Seating, Table Assignments, Starting Games, Transfers, Lists, Etc.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS FOR STARTING A NEW GAME

Five players must be present at the table to start a new game in games that are played nine or ten handed. Four players must start for eight handed games. Management shall make every effort to start full games, but may start short games. Further, if two, three or four players indicate a desire to start a game short-handed, then this shall be permitted, however a short-handed new game shall not be deemed a full game for must move and other such purposes until at least four or five players (depending on the game) are in action.

PROCEDURES FOR STARTING A NEW GAME

CALLING FROM LIST

Players shall be called in order from the floorperson's waiting list, sometimes known as the board. The order in which players are called shall be determined by the order in which players put their names on the list, not when a player arrived in the room. Players higher on the list have priority over players arriving earlier yet further down on the list.

BUTTON PLACEMENT

In button games, players shall draw for the button. Once the shuffle for the first hand has begun players who did not participate in the draw shall be required to post blinds in accordance with the rules relating to blinds before receiving a hand. However any player who takes a seat that the button has not yet passed on the first lap shall receive a free hand. (Alternate Rule. The button shall be placed in the seat immediately to the right of the dealer when starting a new game. The problem with the alternate rule is that a player can take the button seat, play a free lap, then leave the game.)

SEAT SELECTION

The first player who has been properly called from the list to arrive at the table for a new game shall have first preference for a seat in the new game over anyone arriving after, regardless of their place on the waiting list or board. If two players arrive simultaneously and want the same seat, then shall draw for the seat, so long as play has not yet begun. A player involved in another game shall have the right to lock up a seat in the new game until the hand he is involved in is finished. If he has just paid his blinds, he shall be entitled to have his seat locked up until he has dealt off the button, however if the blinds pass him in the new game he shall receive a missed blind button and be obligated to post or wait before taking a hand, pursuant to Article 12 of Caro & Cooke's Rules relating to blinds. A player involved in a hand in another game may finish his hand before taking the seat in the new game, but the same rules relative to the blinds shall apply as to a player dealing off his button. (Alternate Rule. Some establishments permit players to indicate a seat preference when placing their name on the list for a new game, and in such cases, a player who has indicated a seat preference when placing his name on the list shall have priority over a player arriving at the table ahead of him, so long as he arrives before the first hand is dealt. Once the first hand is dealt those who indicated a seat preference on the waiting list lose their priority relative to seat choice.)

SPREADING THE DECK.

When a new game starts the dealer shall keep the suited deck spread on the table until he scrambles and shuffles for the first hand, so that all players entering the game can see that all cards are present and accounted for.

DEALING THE FIRST HAND

If a full table has been called for the game and is expected to be seated, the dealer shall begin the shuffle when six players are seated with chips in ten handed games and when five players are seated with chips in eight or nine handed games. Upon completion of the shuffle and cut the first hand shall be dealt. Players arriving after the shuffle for the first hand has commenced shall receive a free hand if the button and blinds have not passed their seats. If the blinds pass their seats they shall be treated as new players in an existing game. (The rules for Draw are slightly different. See Article 5 of Caro & Cooke's Rules for details.)

NEW PLAYER'S BUY-IN

When a new player enters the game that player shall not be dealt in unless he has chips and/or money on the table equal to at least the minimum buy-in. The only exception shall be if the player has chips in transit and he is playing behind, and the dealer ha announced the amount of money in transit.

SEAT CHANGE RULES

Which seat he sits in is a matter of great importance to many players, and every effort shall be made to honor all seat change requests fairly.

EXISTING PLAYER'S PRIORITY

A player who is already in a game shall have preference over a new player entering the game for a vacant seat.

