Q92 Texas Holdem Poker Tournament Rules & Regulations

SECTION I – TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION AND ENTRY

1. Entry into the “Q92 Texas Holdem Poker” (herein “Q92THP”) is limited to persons 21 years of age and older, with proof of age, and that Q92, acting in its sole and absolute discretion, deems appropriate. All times are Eastern Standard Times.

(a) “Contest Period” starts Wednesday February 18th 2009 up until 11:59pm on Sunday March 22 2009, the “Contest Closing Date”.  To enter do one (1) or a combination of the following;

(i) You may enter, by visiting http://www.q92rocks.com, and sign up as a Q92 Club Q Rockstar member, fully complete the sign up information, and redeem 1 Rockstar Point for an entry into the Q92 Texas Holdem Poker Rock Raffle.  A random draw by a Rogers representative will be made at 7:45am on February 23rd, March 2nd, March 9th & March 16th 2009, five (5) pass will be made available through this entry method for each of the four (4) Qualifying Tournaments. A total number of twenty (20) passes will be made available through this entry method or:

(ii)  During the Contest Period visit www.q92rocks.com and bid your Rockstar points for a chance to win a pass to one (1) of the four (4) Qualifying Tournaments, by visiting the Auction section of the website.  During the Contest Period the person with the highest bid for each of the 16 auctions will receive a pass for one (1) of the four (4) Qualifying Tournaments.  Four (4) passes will be made available through this entry method for each of the four (4) Qualifying Tournaments. A total number of sixteen (16) passes will be available through this entry method or; 

(iii)  A total of three hundred and forty (340) passes will be available through the Club Q On Line Store by redeeming 20,000 Rockstar Points for each pass by the Contest Closing Date or;

(iv) NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter this Tournament Contest Draw without redeeming points, during the Contest Period, please hand print your name, address, day and evening phone numbers, email address, age, Contest name for which you are entering for a chance to win, and a hand written 100 word letter explaining why you would like to play and mail it to Q92 Texas Holdem poker, 880 Lasalle Blvd., Sudbury, Ontario, P3A 1X5. You will receive one (1) entry into the Contest during the entry period for which your request was postmarked and received to be postmarked by the Contest Closing Date. Limit of one (1) mail-in request per postage stamped envelope per day.

(v) Visit the following remote locations set out below and fill out an original written ballot, (photocopies, facsimiles or other reproductions will not be eligible), and deposit in the designated ballot box.  Times and dates of the remotes will be announced on-air.  Random draws by a Rogers representative will be made from all eligible remote locations.

A total number of six (6) entries will be made available at:

Bianco’s Movie Super Centre 2040 Algonquin Road Sudbury, ON, P3E 4Z6
February 19th 2009 3-6pm

Bianco’s Movie Super Centre 2040 Algonquin Road Sudbury, ON, P3E 4Z6
February 25th 2009 3-6pm

Bianco’s Movie Super Centre 2040 Algonquin Road Sudbury, ON, P3E 4Z6
March 5th 2009 3-6pm

Bianco’s Movie Super Centre 2040 Algonquin Road Sudbury, ON, P3E 4Z6
March 11th 2009 3-6pm

