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Our House Rules
LivePubPokerLeague is for social, enjoyable poker tournaments for people from all walks of life, and with varying degrees of experience and knowledge of poker. The simple aim is enjoyment, and although disagreements will occur and mistakes will happen, everyone is expected to abide by the spirit of LivePubPokerLeague - social, enjoyable and friendly poker for all.
Poker etiquette is expected from all players. Inappropriate behavior like throwing cards that go off the table, giving inappropriate advice, slow play etc etc may result in a sanction being imposed by the TD. A severe infraction such as abusive or disruptive behavior may result in eviction and or/disqualification from the tournament and/or LivePubPokerLeague membership being revoked.
These rules ensure that LPPL Tournaments run smoothly and that all players are treated equally. The overriding fact is that the TD's decision, on the night, is final. However, players wishing to complain or query any decision may do so by contacting LPPL via the website, or by stating to the TD that they do not agree, giving reasons why, and that they wish the TD to get a ruling. This ruling will be provided by LPPL either immediately (on the end of the phone) or if not available then before the next scheduled LPPL event . However, play on the night will in no circumstances be held up nor will any 'overruling' of the TD's decision affect the outcome of any event retrospectively.
The Tournament Director’s decision is final on all issues on the night. Players should state complaints direct to LPPL via the website. Whilst acting as TD, TDs will have exemption to many of the rules whilst away from their seat doing official TD business. For example, a TD’s hand cannot be folded if the action is with him but he is away from his seat on TD business – for example sorting chips or helping with a dispute – the other players on his table must wait until his return unless he clearly states he is folding.
The LPPL House rules should be viewed as a definitive guide on how LPPL games should be conducted and governed. However, LPPL recognises that in some circumstances, strict application of the House Rules may not lead to an outcome which is in the true "spirit" of the game. In these situations,TD's may use their discretion to apply a ruling which provides the fairest outcome to all players involved.
All tournaments are No Limit Texas Holdem.
Prior to registration all tables should be laid out with a pack of cards, dealer button and cut card on each table. 8 cards should be removed (Ace-8) from the deck and placed face down on each table – all other cards should be stacked together.
When players are allocated a table they should proceed immediately to that table and draw one of the 8 cards – the first person to choose will select their seat and then all other players joining the table must sit in position thereafter, as dictated by their card chosen and in relation to the first player to select. The lowest numbered card selected will deal – the dealer must check the deck to ensure they are all accounted for - this means checking each individual card, not just counting 52 in total. Chips will be handed out by the TD.
Before the start of the game all players are to check their total chips to ensure they have the correct amount - all Players who are seated at the start of the game will start with 3000 chips. The button is to be placed in front of the dealer and he will shuffle the cards and ask the person to his right to cut - the cut must ALWAYS be made (it is not allowed for them just to be "tapped" on top - which means "happy not to cut"!). The 'cut' is done by the 'shuffler' (ie the dealer) placing the pack of cards face down on the table with the 'cut-card' alongside. The player to the dealer's right then 'cuts' the cards and places the 'top' pile (ie the cards physically in their hand) down on top of the 'cut-card'! The cut must be circa mid deck. The person to the left of the dealer places the Small Blind, with the next person to their left placing the Big Blind, then the deal commences. Dealer responsibilities rotate in a clockwise direction.
Latecomers Latecomers may join in the game anytime before the start of the 3rd Blind Level but providing that there is at least 17 players remaining in the game BEFORE THE LATECOMER JOINS OR if there were less than 17 players who actually signed-up and started the game on time, the Latecomer may join if, at the point of joining, no-one has actually been knocked out of the tournament - eg if 17 players started and they are all still in the game when the Latecomer joins then they can join, but those who join during the 1st Blind level will start with 2500 chips (deduction of 500 chips) and those who join during the 2nd Blind level will start with 1500 chips (deduction of 1500 chips). If the game is "deepstack" then these penalties are amended to 750 deduction (4250 start stack) for level 1, with a further 1500 deduction for level 2 (2750 start stack).
