Top-Ups

• Between hands, players may top-up their stack up to, but not exceeding, the $100 maximum buy-in (e.g., if you have $40, you can add a maximum of $60).

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Cash-Out

• Don’t hit and run — if you’re leaving after a big win, it is customary to give at least 30 minutes notice.

• All players are responsible for verifying their cash-out. Once a player leaves, all chip counts are final.

• All players will be rounded down to the nearest $5 at cash-out to help fund the Bad Beat Jackpot.

Betting Mechanics

• One Chip Rule — any player placing a single oversized chip forward without any accompanying verbal declaration after another player has bet is making a call and not a raise.

• No string bets — all bets must be completed in one forward motion unless first announced verbally.

• Don’t splash the pot — you’re not Teddy KGB and this definitely isn’t your club.

NOTE: "Splashing the Pot" means to throw chips into the pot in a haphazard, disorderly fashion. This makes it difficult or impossible for the dealer and other players to know how much was actually wagered.

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Action Rules

• Verbal declarations are binding.

• Action out of turn is binding if the action does not change. If the action changes — for example, a bet or raise — that player may reconsider.

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Chip Handling

• Making change from the pot is not allowed. This makes it harder to keep track of the correct pot size and creates confusion later. If you need change, ask another player or wait until the hand is over.

• Keep your larger denomination chips in front or on top of your stack.

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Keeping Chips in Play 

• Removing chips from play (“rat-holing” or “going south”)  is not allowed — keeping all chips on the table ensures everyone has the opportunity to win back what they've lost and keeps the game fair for all players.

• No buying, selling, or loaning chips between players — keeping all chip transactions through the bank prevents players from effectively "going south" without cashing out.

Dealing

• Our game is self-dealt using two decks. While one deck is in play, the player to the right of the dealer shuffles the other. The current dealer is offered the cut, then they pass the shuffled deck to the next dealer.

• If a player is not at or near their seat, they are not to be dealt in.

• Keep burn cards separate from the muck to easily verify if a burn card was accidentally missed.

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Showdown

• Board cards should remain visible after showdown long enough for all players to verify the result.

• Cards speak — tabled hands may be read by any player.

• Mucked cards, if identifiable, may be retrieved and ruled live if it is in the best interest of the game.

• At showdown, players must show both hole cards in order to claim any portion of the pot.

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Running It Twice

• Permitted only when the hand is heads-up, at least one player is all-in, and both players agree.

• Only the first run qualifies for any Promotions.

NOTE: "Running It Twice" is an agreement between two players to deal the remaining streets twice (or more) after one player goes all-in. Each deal rewards the winning player one half of the total pot. Running it twice is a form of insurance to minimize bad beats, adjust variance, and prevent large bankroll swings.

NOTE: A straddle is an optional blind bet a player makes before the cards are dealt. It is usually twice the size of the big blind, allows the straddling player to act last preflop. It increases the stakes and creates more aggressive play in the following betting rounds.

Also: Is Straddling a Good or Bad Play?

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Position & Sizing

• Only the player to the left of the big blind (UTG) may straddle, and must declare it before looking at their hand.

• The initial straddle must be exactly 2x the big blind ($1).

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Re-Straddles

• Once a straddle is posted, the player immediately to their left can re-straddle. This may continue around the table up to and including the button.

• Each re-straddle must be 2x the previous straddle.

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🕶️ A♠9♠ Rule

(When Dree is in the game, the Mississippi Straddle is in effect)

• A straddle may be posted from any position outside the blinds.

• The straddle may be for any amount at or above the minimum raise.

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Betting Order

• Whether UTG or Mississippi; action begins to the immediate left of the straddler, who retains last action pre-flop regardless of the action in front of them.

NOTE: A "Bomb Pot" is a poker hand in which players put a set amount of money in the pot before the cards are dealt. The preflop betting round is skipped and players immediately see the flop (2 flops if playing double-board).

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🚫 EXCLUDED FROM BAD BEAT & HIGH HAND

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Triggers, Antes, &The Drop

Any of these flop textures triggers a Bomb Pot for the next hand. The more rare the trigger, the higher the ante. A portion of each player's ante is "dropped" directly into the Bad Beat Jackpot.

• All One Suit:        $1 ante | 25¢ per player drop

• 3-Card Straight:  $1 ante | 25¢ per player drop

• Three of a Kind:  $4 ante | $1 per player drop

• Straight Flush:    $4 ante | $1 per player drop

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How It Works

• The player who dealt the trigger remains dealer during the bomb pot.

• The dealer chooses one of these mixed games, then specifies single or double-board, and no-limit or pot-limit.

• This is the last chance for players to opt in or sit out.

• Players post their antes, the drop is taken, cards are dealt, and the hand proceeds directly to the flop(s).

• After the flop(s), the hand plays out normally under the chosen format.

NOTE: "Rabbit Hunting" refers to revealing the remaining community cards that would have been dealt had the hand continued. This typically happens after a player folds, purely to see what might have happened.

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• The dealer will run the remaining board cards only when the hand is over and the hunter's hand has been tabled.

• Cost: 1x big blind (50¢) per remaining street (flop, turn, river), contributed to the Bad Beat Jackpot.

• Rabbit hunting is for entertainment purposes only and has no effect on the results of the hand. 😉

Sportsmanship

• No angle shooting — it’s a dick move. 😄

• Quietly notify a player if they are unintentionally exposing their hand.

• Don’t slow roll — if you have the nuts, show 'em!

NOTE: A 'Slow Roll' is when a player delays revealing their hand at showdown when they know they have the winning hand. 

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Game Flow

• Help keep the game moving by pushing chips to the pot and cards to the dealer when you can. Players seated near the middle of the table are usually in the best position to help.

• Be ready when the action is on you.

• Verbalize your actions whenever possible.

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Protect the Game

• Keep cards visible, protected, and above the table at all times.

• Keep food, drinks, and personal items off the floor — and away from my dog.  🐶

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Table Integrity

• Show One, Show All — if you show your cards to one player, the whole table gets a look. 

• One player per hand — brief reactions are fine, but comments that could influence action are not unless you are heads up. Examples include; encouraging specific action (“Go all in!”), guessing what a player may have (“He’s clearly bluffing!”), or commenting on board texture (“Someone has a flush!”).

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Safety & Respect

• Violence or threats of violence will result in immediate removal and a permanent ban from my game.

• Players will be held liable for any damage to my personal property.

• In any unclear or disputed situation, the host will make a final ruling based on fairness and standard poker rules.

• If the host is involved in a dispute, their designated alternate will make a ruling.

• For situations not covered here, refer to Robert’s Rules of Poker. Where they conflict, these house rules take precedence.

Notifications

• Invitations are managed via Facebook Messenger — keep notifications ON so you don’t miss out!

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Tiers 

• Players are grouped into three Priority Tiers: Core (the current top 9 on the Leaderboard), Preferred (those marked with an *), and General.

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Seating

• Core players receive initial invitations with a 48-hour response window.

• Remaining seats are then offered to Preferred players with a 48-hour response window.

• Any remaining seats are then offered to General players on a first-come, first-seated basis.

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Referrals

• Know someone interested in playing? Fantastic! Just run it by the host before you invite anyone to ensure a smooth introduction.