(b) A random draw, by a Rogers representative, will be made on February 22, March 1, March 8 & March 15th 2009, at 11:59pm each a “Draw Date” from all eligible entries received as of each Draw Date, at the Rogers' office at 880 Lasalle Blvd., Sudbury, Ontario, P3A 1X5.  Twenty (20) passes will be awarded through this entry method.
(c) Selected entrants will be contacted by telephone or email as indication on their entry form/mail in entry. If a selected entrant cannot be reached within two (2) business days after the Draw Date, incorrectly answers the skill testing question, or declines the chance to participate, another entrant will be selected.
(d) A total number of four hundred (400) entrants who will be deemed as “Qualifiers” will be selected during the Contest Period, who will play in the four (4) Qualifying Tournaments.
(e)  If the identity of an entrant is disputed, the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry will be deemed to be the entrant.  The individual assigned to the e-mail address for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address is considered the authorized account holder.  A selected entrant may be required to provide proof that he/she is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the selected entry.   All entries must be submitted from a valid e-mail account that may be identified by reverse domain name search. The sole determinant of time for the purposes of receipt of a valid entry in this contest will be the contest server machine(s).
2. No purchase, expenditure or investment is necessary to enter this contest.
3. Selected Qualifiers must first correctly answer, unaided, a time-limited, mathematical skill-testing question posed by telephone at a mutually convenient time; and will also need to return a signed release of liability and acknowledgment form.  Contest judges' rulings are final and without appeal in all matters related to the Tournament and the awarding of prizes.
4. By entering this Tournament each entrant consents to the use of his/her entry, name, and city of residence and/or photograph in any publicity carried out by Rogers and/or its advertising agencies, without further compensation.  Winner consents to their photograph being taken by Rogers for such use, without further compensation.  All entries become the property of Rogers.
5. No correspondence will be entered into except with the selected Qualifiers. 
6. Chances of becoming a Qualifier depends upon the number of entries received, the chancing of winning the Grand Prize is 1 in 8.  Rogers is unaware of how many entrants there may be.  The winner may come from any geographic area, so long as they otherwise qualify to enter the Tournament.
7. All entries which are incomplete, illegible, damaged, irregular, have been submitted through illicit means, or do not conform to or satisfy any condition of the rules may be disqualified by Rogers.  Rogers takes no responsibility for lost, misdirected, late or destroyed entries, or for typographical or other production errors.
8. All entries become property of Rogers who assume no responsibility for lost, stolen, delayed, damaged or misdirected entries or for failure of the website during the Contest Period, for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website, or any combination thereof including any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from playing or downloading any material in the Contest.  Rogers reserve the right, in their sole discretion; to cancel or suspend the email portion of this contest should a virus, bug or other cause beyond the reasonable control of Rogers corrupt the security or proper administration of the contest. Any attempt to deliberately damage any web site or to undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, Rogers reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution.
9. Rogers is collecting personal data about entrants for the sole purpose of administering this Contest.  No further informational or marketing communications will be received by the entrant unless the entrant provides the Sponsors with explicit permission to do so.  Please see our Privacy Policy at www.rogers.com for full information on the company’s policy towards maintaining the privacy and security of user information.
10 The Tournament will be run in accordance with these rules, subject to amendment by Rogers.  Entrants must comply with these rules, and will be deemed to have received and understood the rules if they participate in the Tournament.
11. The terms of this Tournament, as set out in these rules, are not subject to amendment or counter-offer, except as set out herein.
12. Third-party registrations for players are not permitted
13. Employees of Rogers Broadcasting Limited and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates,      owned, operated or managed properties, contractors hired for the operation of the Q92 Texas Holdem Poker or parent companies and immediate family members of such employees are not eligible to play in Q92 Texas Holdem Poker.
14. No teams, substitutes, transfers or assisted play will be permitted. Q92 reserves the right to accommodate players based on special needs.

SECTION II – TOURNAMENT SCHEDULING

15. Q92 Texas Holdem Poker Tournament times are approximate. Q92 reserves the right to change Q92 Texas Holdem Poker Tournament times in its sole and absolute discretion.

16. Q92 may cancel, modify, relocate or reschedule the Q92 Texas Holdem Poker or any individual event within the Q92 Texas Holdem Poker for any reason with prior notification to the appropriate gaming regulators, to the extent such is required.

17. Q92 is not responsible for electronic transmission errors or delays resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, hardware, software, or telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable connections, fraud, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions, whether caused by Q92, users, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the promotion or by any technical or human error that may occur in the processing of submissions, any of which.

18. Q92 is not responsible for injuries or losses arising or resulting from participation in the Q92 Texas Holdem Poker and is not liable for any acts or omissions by employees, whether negligent or willful, in the conduct of the Q92 Texas Holdem Poker, and is not liable in the event of any equipment or software malfunction. This includes, but is not limited to, any loss of any Tournament chips players leave at playing tables during Tournament play, except during authorized breaks.

19.(a) If for any reason the Tournament is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical
failures, or any other causes within or beyond the control of Q92 that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Tournament, Q92 reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Tournament.