If a player arrives within 5 minutes of the game start and the above ruling regarding the number of players who started the game is still intact, the player may join the game without penalty of loss of starting stack. The player however must immediately post a dead big blind to "enter" the game, even if he is seated in a blind position.
Under no circumstances are players allowed to register in advance without being on the venue premises – all registered players must take their seat for the start of the tournament or they will be treated as a Latecomer – anyone not seated at the ‘shuffle up and deal’ call will have the appropriate number of chips removed from their stack by the TD (500 during 1st blind level) after 5 minutes AND the table will post their blinds when due until they take their seat, where their whereabouts are unknown and potentially they have gone AWOL (ie not in toilets, at bar, finishing off a smoke etc) – if they have not taken their seat by the start of the 2nd blind level a further 1000 chips will be removed by the TD (or the appropriate number as above if a deepstack game). However, if a tournament is starting with maximum numbers and there are Standby players registered then any player allocated a seat who does not START (the above exclusion still applies however) the tournament will be replaced IMMEDIATELY by a Standby player (the player removed will take the position of the Standby player on the list).
Standby players are allowed when the maximum number of 48 have registered for a tournament – a maximum of 8 players can be placed on standby. Standby players will be treated in the same respect as Latecomers for chip allocation and must be available IMMEDIATELY to take a seat when offered – if not then the seat will be offered to the next registered Standby player. Standby players can only join in the tournament after someone has been knocked out before the START of the 3rd Blind level, when they will take the seat of that person, or any other seat as directed by the TD.
Blinds will be raised at pre-determined time periods set by LPPL, and increases will be announced by the Tournament Director (TD). If any table has already posted their SB AND BB before the increase has been announced by the TD, then the new increase will not take effect until the hand has been dealt and completed – ie the SB and BB do NOT have to post the increase. Therefore, all tables will post the new blinds on the next occasion that blinds are to be posted after the announcement.
Blinds levels may be ‘adjusted’ at the discretion of the Tournament Director, especially towards the end of a game to ensure a timely completion, when the TD may decide to 'drop' certain levels. Levels can only be dropped AFTER the 2nd chip-up stage.
The game will have 2 chip-ups. The first will take place when the 2 lowest chip denominations are no longer required (ie 25 and 50), which is immediately after level 5. All players with either 25s or 50s will have them ‘chipped-up’ to the nearest total of 100. This means all 25 and 50 chips will be removed from the game and players will be given the exact amount in larger denomination chips in return. This is done because at this point, if you consult the Blind level structure, you will notice that the chip denominations of 25 and 50 are no longer required for the game and raise in amounts of at least 100 thereafter. The second chip-up will take place immediately after level 10 when you will get rid of all your 100 chips.
BETTING: The minimum bet is equal to the size of the Big Blind. If a player lacks sufficient chips for a blind or a forced bet, the player is entitled to get action on whatever amount of chips he has remaining. In this situation, a side pot would occur and players with chips remaining would continue to bet as normal into a main pot. If you bet less than the minimum bet then you can only call and must call (ie you cannot remove your money and decide to fold/check/raise instead). If you placed more than the Minimum Bet, but below the 'minimum' raise, then your action must be to raise the minimum amount and you must put in the difference. If you placed more than the Minimum Bet and more than the minimum raise, then the 'extra' amount put in is your 'Raise'.
Whenever a player is ‘all in’ they will be first to ‘show’ after all betting action is complete for the hand. Players who are all-in show their hands in 'least-chips' order.
Any RAISE must be equal to or greater than the previous bet, or if a raise has been made already then any RE-RAISE must be at least the same amount as the raise. For example:
Blinds are in the third level (75/150) and the action is pre-flop. Player 1 calls 150, player 2 now wishes to raise. He can raise from 150 (min) to any amount upto all his chips. The 150 minimum is because that was the last bet (and clearly also the big blind). He acutally chooses to raise it 250, making it a total of 400. Notice that this isn't an increment of 150, once you've met the minimum you can raise any amount above that.
