RULES CLARIFICATIONS

Here's a couple of rules that need some clarification. Feel free to ask your dealer about any questions you may have. Thanks

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to put out a couple of clarifications regarding some rules that came into play this week. The first is about re-opening the bet when a player is all-in for less than a min. raise. The second is how we will be selecting and handling the opening button position for our tournaments

I'll start with the latter.

In accordance with TDA Rule 32: Tournament play will use a dead button.

We will draw for the button at the beginning of the tournament using 9 seats. Which ever seat wins the draw gets the button regardless of whom is seated there. (The seat may be empty).

If the seat creates a Dead Button, the first available player(Player A) will be the SB. There may be several dead seats between the button and Player A. This is permitted.

After the first hand where Player A was the SB, the BTN will be moved to Player A, regardless of how many empty seats were initially between the BTN and Player A.

Should a player be seated in an empty between the SB and the BTN during that first hand, they must wait until the BTN passes them(ie:they must be in the cuy-off position) in order to be dealt in.

If there are 2 dead seats that are filled during the first hand (Player C and D), after the completion of the first hand the BTN will be moved to Player A and Player C and D will be dealt into the next hand.

If there are no Alternanates, players who are new to the game(ie:they haven't received their starting stack yet), may not come in to the game in either of the blinds.

If the player is being moved from another table or they are entering as an Alternate, they are permitted to enter the new table and play in any position, as assigned. This includes the small or big blind.

Rule 47: Re-opening the bet.

Example 1. Multiple short all-in wagers that cumulatively equal a full raise and therefore re-open betting:

NLHE, Blinds 50-100. Post-flop, A opens betting for the 100 minimum.

B goes all in for a total of 125. C calls the 125,

D goes all in for 200 total and E calls 200.

Action returns to A who is facing a total raise of 100. Since 100 is a full raise, the betting is re-opened for A who can fold, call, or raise here. Note that neither B’s increment of 25 or D’s increment of 75 is by itself a full raise, but when added together they total a full raise and thus re-open the betting to “a player who is facing at least a full raise when the action returns”.

Example 1-A: At the end of Example 1 above, A smooth calls the 200 total (another 100 to him). The bet is now on C who only faces a 75 increment. C called 125 previously and now faces 200 total (75 more). C must face at least 225 total to re-open betting. Because 75 is not a full raise, betting for C is not re-opened and C can either call with 75 more or fold, he cannot raise.

Example 1-B: At the end of Example 1 above, A raises the minimum (100), and makes it 300 total to C. C already has called 125 so it’s an additional 175 for C to call. 175 is more than a full raise. Since C already acted and is “now facing at least a full raise”, the betting is re-opened to C who can fold, call, or re-raise here.

Example 2: Multiple short all-ins, the min-raise is the last full valid bet or raise.

NLHE, Blinds 50-100. Post-flop A opens for 300, B pushes all-in for 500 total, C goes all-in for 650 total, D goes all-in for 800 total, E calls 800. What is the min raise for Player F? The opening bet (300) sets the initial min raise. Because no single player was all-in for more than 300, the min raise for F remains 300. F can either smooth call 800 or raise to at least 1100. See also Rule 43, Example 2 in Illustration Addendum. 

Example 3. Short all-in, 2 scenarios.NLHE, Blinds 2000-4000. Pre-flop A calls the BB for 4000. B folds and C pushes all-in for 7500 total (an increment of 3500 above the 4000 BB). It’s folded around to the SB who also folds.

Example 3-A. It’s 3500 more to the BB who has not yet acted on his option. The BB can fold, smooth call the 3500, or raise by at least 4000 for a total of 11,500. The BB smooth calls and it’s 3500 more to A. A has already acted and is facing 3500 which is not a full raise. Therefore, A can only fold or call the 3500, he cannot raise because it is not “at least a full bet when the action returns to him”.

Example 3-B. The BB raises the minimum (4000), for a total of 11500. It is now 7500 to A and because 7500 is more than a full minimum raise, betting is now re-opened for A who can fold, call, or re-raise.

To paraphrase this rule, for a player who has NOT ACTED, the action is open and they have the option to raise in the amount of the previous full qualifying bet or more.