     (b). Schedule

Qualifying Tournament #1 February 26 2009 Cranky Joe’s Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre 5085 Hwy 69 North Hanmer, Ontario P3P 1P7
Qualifying Tournament #2 March 4 2009 Cranky Joe’s 941 Notre Dame Avenue
Sudbury, Ontario P3A 2T7
Qualifying Tournament #3 March 12 2009 Cranky Joe’s Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre 5085 Hwy 69 North Hanmer, Ontario P3P 1P7
Qualifying Tournament #4 March 18 2009 Cranky Joe’s 941 Notre Dame Avenue
Sudbury, Ontario P3A 2T7

Championship Tournament March 23 2009 Cranky Joe’s 941 Notre Dame Avenue
Sudbury, Ontario P3A 2T7

Final Table March 27th 2009:
Kewadin Casino
2186 Shunk Road
Sault Ste Marie, MI, United States‎

SECTION III – PRIZING AND SEATING

20. Prizes and entries are non-transferable.  Players from the four (4)  Qualifying Tournaments who are the remaining twenty five (25) players in their respective Tournaments advance to the Championship Tournament taking place March 23 2009, where the final eight (8) players remaining will play at the Final Table, and who will be deemed as “Finalists” and will receive:

Two (2) night accommodations based upon double occupancy in Kewadin Casino, 2186 Shunk Road, Sault Ste Marie, MI, United States‎
$90 gas card voucher
Approximate retail value of $300.00

Winners and traveling companions are responsible for ensuring they have all the necessary travel documents and Rogers is not responsible in the event the winners and/or traveling companions are denied entry into the Country of destination or re-entry into Canada and any unused portion of the prize will be forfeit. The traveling companion must also be over the age of 21 to travel with the Finalist. The Finalist and his/her traveling companion are responsible for making their way to the Championship Tournament.

The Finalist who wins the Final Table will win one Grand Prize
Bose AM6 6 Speaker Surround Package Retail Value $850.00
Samsung 32” LCD TV Model # LN32A450 Retail Value $900.00
Yamaha 600 Watt Surround Receiver Retail Value $450.00
Premium Audio Stand Retail Value $500.00
Samsung Blu-Ray Hi Def DVD Player plus 2 HDMI Cables Retail Value $500.00
$200 worth of Blu-Ray DVD Rentals at any Bianco’s Movie Super Centre in Greater Sudbury ON
 with an approximate retail value of $3400.00.

21. Finalists are responsible for payment of any and all taxes, licenses, registrations and other fees associated with Tournament prizes.

22. Entrants will be assigned to a table and seat through a random computer selection.

23. If the Finalist is not present at the start of the Tournament, all forced antes and blinds bets will be removed from an absent player’s stack accordingly. If player shows up and still has chips remaining, [s]he may play his or her chips.

24. No-value Tournament chips are used for the Tournament and are the exclusive property of Sudbury Ultimate Poker League and may not be removed from the Tournament area or the assigned event. Players found to be transferring chips from one event to another or from one player to another will be subject to penalty in accordance with Rule No. 17.

SECTION IV – PLAYER CONDUCT AND TOURNAMENT INTEGRITY

25. Q92  may impose penalties of any kind or nature upon any person who gives, makes, issues, authorizes or endorses any statement or action having, or designed to have, an effect prejudicial or detrimental to the best interest of the Tournament as determined by Q92, acting in its sole and absolute discretion. This may include, but shall not be limited to, expulsion from the event and property, forfeiture of a player’s entry and/or loss of the right to participate in this and/or any other Tournament conducted by Q92. Additionally, Q92 may in its sole and absolute discretion impose penalties of any kind or nature upon any person who, in Q92’s view engages in inappropriate conduct during the Tournament play.

26.  Q92 may disqualify any person for any prize based upon fraud, dishonesty, violation of promotional rules or other misconduct while on the property or otherwise occurring in relation to the Q92 Texas Holdem Poker or as otherwise reasonable or necessary for Q92 to comply with applicable statutes and regulations, in its sole and absolute discretion. Q92 also reserves the right to exclude any individual(s) acting in a disruptive or inappropriate manner.
27.  Any attempt by any person to deliberately damage, corrupt or undermine the operation of the Q92 Texas Holdem Poker Tournament may be a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Q92 reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent of the law.

28.  All decisions regarding the interpretation of Q92 Texas Holdem Poker Rules, player eligibility, scheduling and staging of the Tournament, and penalties for misconduct lie solely with Q92, whose decisions are final.

29. Q92 employees will use reasonable commercial efforts to consider the best interests of the Tournament and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process, with the understanding that “best interests of the Tournament and fairness” shall be determined by Q92, acting in its sole and absolute discretion. Unusual circumstances can, on occasion, dictate that the technical interpretation of the rules be balanced against the interest of fairness. Q92 decisions are final and can not be appealed and shall not give rise to any claim for monetary damages, as each participant understands that, while poker is primarily and largely a game of skill, the outcome of any particular hand or event is dependent on many factors, including but not limited to the cards dealt, the cards retained and the actions of other participants.

