House Rules

These rules govern all IthacaPoker tournaments and events. By participating, you agree to follow them. Standard Texas Hold'em rules (Robert's Rules of Poker) apply unless stated otherwise.

General Conduct

  1. 1.All players must treat each other with respect at all times.
  2. 2.No excessive celebration or taunting after winning a hand.
  3. 3.Cell phones must be silenced during play. Calls must be taken away from the table.
  4. 4.No discussion of active hands with other players or spectators.

Buy-In & Chips

  1. 1.Buy-in must be paid in full before the start of the tournament.
  2. 2.Cash and Venmo are accepted. No credit.
  3. 3.All players receive an equal starting stack as posted for each event.
  4. 4.Add-ons, when available, must be purchased during the designated break.

Gameplay

  1. 1.Standard Texas Hold'em rules apply (Robert's Rules of Poker).
  2. 2.Cards must remain visible on the table at all times.
  3. 3.String bets are not allowed — declare your action clearly.
  4. 4.The dealer button rotates clockwise after each hand.
  5. 5.Misdeals are handled at the discretion of the tournament director.

Blinds & Structure

  1. 1.Blind levels and structure are posted before each event.
  2. 2.A player who is absent when the action is on them will have their hand folded.
  3. 3.Late registration is permitted for the first 60 minutes of play (30 minutes for championship events).
  4. 4.When heads-up, the small blind is the dealer and acts first pre-flop.

Payouts & Points

  1. 1.Payouts are distributed immediately at the end of the tournament.
  2. 2.Season points are awarded based on finish position and field size.
  3. 3.Points are tracked on the official IthacaPoker standings page.
  4. 4.In the event of a tie in season standings, head-to-head results are used as the tiebreaker.

Disputes

  1. 1.The tournament director's decision is final on all disputes.
  2. 2.Any player exhibiting unsportsmanlike conduct may be asked to leave without a refund.
  3. 3.Suspected collusion will result in immediate disqualification and a permanent ban.

Questions about the rules? Reach out to us on our contact page and we'll be happy to clarify.