PRIORITY AMONG EXISTING PLAYERS

As among players who are already seated in a game, the seat shall be made available in the order that players have requested a seat change. A player who has requested a seat change and doesn't take it when it becomes available loses his priority in the order and goes to the bottom of the list of those who have requested seat changes, unless he has requested a particular seat or seats and that seat or seats have not come open. When a dealer is leaving the box he shall advise the incoming dealer of all pending seat requests, in order of priority. Further, each time a new dealer enters the box a player who has requested a seat change should so advise the dealer. (Alternate Rule. Seniority shall prevail. A player who has been in the game longer shall have preference over another player. If no player has requested a seat change, when the seat comes open the dealer shall ask if anybody wants it, and then it shall be given in order of seniority at the table. Once a player has used his seniority, he goes to the bottom of the seniority list of those then present. Any new players entering the game shall rank in seniority behind the player who just took the seat change. If there is a dispute as to who has seniority, then players shall draw to see who gets the seat, with the high card winning the right to take the seat. A player who does not exercise his right when offered loses his table seniority and goes to the bottom of the seniority list for purposes of seat changes. Second Alternate Rule. There shall be no requests. When a seat opens the dealer shall ask if anybody wants it. If more than one player wants it they shall draw for it. The advantage of this rule is that it is the simplest. The disadvantage is that it slows down the game a little for repeated draws. ) The request rule is much simpler than the alternate rules and is very much preferred, but since seat position is an important part of the strategy of the game, the alternate rule may be adopted. Regardless of whether the suggested rule or one of the alternate rules is adopted, if there is a legitimate dispute which cannot be readily resolved as to who is entitled to the seat, whether by seniority or by order of request, then the disputing players shall draw for the seat. With the second alternate rule, of course, there is always a draw.

MOVING IN BLIND GAMES

In blind games a player who has paid his blinds may deal off the button, but must take the new seat immediately thereafter if a player is waiting to take his seat and is willing to post the blind behind the button or is entitled to a free hand behind the button. If the player waiting for the seat is not entitled to a free hand or willing to post then the player vacating the seat may keep it until it is his turn to post the big blind in his new seat. Once the incoming player has declared he will not post, he may not change his mind in the course of the round until the player who is vacating the seat would be required to move.

NEW PLAYER'S LOCK-UP

A new player has no prerogatives, choices or options which would come at the expense of existing players until he has taken a hand, at which point he has all the same rights and obligations as other players in the game. A new player is deemed to have taken a seat when his chips are down or he has placed money down to lock it up. However a new player may not put down his chips or money without first asking the dealer if that is the seat he will get. If the dealer says yes, then the player may lock up the seat with his chips or money. If the dealer says no, then other players have the opportunity to take the seat. The dealer shall verify the desires of those already seated in the game relative to the vacant seat prior to permitting the new player to take it. If a player puts down chips or money without first having checked with the dealer whether the seat is available then it shall NOT be deemed a seat lock-up. Once a new player locks up the seat it is not available to other players in the game. If a player on the waiting list has left a lock-up with the floorperson as set forth elsewhere in this article, and the floorperson puts the lock-up in a vacant seat, then the seat shall remain available to other players in the game until the new player arrives and is assigned his seat as hereinbefore set forth. Once the new player takes the seat it shall not be available for a seat change to existing players.

PLAYER WAITING LISTS

A player who is called for an existing game must take his seat immediately. Rules relating to playing out the present hand the player is involved in, dealing off, locking up and handling blinds shall be the same as for a player leaving an existing game for a new game as hereinbefore set forth. A player who does not take his seat when called shall be rolled to the bottom of the waiting list. A player who has been called twice and does not take a seat shall be stricken from the waiting list. (Alternate Rule. A player who does not take his seat when called shall be stricken from the waiting list. ) A player must be present in the poker room to have his name added to the player waiting list. No phone-ins shall be permitted and no one may place another player's name on the list. (Alternate Rule. Phoning the floorperson to be placed on the player waiting list shall be permitted. A player who phones in and doesn't show when his name is called shall be crossed off the list and NOT rolled over to the bottom of the list.)