30. Any player who directs any profane and/or abusive language at another player, dealer or Tournament staff member or who makes any profane and/or abusive comments about another player, dealer or Tournament staff member will be penalized in accordance with Rules No. 17 and/or 34. In particular, the use of the so-called "f-bomb" and "c-bomb" as well as derivatives of those and similarly offensive terms, will subject the offending player to penalties if they are directed at or refer to another player, dealer, staff member, patron or official of Q92. In Q92 sole and absolute discretion, it may impose at any time a zero-tolerance policy for profane language whether directed at another person or not.

31. Excessive celebration through extended theatrics, inappropriate behavior, or physical actions, gestures, or conduct may be subject to penalty. Any player that engages a member of the Tournament staff during the celebration or utilizes any property of S.U.P.L./Q92 will be penalized in accordance with Rules No. 17 and/or 51. S.U.P.L./Q92 property includes but is not limited to chairs, Tournament tables, and stanchions.

32. Any player(s) adjudged or determined by Q92 to be colluding with other players will immediately be disqualified from the event, and will not be allowed to play in future Q92 events.

33. Player or staff abuse will not be tolerated. A player may incur a penalty up to and including disqualification for any abuse towards another player or staff member, and player could be asked to leave the property. Repeated etiquette violations such as touching another player’s cards or chips, delay of game and excessive chatter will result in penalties.

34. Tournament Rules and any and all changes in the rules and event descriptions for the Q92 Texas Holdem Poker, through XXXX in Sudbury ON, will be available on line at www.q92rocks.com.

35. Where a situation arises that is not covered by these rules, Q92 shall have the sole authority to render a judgment, including the imposition of a penalty, in accordance with the best interests of the Tournament and the maintenance of its integrity and public confidence.

SECTION V – POKER RULES

36. Floor People: Floor People are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over the technical rules. The floor person’s decision is final.

37.  Chip Up rule: Chip Up is defined as removal of a denomination of chip no longer in use. When it is time to color-up chips, they will be Chipped Up with a maximum of one chip going to any player. The Chip Up will always start at the first player left of the dealer. A player cannot be Chipped Up out of a Tournament. In the event that a player has only one chip remaining, the regular procedure will take place. That player will be given one chip of the smallest denomination still in play.

38.  Side pots: Each side pot will be split as a separate pot. Pots will not be mixed together before they are split.

39. Odd Chips: The odd chip(s) will go to the high hand.

40. Calling-for-clock procedures: Once a reasonable amount of time, which is no less than three minutes, has passed and a clock is called, a player will be given one (1) minute to act. If action has not been taken by the time the minute has expired, there will be a ten (10) second countdown. If a player has not acted on his hand by the time the countdown is over, the hand will be dead. Any player intentionally stalling the progress of the game will incur a penalty in accordance with Rule No. 34.

41. Dead Button: Tournament play will use the dead button rule. Dead Button is defined as a button that can not be advanced due to elimination of a player or the seating of a new player into a position between the small blind and the button.

42. A player exposing his or her cards with action pending may incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. The penalty will begin at the end of the hand. All players at the table are entitled to see the exposed card(s), if requested. A penalty may also be imposed if a player throws a card off the table, violates the one-player-to-a-hand rule or engages in similar behavior. Penalties will be invoked in cases of soft-play, abuse or disruptive behavior. All penalties will be imposed at Q92 sole and absolute discretion, in accordance with Rule No. 34.

43.  In its sole and absolute discretion, Q92 may impose penalties that include verbal warnings and missed-hand penalties. A missed-hand penalty will be assessed as follows: The offender will miss one hand for each player at the table, including the offender, when the penalty is given, multiplied by the number of rounds specified in the penalty. Tournament staff can assess one-, two-, three- or four-round penalties or disqualification. Players who receive a missed-hand penalty must remain outside the designated Tournament areas for the length of their penalty. The player must notify the Tournament staff prior to returning to their seat. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties up to disqualification.

44. A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips removed from play and no refund will be provided to that disqualified player. Any player who forfeits play for health or other personal reasons after the start of a Tournament will have his or her chips blinded off accordingly.

