1. Players must protect their hands, either by holding their cards or placing a chip or other object on top of their cards. An unprotected hand may be mucked by the dealer in turn.
2. Players must act in turn. Players should not telegraph or otherwise indicate intentions to act prior to their turn to act. Any player in breach of this rule may be penalised in accordance with Rule 24.
3. In the event of an action out-of-turn, the player committing that out of turn action will be held to a check. If someone then decides to bet they will be held to a call or fold. This will discourage people from acting out of turn. Further penalties may be applied in accordance with Rule 24.
4. Verbal declarations are binding and take precedence over non-verbal actions, unless a player has committed chips to the pot prior to making the verbal declaration.
5. Betting actions without a verbal declaration must be made in a single motion or gesture ("no string bet" rule).
6. In the absence of a verbal declaration of "Raise," if a player puts in chips equal to 50 percent or more of the minimum raise, he will be required to make a full minimum raise. Otherwise, the action is deemed a call and theexcess chips should be returned to the player.
7. In no-limit, an oversized chip before the flop is a call; after the flop, an oversized chip by the initial bettor put in the pot will constitute the size of the bet.
8. Bets and folded cards should be placed in front of the player and across the “play” line. Chips should not be thrown (splashed) into the pot.
9. Re-raises must be at least the size of the previous raise in that round; unless a player is going all-in. Calls must match the bet, unless the player is all-in.
10. An under raise is where a player raises all in but does not have enough chips to make a complete raise as detailed above. Any player who has not acted in the round of betting can call or re-raise. Any player who has previously acted in this round of betting is held to a call or fold.
11. "Show one, show all" – Hole cards, including folded hands, should not be revealed to other players until showdown. If a player who folds reveals their hole cards to another player active in the current hand (provided the player shown is not all in), all players have the right to also see the hole cards. Also, if an uncalled winning hand is shown to only one player, then any other player at the table has a right to see the winning hand.
12. Folding players should not expose hole cards. An uncalled winning hand is not required to be exposed, and it is not recommended to do so.
13. Players may not verbally disclose the contents of their hand at any time during that hand whether they have folded or are still in the hand. Players who do so may be penalised in accordance with Rule 24.
14. Once dealt in players should avoid leaving the table in the middle of that hand, unless they have folded in turn
15. Calling players MAY muck loosing hands. The called player MUST show their entire hand (Both Cards).
16. It’s the calling players’ responsibility to know how much they’re calling for. As per highlighted situation, player 1 says ‘ALL-IN’…’550’…next player says ‘CALL’…chips counted, player 1 has 1k+…player 2 still held to call for full amount. Ask for an accurate count before you call.
17. Players or spectators may not advise other players how to play a hand ("One player to a hand" rule). Any player who influences play in this manner may be subject to sanctions in accordance to Rule 24. Any spectator doing so will be asked to leave the area of the table. Any player who does not comply with such requests may be subject to sanctions up to and including expulsion from the league.
18. Cards may not be removed or held below the table or otherwise concealed from view.
19. Players in hands cannot reveal their hole cards to influence the play, or in the case of an all in bet before the showdown i.e. still a player to act. Revealed cards may be folded at the TD’s discretion and players may be sanctioned in accordance with Rule 24.
20. Chips must remain on the table and in full view at all times.
21. Cards speak for themselves and prevail if a player misstates the value of his hand at the showdown.
22. Players may be asked to leave the table if mobile phone use influences play.
23. Threatening behaviour either verbal or physical is strictly prohibited, players are asked to refrain from profanity
24. Anyone deemed to be in constant breach of the rules may be issued with a warning. Any player who continues to breach the rules will be given a penalty consisting of being removed from the table for between 5-15 minutes. During this time the player will pay the blinds as normal. If they persist further in breaching the rules they will be removed from the game.
25. Only the dealer must touch the chips in the pot, even when asking for change, the dealer should be responsible for making change from the pot or asking other players at table to make change. Pot ‘splashing’ is forbidden. When making a bet/call/raise place chips over bet line, do not throw/place chips into pot. No player is allowed to touch another players chips or cards
26. Late arrivals are permitted within the first 2 blind levels only. Players arriving late may only play if no more than 3 players have been eliminated. Within the first blind level players will be docked 1000 chips. Within the second blind level players will be docked 2000 chips. No entry will be allowed when level 2 ends. Latecomers will automatically be seated in the next big blind position.
27. Cut the cards to the right, and deal to the left. The cut must be at least 5 cards deep and cut cards MUST be used. The hand will begin when the cards are cut and NOT before. This will also apply to posting of blinds. If they are posted prior to the cards being cut and the blind level changes, the new blind levels MUST be posted.
28. Players away from the table for 2 runs of the dealer button will post a big blind every hand. After 3 x full blind (ie 3 x 15 mins) levels, from the time they leave their seat, their chips will be removed from play.
29. Collusion is where two or more players influence the normal running of the game for their own benefit. Collusion will not be tolerated under any circumstances. In its simplest form collusion is agreeing to play a hand in a certain manner, agreeing to check down a pot when a player is all in or ‘soft play’ not betting against someone because of friendship. Any players who collude will be subject to severe reprimand up to an including expulsion from the league.
30. Bonuses; All bonuses are paid out at the discretion of the TD. Any irregularities regarding the Bonuses will be dealt with by MTTP prior to any bonus being paid out. Full details on the operation of the bonuses are available under the rules section of www.mttpoker.com.
31. Rabbit Hunting is not allowed. This is where dealers show the cards that would have come out after the hand is finished.
32. Players where possible must shuffle in a manner that does not allow them to see the cards. Prior to commencing play after a break the cards must be spread on the table and comprehensively shuffled (known as washing the cards).
*33. All players are entitled to expect civility and courtesy from one another at MTTPoker events. Any individual who encounters behaviour that is not civil, courteous or is abusive in any way, is encouraged to notify the TD. This shall include, but is not limited to, offensive name calling directed towards a fellow player. This rule would also apply to any player whose personal hygiene has become offensive to players or customers at our venues, as determined by the TD or Landlord. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in sanctions up to and including dismissal from the league.
34. Any player who is deemed by the TD or landlord to be unfit to play poker through drink or drugs will be removed from the game immediately, this will include players who disrupt the game by being unable to complete actions in a timely manner.
35. Players who express a willingness to leave the game either by verbal declaration or physical actions will be asked to 'play normally' or hand their chips in by the TD. Players who continue to disrupt the game may be removed by the TD. *An example of this may be moving all in on every hand because you have to leave.
36. Registration for games will now close 5 mins before the start time advertised on the website/venue posters. i.e. Venue starts at 7.30pm, registration will now close at 7.25pm. This will allow the TD time to get players seated and the game started for the advertised time. Registration will re-open when the game starts to allow for any latecomers who will deducted chips as per rule 26.
37. In the event that a player is dealt 3 cards the hand is declared void. All action in the hand will be disregarded and chips returned to the appropriate player/s who have contributed to the pot. No player should gain any more chips than they have contributed to the pot.
*38. The use of social media sites to break any of the MTTPOKER rules will not be tolerated. Poker related abuse or bullying of any player will immediately result in disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from the league.
*39 Any player who regisers for the online league, but for any reason is not able to play a hand will be removed from the points for that event.