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We start the event playing 3/6 limit hold-em, and when players are ready, buy-in to a No-Limit tournament.
BUYIN: $25. for 100 chips in the 3/6 game. • $25. for "$1500" worth of tournament chips in the no-limit tournament. Two Re-Buys for $20 for $1,000 chips per player are allowed within the first hour.
CARD VISIBILITY: Players have to keep their cards in view at all times.
DISCUSSING HANDS: Players are not allowed to discuss hands while the hand is in play.
DECK CHANGES: Players are allowed to ask for deck changes.
STRING BET: No string bets allowed. When raising, a player must either put the amount of the raise out in one motion or state the raise amount. If the raise is unannounced then the raise must be made in one motion. If the raise is announced but no amount is announced - I raise - then the amount of the raise must be in one motion. If both the raise and the amount are announced - I raise 600 - then the player can make several motions to put chips into the pot since there is no question about the details.
TABLE STAKES: Only the amount of chips the player has at the start of a hand is the amount available to wager - a player may not dip into his pocket for additional money in the middle of the hand. A player can't put cash into the pot - only chips.
CHEATING: Anyone caught cheating will be disqualified from the game.
UNPROTECTED HANDS: If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player can not do anything about it because it is his responsibility to protect his cards. An exception would be if a player raised and his raise had not been called yet, he would be entitled to receive his raise back.
SITTING OUT: In a tournament, a player has the right to sit out as long as he wants as long as he posts his blinds. In a limit game, a player may sit out but needs to post a dead blind when sitting back in.
VERBAL DECLARATIONS: If a player verbally announces a move then he will be required to play according to his verbal declarations - even if he has not moved his chips.
SHOWING HANDS - WHEN ALL-IN: When a player is all-in, he has to show his cards.
SHOWING HANDS - WHO SHOWS FIRST: At the showdown: If everyone checks, then everyone must show their hand - in the order according to the button. If there is betting on the final round, then the player who puts in the final bet has to show first and the callers show next - in line with the button.
SHOWING HANDS - SHOWING YOUR CARDS TO OTHERS: You are not allowed to show your cards to another player. If you show your cards to 1 player then you need to show them to all players, whether it is during a hand or after.
SHOWING HANDS - JUST SHOWING ONE: You must show both cards in order to win the pot.
KILLING HANDS OF ABSENT PLAYERS: A player must be at the table at the end of the showdown in order to have his hand live. If he is not AT the table when the last card is dealt to the button, the dealer will kill his hand. If the dealer does not kill the hand, it will still be considered dead. If he is the blind, his bet will be posted and his hand dead.
DEALER ROTATION: There will be one designated dealer per table.
SIDE POTS: A player can only win from each player as many chips as he bets. This is called a main pot. A side pot is created with any subsequent bets.
DRAWING FOR THE BUTTON: Players will be dealt one card each and the highest card gets the button. Suits will determine a tie between 2 cards.
COLOR UP: The lowest denomination of chip in play will be removed from the table when it is no longer needed in the blind or ante structure.
ETIQUETTE:
No smoking inside. Smoke outside in the designated area.
No rowdy behavior.
No drug use.
Don't be discourteous.
No reading the board out loud.
Please do not talk on your cell phone during a hand.
Please be at the table when the action is to you.
Please do not splash the pot.
Do not act out of turn.
Do not turn over another players mucked cards without their permission.
Q. What is 3/6 or "Low Limit" Hold 'Em?
A. 3/6 or "Limit" Hold 'Em is the style of play you will typically
find in a casino. The betting structure is limited so players do not determine
the amount of bets and raises, those amounts are determined by the house
limit. In our games the limit is 3/6 or 3 chips in the first and second
rounds of betting (pre-flop and after flop) and six chips in the third
and fourth round of betting (turn card and river card.) Raises are made
in these incements as well, so if 3 chips are bet, the player who wants
to raise will raise three more, and re-raises are also 3 chips. Betting
is capped after four bets.
Q. What is "No Limit" Hold 'Em?
A. "No Limit" Hold 'Em is a tournament
structure game. Players buy in for a pre-determined amount of chips. For instance,
in my games, players buy $1500. worth of chips for $25. This obviously doesn't
mean that you can leave the table and get that value for your chips. Once all
players buy their $1500. worth of chips at the same time, the contest begins,
and players must play through to the end to compete for a prize. Each round of
betting is unlimited, meaning each player can bet any amount they want (up to
their entire supply of chips) and those bets can be raised by any amount (up
to their entire supply of chips.) For those of you who have never played no-limit
style, it is a completely different animal than limit Hold 'Em. No-limit is the
style of play you see on television.
Q. Why play limit Hold 'Em? Why not play "No Limit"
like they do on TV?
A. 3/6 or "Limit" Hold 'Em is the style
of play you will typically find in a casino, and the reason for this is, it allows
players to come and go as they please. You can approach the table with 100 chips,
and leave any time with whatever amount you've gained or lost. We play this way
for the first part of the event so players can arrive (not all players arrive
at the same time) buy-in and join a table without the pressure of No-Limit right
away. When everyone gets warmed up, and is ready for no-limit, we cash out of
3/6 and buy-in to no-limit style Hold 'Em.
Q. How do I win money then?
A. You can win money in either of the two game
styles, and winning is very different in each game.
In 3/6 (or "Limit" games) you can approach the table with $25 in chips, win some big hands, and cash out a few minutes later with $42 in chips and stop playing altogether. Various players come and go as they please and can buy a new supply of chips at any time.
In "Limit" games, you approach the table at the same time as the other players, everyone with the same amount of chips. The game starts and players are eliminated by other players as time marches on. The final three players at the table will win actual money. The player who places first will win 60% of the total buy-in amount, the player who places second will win 30% of the total buy in amount, and the player who places third will win 10% of the total buy-in amount. Here's an example:
12 players buy-in to a no-limit tournamet for $25. for a total of $300. in prize money available. Third place gets 10% (or $30) second place gets 30% (or $90) and first place gets 60% (or $180.)
Q.
Can't we get in trouble for doing this? I thought gambling was illegal.
A. Gaming in one's home for money is legal until
the house (or operator of the game) makes a profit. When the house (or operator)
makes a profit in any other way than winning in the same manner as all the other
players, it is illegal. In my games, there is no
admission fee, no "rake" or
house-take. In this way, it is a perfectly legal home-game, where monies are
being redistributed among the players, and the house (or operator) does not make
a profit. There are more details here, in my discussion
forum.
Q. I'm on a budget, how much money
do I have to bring?
A. I get all kinds of players at my games. Some
people bring the minimum $25. and play all night, walking away with more than
they came with. Other players bring $100. and lose all of it. It is important
to keep in mind that the money is distributed to other players, not the house
(which makes NO profit in these games.)
These events are very social, and are made to be fun. At the same time, we play real Texas Hold 'Em with strict rules, so whether you love the game and came to gamble, or you're just there to have a good time and hand out with friends, you are welcome.
If you lose your money, you are welcome to relax in the loser's lounge with the the others, have a drink and some snacks, and catch up with the gang.
Some players take these events pretty seriously, and bring lots of money because they love the game. I cater to both sides.
$25 is the minimum buy-in, and works great for the social butterflies. If you're really into the game of Texas Hold 'Em, and you want to compete, bring at least $50.