45. A player must be at his or her seat by the time all players have been dealt complete initial hands to have a live hand. Players must be at their seats to call time. “At your seat” is defined as being within reach or touch of your chair.

46. All cards will be turned face up once a player is all in and all action is complete. If a player accidentally folds/mucks their hand before cards are turned up, the Tournament Staff reserves the right to retrieve the folded/mucked cards if the cards are clearly identifiable.

47. If a player puts in a raise of 50 percent or more of the previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed. In no-limit and pot-limit, an all-in bet of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted. Putting a single oversized chip into the pot will be considered a call if the player doesn’t announce a raise. Putting in two $500 chips on a 300-600 blind level without an announcement will also be considered a call even though it is two chips. If a player puts an oversized chip into the
 pot and says, “Raise,” but doesn’t state the amount, the raise will be the maximum allowable up to the denomination of that chip. To make a raise with a single oversized chip, a verbal declaration must be made before the chip hits the table surface. After the flop, an initial bet of a single oversized chip without comment will signify a bet equal to the size of the chip.

48. In no-limit, a raise must be made by a.) placing the full amount in the pot in one or more continuous motion(s) without going back toward the player’s stack or b.) verbally declaring the full amount prior to the initial placement of chips into the pot or c.) verbally declaring “raise” prior to the placement of the amount to call into the pot and then completing the action with one additional motion back to the player’s stack. Less than a full raise in an all-in situation does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted.

49. Players are obligated to protect the other players in the Tournament at all times. Therefore, whether in a hand or not, players may not a.) disclose contents of live or folded hands, b.) advise or criticize play before the action is completed, or c.) read a hand that hasn’t been tabled. While in a hand, players may not a) discuss hands or strategy with any spectator, or b) seek or receive consultation from an outside source. The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced. Players who violate this rule are subject to penalty in accordance with Rule 34.

50. The English-only rule will be enforced during Tournament play.

51. There will be no foreign objects on the table except for a maximum of one card cap. Card caps can be no larger than two (2) inches in diameter and no more than one-half (1/2) inch in depth.

52. Deck changes will be on the dealer push or limit changes or as prescribed by Q92. Players may not ask for deck changes unless a card is damaged.

53. When time has elapsed in a round and a new round is announced by a member of the Tournament staff, the new limits apply to the next hand. A hand begins with the first riffle.

54. Players must keep their highest denomination chips visible at all times.

55. Verbal declarations as to the content of a player's hand are not binding; however at Q92 discretion, any player deliberately miscalling his hand may be penalized.

56. A player who intentionally dodges his or her blind(s) when moving from a broken table must post both blinds and will incur a penalty, in accordance with Rule No. 34.

57. All chips must be visible at all times. Players may not hold or transport Tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of view. A player who does so will forfeit the chips and face disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play.

58. The breaking order for an event will be posted at the beginning of that event. The table to which a player is moved will be specified by a predetermined procedure. Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the position. They can get the big blind, the small blind or the button. The only place they cannot get a hand is between the small blind and the button. Q92 reserves the right to alter the breaking order due to unusual circumstances.

59. Play will halt at any table that is has 5 players short remaining.

60. There is no cap on the number of raises in this no-limit game. The initial raise must be at least double the big blind, with all subsequent raises being at least the size of the previous raise.

52. Poker is an individual game. Soft play will result in penalties that may include forfeiture of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping will result in disqualification.

53. When heads up in blind games, the small blind is on the button and acts first. When beginning heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player takes the big blind twice.

54. At the end of the last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive betting action in that betting round must show first. If there was no bet during the final round, the player to the left of the button shows first, and so on in a clockwise direction.

55. Players must remain at the table if they still have action pending on a hand.

56. Dealers will be responsible for calling string bets/raises. All players at the table are encouraged to assist in calling a string bet/raise if a dealer fails to identify one. String bets/raises called by a player must be verified by a floor person. A string bet/raise is defined as attempting a bet or raise in multiple movements that include a return to a player’s stack without a prior verbal declaration of intent or include deception intended to induce action our of turn before a player’s action is complete.

