League Rules
1) All players who want to sit down and play in the Bristol Poker League MUST buy a drink from the venue before doing so for each game you play.
2) All Multi Table Tournaments will begin at the time stated, and are No Limit Texas Hold-em
3) Registration for all tournaments will open approximately half an hour before play is due to start and will continue until the game is fully subscribed or just before it is due to start.
4) At the start of the tournament players are randomly assigned to the various tables by the Tournament Director.
5) Players can choose to sit on any of the seats at the table they have been assigned to. The dealer of the first hand is decided by random drawing of cards. If two or more people draw the same rank of card then they re-draw until one has drawn a higher card. The ONLY exception to this rule is if someone draws the Ace of Spades. They immediately assume the dealer chip even if someone draws another ace.
6) The tournament ends when one player wins all of the chips in play.
7) Each player starts the tournament with a minmum of 5000 in chips. The chips have no cash value.
8)Blinds will be raised approximately every twenty minutes; this will be announced by the Tournament Director. If a hand is still being dealt during the blind raise, the next round of play will be with the raised blind.
9) Lower valued chips will be "coloured up" when they are no longer needed due to increased blinds. Any amounts not equal to the "coloured up" chip denomination will be rounded up.
10) Players must place their blinds. The Small Blind is the player seated to the left of the Dealer. The Big Blind is the player seated to the left of the Small Blind. The Small Blind is half the value of the Big Blind.
The blind structure for a SINGLE game is as follows:
25/50 - 20 minutes
50/100 - 20 minutes
break- chip up 25 chips
100/200 - 20 minutes
200/400 - 20 minutes
400/800 - 20 minutes
600/1200 - 20 minutes
800/1600 - 20 minutes
break - chip up 100 and 500 chips
1000/2000 - 15 minutes
2000/4000 - 15 minutes
4000/8000 - 15 minutes
chip up 1000 chips
5000/10000 - 15 minutes
10000/20000 - 15 minutes
20000/40000 - 15 minutes
40000/80000 - 15 minutes
The blind structure for a DOUBLE game is as follows:
25/50 – 15 minutes
50/100 – 15 minutes
Break – chip up 25 chips
100/200 – 15 minutes
200/400 – 15 minutes
500/1000 – 15 minutes
Break – chip up 100 and 500 chips
1000/2000 – 15 minutes
2000/4000 – 15 minutes
4000/8000 - 15 Minutes
5000/10000 – 15 minutes
10000/20000 – 15 minutes
11) When a player loses all of their chips, they are eliminated from the tournament.
12) The button acts as a dead button when players are eliminated in blind positions and will not move until both blinds have been paid.
13) If two or more players are eliminated in the same hand, the player with the most chips at the start of the hand will be placed higher. If the chips are tied then the player with the highest ranked hand will be placed higher.
14) When play is heads up, (only 2 players remain) the player on the button will post the small blind and be first to act.
15) Players may be moved to other tables to maintain the balance. If the player is moved into the Big blind position, this position is live and is in play immediately. Players who are moved into the small blind or button position will not be dealt into the hand until the button has passed them.
16) Players' chips and cards must remain on or above the table at all times. Please do not go to the bar or the toilet with your chips. This may lead to a disqualification from the tournament.
17) Deals between players are allowed in tournaments but must be made public knowledge between all players.
18) Players or railbirds (Observers) may not discuss hands until a hand is over. Anyone discussing their discarded cards or hand possibilities may be subject to disqualification.
19) Soft playing, team playing or chip dumping will result in disqualification from the tournament, and possibly suspension from The Bristol Poker League. (Soft-Play - To go easy on another player at the table ( e.g., not betting or raising against him). Suppose you and your brother are the last two people left in a hand. On the river, you have the nuts, but he bets. If you don't raise, you are "soft-playing" him. ) Chip dumping is a result of 1 player purposefully getting into a hand that he is way behind in for the purpose of losing his chips to a player he prefers.
20) Normal tournament rules apply to all tournaments.
21) English is the only language allowed at the tables.
22) The Bristol Poker League reserves the right to cancel or reschedule tournaments at their discretion.
23) In the event of a dispute, the Tournament Directors decision will be final.
24) Everyone who plays will be allocated points to count to their monthly total. It is the players responsibility to advise the tournament director if they go out, if the tournament director is not aware of the situation.
25) By participating in a tournament the player consents to be bound by the league and tournament rules.
26) Poker etiquette is expected from all players. Inappropriate behavior like throwing cards that go off the table may be punished with a penalty such as being dealt out for a period of time. A severe infraction such as abusive or disruptive behavior may be punished with eviction and or/disqualification from the tournament. Please remember the players play for enjoyment first and foremost.
27) Players Leaving.
If a player leaves the table for any reason and will return before 20 minutes are up, he can opt to drop every hand that occurs during his absence. He will be responsible for all antes and blinds and although he will be dealt cards he cannot win any hands. Players remaining at the table, or another person designated by the absentee, will post all antes and blinds for the absent player.
If the missing player is moved to another table, his chips will move and he will continue to blind appropriately at the new table.
Any player who does not return within 20 minutes forfeits all his remaining chips, which will be removed from play, and the player will not score any points for that game.
28) Players signing in for the game in Advanced:
At present we allow people who might be running late to phone in, or arrange someone to sign them in and reserve them a place.
If they are not present when the game starts they will be allowed to join and play a game up to the end of the second blind level which is normally 40 minutes, and have their blinds posted and folded until they get there. If they do not arrive before the end of the first chip up and break, then their chips will be removed from play.
29) Players wanting to leave the game early.
If any player wants to leave the game early, their chips must be removed from the table immediately and they go to the bottom of the points earned for that event.
The player cannot go all in every hand to lose their chips and leave the game under any circumstances as this ruins the game for all the other players.
30) Venue/overall winner buy-ins cannot be carried over to the following final if the winner is unable to attend the final.
31) In the event that a venue has 2 people with the same points at the end of the qualifying period, the player who has played fewer games is declared the champion. If this it is tied then the player with the most wins is declared champion.
If neither play has won any games they will need to play a heads up game to dertimne the winner prior to the next league game starting.
32) Intoxicated players. If a player is intoxicated to a point where they are ruining the game for all other players, their chips can be removed from the game and they will be asked to leave. To avoid messing the scoresheets up too much, the will place last in the standings for that evening.
33) The Bristol Poker League reserve the right to amend the Tournament or League Rules, Policies and Pricing Structures at any time without notice to the players or landlords/lady's/club owners.