WAITING LIST LOCK-UPS

A player who expects that he may be away from the room when his name is called but back shortly thereafter may leave lock-up money with the floorperson responsible for the waiting list. Lock-up money shall be the greater of twenty dollars or one small betting unit. If a player locks up a seat and does not return by the time it is his turn to post the big blind, then he shall receive a missed blind button. If he does not return by the time collection is due, collection shall be taken from his lock-up money. If he does not return by the time a new dealer comes into the box, he shall receive a player absent button. If he does not return within thirty minutes of the time his lock-up is placed in the seat the he shall be picked up pursuant to the house's normal pick-up procedure.

PLAYING OVER

When a player is going to be absent from the table for a half hour or more, but not long enough to be picked up, the house may permit a player on the waiting list to play over the absent player. A player may request a playover box and play over any player who has not requested that no one play over him. A floorperson will place the playover box over the existing player's chips. If two players request playing over then the list order will take priority. The player whose seat it is may request his seat back at any time. (Alternate Rule. Playing Over shall be prohibited. Sometimes two players--one in the game and one waiting for the game--collude to enable the player who is waiting for the game to enter ahead of others on the list. Also, playing over creates potential problems relative to the security of the chips belonging to the absent player. For these reasons some establishments prefer to prohibit playing over. However permitting playovers provides a method to get players in action when waiting lists are long, and thus serves the best interests of the game by accommodating the greatest number of players and getting the greatest number of chips into play. For this reason, permitting playovers is preferred.) To protect a player's money, a player may request of a the floorperson that when the player is absent from the table no person shall be permitted to play over the player, which request shall be granted. Some establishments require that players who object to being played over not be permitted to playover.

TABLE TRANSFERS

Players who wish a table transfer to a different table of the same game and limits shall place their names on a transfer list with the floorperson responsible for the player waiting list. Transfers shall be granted in the order of priority of request. As with all situations where a player takes a seat in a game, a player shall not transfer into a different game without the approval of the floorperson. When changing tables a player must take his seat at the new table with not less than the minimum buy-in, except when coming from a broken game. (Alternate Rule. A player may transfer tables with the chips he has, regardless of whether he has a minimum buy-in. The main rule gets more chips in play and is fairest to the players at the new table, and is greatly preferred.) A transfer shall not be permitted where the result would be that the table the player is transferring from would be left with fewer players than the table the player is transferring to. (Alternate Rule. Transfers which leave one game shorter than another shall be permitted when there is no net difference in the table make-up; IE when one table is six handed and another seven handed, a player may transfer from the seven handed game to the six handed game. However this shall not be permitted when in the floorperson's opinion the result would be a broken game or a short-handed game.) Transfer lists are to be maintained by the floorperson and moves may take place only with floorperson's authorization. Table transfer rules shall be superseded by Must Move rules when they are in effect. There are no table transfers permitted when Must Move rules are in effect. Players transferring into a game are treated as new players for seat selection purposes.

PLAYER ABSENT PROCEDURE

When an incoming dealer deals the first hand of his down and there is a vacant seat with chips in front of it indicating that it is held by a player, but the player is not at the table, then the player be given a Player Absent button. Different houses will have different rules regarding how many Player Absent buttons a player is to receive before being picked up. A fairly standard procedure is two Player Absent buttons plus fifteen minutes, but this is a matter appropriate for house policy rather than rules. Some establishments require that when a player returns to the table he must play at least two dealer downs or he keeps one player absent button. This is also a matter for house policy. If a player is absent from the table when time collection is due, then the time charge shall be taken from his stack. If there is not enough money in front of the absent player to pay the time, he will be picked up when the collection comes due. If a player is picked up and returns within a specified time (the length varies anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour, depending upon the policy of the establishment) of being picked up he shall be first up on the player's list for the next available seat in a game of the same stakes, but not necessarily at the same table. If more than one player has been picked up, then the one who returns first shall be the first to receive a seat, the one who returns second shall be next up, etc, regardless of which player was picked up first.