A few folds round the table and Player 3 now picks up a strong hand and wishes to re-raise player 2. It is now 400 for him to make the call, and the last raise was of 250. He has a monster hand so he wants to get paid so he just wants to raise the minimum. The minimum re-raise is equal to the amount of the last bet (250) plus the amount it would take to call (400) so he needs to put in 650 to make a legal raise.
Player 1 now folds, and player 2 has an option of calling 250 more, folding or raising (remember, his min-raise again would be to at least 900). He just calls the 250. Lets go to the flop.
Player 2 hits some of the flop so he bets out. His minimum bet would be the big blind (150) as this is the default bet at the start of betting on each round. However, the pot is big so he decides to bet a good amount and chooses 500. Player 3 still wants to get money in the pot but doesn't want to make a minimum re-raise again. Now, the minimum would be equal to the last bet (500) plus the amount it would take to call (500) so he would need to put in 1000 to make a legal raise. Instead he opts to bet 1400.
Now, the raise has been 900 (from 500 to 1400). Player 2 states that he wishes to raise to 2000. This would not be allowed as his mimimum raise would be that of the last bet (900) along with the amount it would take to call the last bet (1400) which would be a bet of 2300 in total for the minimum bet. Having stated raise he must now put in the remaining chips it takes to make a legal bet. And so on..
UNDER-RAISE: The only time an under-raise can actually be made is when a player wants to go all-in and doesn't have enough chips to make the full raise. If this has happened then it is played as though the person has called (ie. the action doesn't re-open to those players who have acted). When the play reaches players who have already acted on their hands they only have the option of calling the extra amount or folding their hands. If players are still to act then the full range of options are available to them (ie. if the player goes all-in on the button the blinds are still live and have all action available to them). They may: call (now, the amount of the all-in player), raise (obviously any legal amount, but they now have the option of 'completing the raise' of the all-in player, see below) and obviously folding.
An example of 'completing the bet'. Late in the tournament, a mixture of stacks on the table and the blinds are 600/1200. Players 1 and 2 limp into the pot for 1200 each and everyone else folds round. One off the button (the cut-off) and Player 3 wishes to go all-in with his last 2000 chips. He is well within his rights to push all-in as the tournament is 'no limit'. He has clearly under-raised as a legal raise would've been to 2400 (raising the amount of the last bet (1200) and putting in the amount it would take to make a call (1200 also) - 2400 in total). So his raise is an 'under-raise'.
Now, for two scenarios:
Firstly, the player on the button folds, the small and big blinds fold. Players 1 and 2 now have an option. Player 1 makes the call (putting in 800 more). Player 2 now states he wishes to raise. This is not allowed as he has already acted on his hand and the action has not been 're-opened' because only an under-raise was made and that is treated much like a call. Player 2's options are simply to fold or call - disgruntled by being told he can't raise he decides to fold.
Secondly, the action goes to the player on the button Player 4. He picks up a strong hand and wishes to raise. In raising his minimum raise would be to 2400 (completing the bet of the all-in player). It is like the all-in player just called, so Player 4's raise would be treated as a legal raise of 1200 (not a raise of 400). This completion of the bet DOES re-open the betting as it is legal. He does in fact just 'complete the bet' and makes it 2400 to go.
The blinds now fold, and Player 1 folds. Player 2 now states he wishes to re-raise. He is now allowed to do this as a legal raise has been made and the action has re-opened to him. He must put in at least 3600 to make a legal minimum raise (a raise the amount of the last raise (1200) plus the amount it would take to make a call (2400) - 3600 in total). He actually moves all-in and Player 4 makes the call.
A CHECK-RAISE is permitted.
If two or more players tie a hand (ie they have the same strength of hand), the pot will be split between the players who tied. If there is an odd chip(s) it goes to the player(s) to the left of the dealer, moving in a clockwise direction thereafter.
