Poker Pirate RULES

POKER PIRATE RULES

Initial Buy-In/Re-Buys: Standard buy-in is $20. As you know we can not allow chips to be given, traded or sold to other players. We do not offer Re-Buys.

Blinds: A structure of large and small blinds will be used. A 'blind' is a forced bet that circulates around the table. The small blind must be made by the player directly to the left of the dealer. The big blind must be made by the player two places to the left of the dealer and is usually double the size of the small blind. If a player does not have enough chips for the blind, the player puts all his chips in the pot and is considered to be "all in". Players who are "all in" are eligible to win that portion of the pot in which they contributed. A side pot (or series of side pots) will form for the remaining players. We have had many discussions in regards to side pots. As a general rule players that are meeting an “all in” call may continue a side pot if other players are willing to meet the initial “all in” bet and have chips enough to continue to play their hand. The blind structure may be decided on a game by game basis but usually run in the following order:

$25/$50
$50/$100
$100/$200
$200/$400
$300/$600
$800/$1000

Also, blinds will raise every 15 min or 10 min to be determined by players at start of the game.


Betting: Minimum bet or raise is the size of the previous bet (the blinds will act as the minimum starting bet for the given round of play). The maximum amount of a bet or raise is equal to the number of chips the player has in front of them at any time during the game (“all in”). There is no limit on the number of raises that can be made for each round of betting. We do not allow String betting. A String bet is a bet that is not made in one fluid motion. An example would be calling a bet and then going back to your chips to raise. If your intention is to raise, you should call RAISE and then decide on the desired bet total. No splashing the pot. In no-limit it is often necessary to know how many chips are in the pot and/or in front of a player. Therefore, don't simply 'toss' chips into the pot. Place your bet in front of you, and after each betting round, the dealer should pull the chips into the pot. The dealer should also enforce the blinds.

Table Structure and Player Rotation: In keeping with standard casino tournament play we will draw numbers for our table and seat. Seat #1 at each table is the dealer for the first game. The button is passed as the deal moves around the table (always moving to the left of the current dealer). With multiple tables we will work towards keeping them as filled as possible. We will evaluate once we have tables down to 5 players. Highest card will move to the table with fewer players in till we are able to combine for a final table.

Card Play: Please fold in turn (not to mention betting in turn). Moves made out of turn may alter the play of the others still involved in the hand. The dealer will help to establish the winning hand; do not grab the pot in till the winning hand has been agreed on.

Poker Etiquette: This is a friendly tournament, money and rankings are at stake. Keep it civil, you may see these players again at an upcoming tournament (no knives please).


Also, please be aware of the host home: Provide your beverages / Help clean up / Keep the nose down and anything else you know you shouldn’t be doing (but end up doing every weekend…)

Additional Rules: Any player that sings/quotes Kenny Rogers “The Gambler” will be penalized the current blind (which will go in the current pot). No Rabbit chasing.

Questions: Sometimes questions come to light that may not have been address here. If so, please direct all questions to Southern California Poker Pirates No Limit Hold ‘Em League of America staff members Tommy Diamonds/Peter/David.

Winning Hands: From highest to lowest
• Royal Straight Flush (an Ace high Straight Flush)
• Straight Flush (five consecutive* cards of the same suit)
• Four of a Kind
• Full House (three of a kind and one pair)
• Flush (five cards of the same suit)
• Straight (five consecutive* cards)
• Three of a kind
• Two Pairs
• One Pair
• High Card
* Aces count as high or low