BROKEN GAMES

NUMBER OF PLAYERS TO BREAK GAME

No player shall be required to play in a game that is four-handed or less in a game normally dealt eight-handed or nine-handed, or five-handed or less in a game that is normally dealt ten-handed. So long as at least three players are willing to play, however, a game shall not be broken. If there are not three players willing to play, then the game shall be broken and the players in the game shall be afforded an opportunity to take another seat in the same type of game at the same limits in accordance with these rules relating to broken games. (Alternate Rule. If there are four players in an eight or nine handed game or five players in a ten handed game and two or more wish to have the game broken then it shall be broken. Second Alternate Rule. If a majority of players at the table wish to break the game, and there are sufficient seats in other games of the same type and limit available to accommodate all players, then the game may be broken.)

DRAWING FOR SEATS IN OTHER GAMES

When a game breaks the players shall draw cards to determine the priority of seating order for open seats as they become available. Players who took at least one hand in the last five dealt shall have priority and shall draw first and be offered the first available seats. After those players have drawn, other players seated at the table shall draw. Persons absent from the table being broken shall be added to the list after those who where present at the table. If more than one player is absent, then the floorperson shall draw for them to determine their place on the list. If cards are tied as to rank, priority on the list shall be determined by suit. If there are several games available at that limit the player from the broken with first priority based on the draw shall have first choice of seating. Players on the transfer list from games currently running shall have the opportunity to transfer first before any player from the broken game may select a seat. A player from the broken game on the transfer list shall be treated identically to other players from the broken game. (Alternate Rule. Players from the broken game draw and select seats superseding the transfer list.) A player who has been momentarily gone from the table (such as to use the bathroom) and who returns immediately shall be treated as a player who has just taken a hand, in the floorperson's reasonable discretion. A player who has refused to take a hand shall be placed on the waiting list after players who have played all the last hands, in the floorperson's reasonable discretion. The purpose of this is that those who were willing to continue to play should not be penalized to the benefit of a player who was unwilling to continue to play. When moving to another table because of a broken game, the player who drew the high card shall have the first choice of seats, etc. Players entering a game from a broken game shall not be required to post blinds to receive a hand in blind games.

MINIMUM BUY-IN COMING FROM BROKEN GAME

A player who is forced to transfer to a game of the same type and limit because of a broken game shall not be required to buy additional chips, even if he has less than the minimum buy-in when entering the new game.

MUST MOVE GAMES

In order to protect an existing game (usually referred to as the "main" game) a must move (a.k.a. forced move) procedure may be invoked by the house when an additional game of the same type and limit is started. The must move list is maintained in the same order as the original waiting list for the game. The following are the procedures for must move.

ORDER OF LIST

When the second (or third or fourth) game is started, players shall be seated in the order their names are on the player waiting list, notwithstanding the order in which they arrive at the table (note that this is different from rules relating to seating--must move priority is based on list position only. Seat selection however is still based on arrival rather than list position.) Any player who does not take a seat in the game shall either have his name crossed off the list or rolled to the bottom of the list in accordance with house policy.

SELECTING THE PLAYER TO MOVE

When a seat in the main game becomes vacant, a player forced to move from the must-move game to the main game or the next oldest game feeding the main game shall fill it. The player who shall be forced to move shall be determined as follows:

• 1 The player at the top of the list shall be afforded the option to leave the must-move game and enter the other game. If he elects not to take the seat, then the next player on the list shall be offered the option, and so on until a player elects to take the seat or all players at the table on the must move list have rejected the seat. If no player wishes to take the seat in the other game, then the player at the bottom of the list--the one who has most recently entered the must-move game--shall be forced to take the seat and that player's seat shall be filled by the first person on the player waiting list. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if there is more than one game the last player to enter that limit shall be forced to move. If there is a waiting list and no one already seated wishes to move then the next player on the list shall be required to take the vacant seat in the main game.