Players who win a non-called pot are not required to show their cards.
The dealer has a 'responsibility' to ensure 'their' game is run correctly, and should ensure also that they take control of mucked cards, betting and acting in turn, giving change from the pot, abiding by tournament rules etc. If any dealer has problems or concerns then they must consult the TD immediately.
Mistakes whilst dealing: If during the deal a player is missed out, or the deal starts on the wrong player, then the hand is to be re-dealt. Missing a player out also includes missing out a player who is not seated at the table. If whilst dealing the hole cards a card is dealt face-up by accident, the Dealer continues to deal as normal all of the remaining hole cards (ie the person who's card was revealed will have only 1 hole card when the deal is complete) - the Dealer then replaces the improperly dealt card with a new one from the top of the deck and the improperly dealt card then becomes the first burn card. If more than one card is misdealt during the ‘hole card’ deal then the hand is to be re-dealt. If a 'burn card(s)' or a 'mucked card(s)' is exposed, the card is to be shown to all players but the hand is NOT re-dealt. If a 'community' card(s) is exposed before they are due to be, then they (community card(s) ONLY, not any card that has been burnt as this is technically still the correct burn card) are to returned to the deck and the deck shuffled and the hand continues as normal from here.
The burn cards and the muck cards must be kept separate until the hand is completed. Burn cards should be laid immediately below the community cards. Mucked cards should be laid face down in the middle of the table and placed on top of each other.
The current dealer is the only person allowed to touch cards in the muck pile, the burn cards or the community cards. No player is allowed to turn over any cards in the muck pile – either during or after a hand. After completion of the hand the current dealer is to collect all cards and pass the deck and button to their left – they must not allow any cards to be seen that were not visible when the hand completed. The Dealer is also the only player allowed to touch chips in the pot. Players should make change with other players between hands, but If necessary during a hand the player should state their intended action (call, raise) and the dealer should take change for the player from the pot – no other player is to get involved with the pot during a hand – only the dealer may do so.
If at any time a player's cards touch the muck pile or they are thrown towards the centre or beyond the inner-most line of the boxes for cards with a clear indication to the dealer that they are folding, then the cards are dead and must be mucked, and the player loses all action on that hand.
Players' chips and cards must remain on or above the table and visible at all times immediately in front of the player. Cards must always be kept in front of chips on the table. Chips should be 'stacked' with the 'largest' denomination at the front – this can be achieved by using the trays in the table or by stacking them vertically on the green felt immediately in front of the trays but behind their cards. If a player is asked by another player who is still in the hand, and it is the other player’s turn to act, to reveal how many chips they have, they must do so - this is considered a normal request from any live player. Players should only ask this question when it is their turn to act – at any other time the answer does not need to be given.
Players may leave the table at any time but play, and action, will continue, with automatic checks or folds made by the table on their behalf, until they retake their seat. If absent during a time when they should be dealing, then the previous dealer will deal for them (remembering to deal from the correct position, ie NOT 'your own' seat) and all missing players will be dealt in with the missing dealer getting the last card. If absent during a time when players should be Small or Big Blind, then the dealer is to remove the correct ‘blind’ chips from their stack and ‘bet’ them in their absence before dealing commences. All missing players are to be dealt in. Players who are neither ‘Dealer’ nor ‘Small/Big Blind’ may also leave the table. Upon completion of a deal, play commences in the usual fashion until it reaches a player who is not present at the table. If the vacant seat is required to make a call to stay in the hand, their hand is folded. However if the vacant seat has a check option, whether in the BB position before the flop, or play is checked round to the vacant seat post flop, a check will be the automatic action on behalf of the non-present player. If action is checked around after the turn and river cards have been dealt, then all cards go on their backs, vacant player included, and the cards will speak for themselves in determining who is awarded the pot, even if this is the vacated player. Only when the action is on the vacated seat will cards be automatically folded and only when a call is needed - this is at any stage of the hand or game.