57. A player must show cards when playing the board to get part of the pot.

58. Cell Phone Rule: All cell phones and other voice-enabled and “ringing” electronic devices must be silenced during Tournament play. A player who wants to use a cell phone must be at least one table length away from their assigned table or be subject to penalty. The hand of any player talking on a cell phone, texting, e-mailing or otherwise communicating electronically while in a hand with action pending will be declared dead. Any player using a cellular phone while in a hand with no action pending (player has gone all-in) will receive a missed hand penalty to be assessed on the next hand. Any player using a cell phone while at their seat even if not in a hand will receive a missed hand penalty. No cell phones or other electronic communication device can be placed on a poker table.

59. Approved Electronic Device Rule: Players are allowed to use as approved electronic devices iPods, MP3 and other music players or noise-reduction headsets during Tournament play until they have reached the money in any Tournament , so long as the approved electronic devices can not access the internet, send or receive SMS texts and are not equipped with any type of communication device. Therefore, iPhones, iTouch, Treos, Blackberrys, and other similar devices will not be allowed. Once players are in the money in any Tournament, all approved electronic devices must be removed. An announcement will be made to players once they have reached the money to remove all such electronic devices. Failure to do so will results in a penalty up to and including disqualification.

60. All chips put into the pot in turn stay in the pot. If a player has raised and his or her hand is killed before the raise is called, the player may be entitled to the raise back, but will forfeit the amount of the call. Any chips put into the pot out of turn fall under action "may or may not be binding".

61. Players must act in turn at all times. Action out of turn may or may not be binding. If a player acts out of turn and the action does not change by the time it is that player's turn to act, that player's action is binding. Action changes only if a player makes an initial bet or raises before the action gets back to the person that acted out of turn. Action does not change when the player in front of a player acting out of turn checks, calls or folds. If a player acts out of turn and the action changes, the person who acted out of turn may change their action by calling, raising or folding and may have their chips returned. Players may not intentionally act out of turn to influence play before them. Players will receive a warning for the first occurrence of acting out of turn, and will receive a penalty, in accordance with Rule No. 34, every time after.

62. Rules governing Live Action Play are detailed in the Live Action Poker Manual that will be located at the registration desk of the Tournament area.

SECTION VI - TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

63. There will be 15 minute breaks every 90 minutes for the duration of the Tournament.

64. Tournament Supervisors are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the priority in the decision making process. Unusual circumstances may, on occasion, dictate that the technical interpretation of the rules be ignored in the interest of fairness. The Tournament Supervisor's, or highest authority in the room, decision is final.

65. Upon nearing the “Money” (the first level of advancing to the Championship Tournament or the final table of the Championship Tournament), a “Hand-for-Hand” method of determining player placement within the prize pool and the actual amount of prize pool disbursement within that event will be utilized. This will begin by completing the current hand in progress at all tables. Once all hands are complete, the dealer at each table will deal one hand only, then – once the hand is complete – suspend play. This process will continue until enough players have been eliminated to reach the money. During the Hand-for-Hand process, more than one player may be eliminated during the same hand. If two players are eliminated during the same hand at different tables, both players will “tie” for that place finish. If two players are eliminated during the same hand at the same table, the player who began that hand with the highest chip count will receive
the higher place finish.

Rules Of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker

The Shuffle, The Deal and The Blinds

The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck.

Most Texas Hold 'Em Poker games start with the two players to the left of the dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something to play for on every hand. This is called "posting the blinds." Most often, the "first blind" -- the player to the left of the dealer -- puts up half the minimum bet, and the "second blind" puts up the full minimum bet.

Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards."

Betting Begins

A round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. Players can call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

The Flop

After the first betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called burning the card and is done to ensure that no one accidentally saw the top card, and to help prevent cheating.

The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the "flop."

NOTE: Eventually, a total of five community cards will be placed face up on the table. Players can use any combination of the community cards and their own two hole cards to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.

After the flop, another round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer (the button). During this and all future rounds of betting, players can check, call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

Fourth Street

The dealer burns another card and plays one more face up onto the table. This, the fourth community card, is called the "turn" or "Fourth Street."

The player to the left of the dealer (the button) begins the third round of betting.

Fifth Street

The dealer burns another card before placing the final face-up card on the table. This card is called the "river" or "Fifth Street."

Final Betting and The Winner

Players can now use any combination of seven cards -- the five community cards and the two hole cards known only to them -- to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.

The fourth and final round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer (the button).

After the final betting round, all players who remain in the game reveal their hands. The player who made the initial bet or the player who made the last raise shows their hand first.

The player with the best hand wins.  The player with all the chips at the end of Tournament play is deemed the winner.