flop, Turn, and River in order, so players can reconstruct the hand.
17. The clock may be called on any player who has taken more than 2 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. If the house provides food/drink, throwing in a few bucks to help is appreciated. There is no rake.
19. No smoking inside, take it outside and use a can for an ashtray.
20. 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 / exceptions that are made to preserve the best interests of the game are final. If the house is involved in a dispute, a non-partisan person 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, may result in your ejection and exclusion from future events.

I’ll probably cherry pick some of this. Having an evolving set of house rules is important and I applaud the OP for being a law and ores host.

To a lot of folks’ point though some of it might be overkill.

Again, good for you for spreading a game. The more the merrier. We’ve ripped off 52 games in 6 months spreading two week. We have a waitlist now.

All in!

 

[merkong]

View attachment 1067395
Here's my top 20 list, built with help from many on the forum and fits on a single posted sign. Might be useful!

1. This game is for fun, so only play with what you can afford to lose. Please no chip souvenirs!
2. All chips must be purchased from the house. Cash games are table stakes. Rebuys are capped at the initial buy-in or half the big stack, whichever is greater. 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 until cash-out.
4. Higher denomination chips must be easily viewable by the entire table (i.e., in front/on top). Tournament chips must never be pocketed, else they will be forfeited from tournament play.
5. Protect your hand at all times (e.g., use a card protector). This includes not folding your hand until the dealer reads all hands and 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 with an opponent 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 pot games, both players should confirm the split before chips are taken from any side pots or main pot. Put chips in the pot, then do the split(s), and avoid doing splitting math in your head. Resolve the last side pot first, and then work back to the main pot.
9. If you throw a single chip into the pot without first announcing a raise, then you have called. Change should 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 for Limit (i.e., Bet—Raise—ReRaise—Cap) unless players are heads-up prior to the beginning of a betting round, in which case the number of bets is uncapped. No cap on betting rounds for Pot Limit or No Limit.
11. Verbal declarations are binding. 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 your 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. A "call" or “raise” may be ruled not binding if it is obvious that the player grossly misunderstood the amount wagered (e.g., did not notice a raise, or mis-heard a raise amount). In a gross misunderstanding situation, the player may withdraw the wager and reconsider the action, provided that no one else has subsequently acted.
13. Cards speak once all cards are tabled for all to see. The pot will be awarded to the best hand showing, even if a player misreads the hand. Players should not comment on any hand with all cards not tabled for all to see.
14. If you show one person your cards, you must show all at end of play. This includes shown folds.
15. 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, call the house for replacement.
16. Don’t pre-deal hands, as the burn cards protect the players. Don’t rearrange cards or announce possible hands. Keep the Flop, Turn, and River in order, so players can reconstruct the hand.
17. The clock may be called on any player who has taken more than 2 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. If the house provides food/drink, throwing in a few bucks to help is appreciated. There is no rake.
19. No smoking inside, take it outside and use a can for an ashtray.
20. 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 / exceptions that are made to preserve the best interests of the game are final. If the house is involved in a dispute, a non-partisan person 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, may result in your ejection and exclusion from future events.

Fellow local guy! I’ve been meaning to re-reach out to you about visiting your game. I’m still within a year off bringing mine back, have a lower stake still in effect (just went to .25/.25 - look out!), have a youngerish player group who are solid attendees. Planning on reaching out again and extending an invite to you. We’ll draw the other locals in as well maybe. I’ve had 2 over.

Stay well.

Ken

 

[Taghkanic]

One of the rules I find amateurs (especially old guys) disregard is keeping your cards on the table.

These players love to lift their cards up to their face, hold them on the rail or even on their laps.

This almost never happens in my own game, and only with first-time players, but I see it at social halls all the time.