If a player is eliminated after it was his Small Blind, then the button (dealer) moves to his empty position and the person who just dealt deals for the eliminated player (phantom player/dead seat). The other players post Small and Big Blinds as usual. If a player is eliminated after it was his Big Blind, the Small Blind position is considered ‘dead’ and only the Big Blind is posted for this hand. Following this hand the 'previous' dead small blind position will become a phantom dealer with blind structures returning to normal.
When players lose all of their chips they are eliminated from the tournament and must leave their seat immediately.
As players are eliminated, remaining players may be moved between tables to balance them fairly (ie as far as possible the aim is to have the same number of players on each table). If a player is to be moved from a table it is to be the player who would next have to post the Big Blind. If more than one player is to be moved from the same table they will do so in a clockwise direction starting with the Big Blind and if moving to the same new table they will take up their new positions in the same order as moving. New players joining a table join from the Big Blind position or the next available seat to the left of the Big Blind – they are dealt in immediately unless they sit down in the Small Blind or Button (dealer) positions when they must wait until the button passes them by. In these two cases, they must wait until the button passes their position before joining the action. If a player is moved between tables and enters a game in the Big Blind position they are dealt in immediately
If more than one player is eliminated on the same hand the player with the highest chip total at the beginning of the hand will be awarded the higher finishing position. If 'chips' at the beginning of the hand were equal, the player who has the best hand (including the community cards) will be awarded the higher finishing position. If the players are still equal, the player who is highest on the Area League Leaderboard will be awarded the higher finishing position, thereafter it will revert to previous Leaderboard position.
Before the start of any final table players seating positions are to be decided by use of the Ace – 8 card system as per the start of the tournament.
Before 'acting' declare your intended action verbally. Your first verbal declaration is binding - for example if you say 'call and raise' then you can actually only call. If you 'make' an action, for example place chips on the table as a bet, then that action stands irrespective of any subsequent verbal declaration or additional placing of chips. String bets are not allowed, for example if you grasp a handful of chips to place a bet but your first action is to physically ‘drop’ them into the betting area then, technically, the first chip or chips to ‘hit the table’ is considered to be your bet, irrespective of however many chips may ‘fall thereafter’ – however, a minimum bet must always be made. So, if you do not state raise, the first chip(s) placed on the table for the bet will be assumed a call if 'under' the call amount. If over the call amount, it will be considered a raise if the minimum 'raise amount' has been placed. If the minimum raise amount has not been placed, then the player will retrieve the 'extra' chips put into the pot and the action will be for a 'call' only. Any extra chips will be returned to your stack, if appropriate.
If anyone Acts out of Turn, either verbally or physically, then that action is binding and must be taken when the play gets to that player.
TDs have the discretion to impose sanctions on ANY player at any time. Specific details cannot be given as the experience and/or knowledge will vary greatly between TDs, however it will often be the case that TDs are acting on the advice provided by dealers/players. The following are examples when sanctions may be imposed:
Deliberate or Excessive slow play (TDs decision – probably as advised by the dealer/table) - 1st time a warning, thereafter automatic fold. For persistent known offenders it would be expected that they would be forced to fold on every occasion of deliberate or excessive slow play.
It may also be appropriate for persistent offenders to have their total chips removed and they be extracted from the game.
Some Do’s and Don’ts for players (which may result in sanctions be taken at the discretion of the TD):
DO act promptly and individually
Do NOT remove chips or cards from the table at any time, unless advised to do so by the TD.
Do NOT give advice to other players - all forms of colluding are strictly forbidden. We accept that for ‘beginners’ general advice may be given to make them aware of their options – but this does not include things like informing them of pot odds, advising them to call/fold or not etc. It can include an explanation of the strength of hands, an explanation on the best possible hand taking the community cards into consideration, what the minimum bet is etc etc.