1. 2 If the player who is forced to move refuses to move, then he must quit the game he is in. In such circumstance then the next person up from the bottom of the must-move list--the player now with the least seniority in the game--shall be forced to move or quit the game. A player who quits a game because he refuses to move into the main game shall not be placed on the player waiting list for a seat in a game of that type at that limit for at least two hours. Note that he shall not be placed on the list for two hours, as opposed to being seated for at least two hours. (Alternate Rule. When a seat comes open in the main game, the player at the top of the list shall be forced to move to the main game. If he refuses to take the seat in the main game he shall be forced to quit the game and shall not be placed on the player waiting least for at least two hours, and the next player on the must move list shall be required to move to the main game, and so on until there is a player who is willing to move to the main game. The seat or seats in the must move game shall be filled by a player or players from the player waiting list, who shall be added to the must move list in the order in which they were on the player waiting list. The alternate rule is currently the prevalent rule, but the main rule as set forth is significantly better for players, even though it requires a little extra effort from the house. The disadvantage of the suggested rule is that it takes a minute or two longer each time a transfer is necessary. The advantage is that it protects players without jeopardizing the main game.)

MINIMUM BUY-IN IN MUST MOVES

A player who is forced to transfer pursuant to must move rules to a game of the same limit shall not be required to buy additional chips, even if he has less than the minimum buy-in when entering the new game.

BLINDS IN BUTTON MUST MOVE GAMES

In all button games a player going from a must-move game to the main game shall get a free hand without posting any blinds, or he may wait and take a free hand behind the button. Because of this rule a player leaving a must move game must move immediately, rather than playing to his blinds, except when he is on the button, in which case he shall be allowed to deal off. (Alternate Rule. The player may play until his blind in the game which he is leaving, in which case he must either post or wait for the big blind in the game he is entering.)

SHORT-HANDED MUST-MOVE GAMES

A player in a must-move game must continue playing to remain on the list for the main game, unless the game is less than five handed in nine or ten handed games or less than four handed in eight-handed games. However if a player refuses to play short-handed then he shall move to the bottom of the must move list for that game, and shall be proffered an option to take a seat in the main game after those players who have continued to play.

ABSENT PLAYER MOVED

A player who is absent from the table when it is his turn to have the option of moving shall be deemed to have accepted the move, and shall be moved accordingly. The floorperson shall count down his chips and confirm the amount in the same manner as if there were a pick-up and move his chips to the other table. Any missed blind or player absent buttons the absent player has received shall be moved with his chips to the new table.

STATUS OF THIRD GAME

If a third game of the same type and limits starts and fills, then it shall become the Must Move game. If the third game starts and no one from the second game wishes to move then players from the third game shall go to the first game. Further, if a seat in the second game opens the third game acts as a must move to the second game. A player in the main game cannot go to the second or third game when must move rules are in effect, nor can a player go from the second game to the third game. The concept of offering players with seniority the option of moving shall remain consistent through the third game.

WHEN A FOURTH GAME STARTS

If there are more than three games of the same type and limit, then both the first game started and second game started shall have main game status, and seats in those games shall be filled from the third and fourth game, however transfer requests between the two main games shall be honored before a vacant seat is filled. If and when the fourth game breaks, then the second game shall return to must move status. (Alternate Rule. Once a game has run for two hours it shall lose its must move status and be treated as any other game. If after this has happened both the original main game and the former must move game become short-handed, then the must move rules

TEMPORARY MUST MOVE GAMES

The house may require that a second, third, fourth or other new game of a given type and limit shall have must move status for a limited period of time, typically an hour or two hours. This is common in establishments where a game runs all night and new games start during the day, as it protects the players in the all-night game.

TRANSFER FROM MAIN GAMES

No transfers shall be permitted from protected main games into must move games.