Do NOT splash the pot with chips – when making a bet place the correct amount of chips in front of you but towards the main pot and leave them there. When all betting is complete all bets made should be clearly distinguishable and then placed into the relevant pots by the dealer – who may ask players to do it for him.
Do NOT act out of turn
Do NOT deliberately reveal the contents of a live hand to anyone
Do NOT touch cards that are mucked – whether your own or not
Do NOT use a mobile phone at the table – if you use a mobile phone you must stand up and move away from the table – however, when this action is taken your hand is to folded immediately by the dealer.
Do NOT make arrangements with other players (eg to check out a hand)
Do NOT taking action(s) or make statements that could unfairly influence the course of play.
Play continues until there is one player left who has accumulated all the chips. On occasions a time limit may need to be applied and the tournament will end with more than one player with chips. If so, the player with the most chips wins, player with 2nd most chips is 2nd, and so on...
Every player’s hand is to be kept to themselves during play. It must not be shown to anyone, including anyone simply standing around ‘watching’ the game. Players may seek advice about general poker play (eg can I check? How much can I raise?) but must not ask for, nor be given, advice relevant to a particular hand that is seen in any way to be influencing them to make a decision (eg I would fold if I was you, you’ve got great pot odds etc etc).
If you show cards to an active player after a hand, any player at the table has the right to see those exposed cards. Cards shown to a player not in the pot should be shown to all players when the hand is finished. When shown, the cards will be placed face-up on the table for all players to see. This is known as the 'show one, show all' rule.
When only two players remain in the tournament it is known as Heads Up. The player who was due to act next as the Big Blind will do so and the other player will assume the dealer position (which means the dealer will act first prior to the flop and second after the flop).
At no stage of the tournament, including Heads Up, are hole cards (one or both) allowed to be shown to your opponent(s) until the hand in question is at showdown, with all betting action over (ie Dealer announces "cards on their backs). If any hole card is exposed to the table deliberately before showdown both cards are folded immediately. If there is an apparent case of accidental exposure, the TD must be called for and asked to make a ruling based on the facts provided to him by the Dealer of the hand.
The only exception to this rule is if a player has pushed all in and there is only one player left to act in the hand. In this instance, the player with the decision to make (the decision only being "call" or "fold") MAY expose his cards to the person all-in to try to "get a read" on the player. This is only acceptable when there is no further possible action after this decision has been made, and the player/Dealer must ensure that the player with the decision to make has indeed got enough chips for it to be a simple call or fold decision.
However, hole cards ARE allowed to be verbally declared by the holder, as part of the bluffing strategy of the game. Hole cards can be verbally represented at any stage of the game or hand, and it is up to the holder of the Hole Cards how he wishes to represent his/her cards ie honestly or inaccurately. This means it is up to the opponent to decide if any advantage can be gained from this information.
Play continues until one of the remaining two players has won all the chips in play, at which point they are declared the tournament winner.
When a player leaves their seat during a tournament the dealer will on their behalf post their SB and BB on the next TWO occasions that both their SB and BB are due (ie two rounds of the table), thereafter a BB will be posted every hand - this process of posting a BB will continue until the player re-takes their seat or they are blinded out of the tournament. This process is only allowed once per player - if a player leaves their seat for a subsequent period AFTER they have PREVIOUSLY reached the 'blind posted every hand stage', their SB and BB will be posted when next due then every hand immediately thereafter a BB will be posted on their behalf. If a player has previously left the table but their blinds did NOT reach the '3rd BB' stage then that does NOT count as their 1st departure for these rules. If a player states that they will not be continuing to play in the tournament then ALL chips are to be removed from the tournament immediately by the TD and returned to the equipment box. This action may also be taken by the TD (and only the TD) if REGULARLY a player has left their seat during previous tournaments and has not returned to finish the tournament and REGULARLY has not informed the TD of this - this 'rule' is included to mainly stop players moving from one venue to another and trying to gain more points at the venue they have left by simply being blinded 'up the points'.
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