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Here are the official World Poker Associations (WPA) rules for poker tournaments. The WPA was formed by the biggest names in poker and their goal is to develop and help enforce a standardized set of rules for the game of poker and poker tournament. With so many tournaments and so many poker variations played all over the world, we find that the rules governing the game of poker, and in particular the tournament rules, vary from venue to venue. Even in Las Vegas you will have slight differences in house rules and sometimes this can lead to misunderstandings and unwanted mistakes.
If you are unsure of something or are looking to settle a dispute between other poker buddies about the rules of poker, then here are the WPA official rules.
Rules Relating to Tournament Management
1.Floor People. Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in their decision making process. On occasion unusual circumstances can dictate that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over strict application of the technical rules. The floor person’s decision is final. [Source: TDA Rule No. 1]
2.Players Per Table. Except for special events, all limit, pot limit and no limit events shall be played 9-handed and all stud games 8-handed. [Source: WPA]
3.Random Seats. Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned. [Source: TDA Rule No. 13]
4.Breaking Tables. Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the position. They can get the big blind, the small blind, or the button. The only place they cannot get a hand is between the small blind and the button. The breaking order of tournament tables must be announced or posted in the tournament area. Once there are 6 tables or fewer, the clock will be stopped when a tournament table is broken. [Source: TDA Rule No. 24]
5.Balancing Tables. When balancing tables in flop games, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position. If a player has to be moved away from a table, the TD will always take a player from a table that will be broken next. If a player has to be moved to a table, he will be moved to a table that will be broken latest. Play will halt on any table that is at least two players short. In stud games players will be moved by position, (the last seat to open up at the short table is the seat to be filled with a player from the same position from the full table). [Source: TDA Rule No. 25]
6.End of Rebuy Period. In tournaments where “Add-ons” are allowed, the “Add-on” can be done after the last hand of the rebuy period. In order to make an “Add-on,” it is necessary to have at least one chip. The “Add-on” must be done before the first hand of the next round will be dealt. [Source: WPA]
7.Hand by Hand. Once there is an “All-in” in a “Hand by Hand” situation, the hand will be stopped and continued when all the hands on other tables are finished. [Source: WPA]
8.Players Eliminated at the Same Time. If two or more players are eliminated in the same hand (either at the same table or at different tables during a hand by hand situation), then the player starting the hand with the most chips will finish in the higher position. If players in the money are eliminated at the same time at different tables (not in a hand by hand situation) the combined prize money will be split evenly between the players. [Source: WPA]
9.Tournament Over Multiple Days. In a tournament that continues over multiple days, the clock will be stopped within the last 15 minutes before the end of the final level of the day and the last three to seven hands will be announced instead. The time will be decided by the Tournament Director and the number of hands randomly by an active player in the tournament. [Source: WPA]
10.Leaving Seat. A player shall remain at the table when in a hand. A player can not bet (e.g., push all in) and leave the table with any action remaining. [Source: WPA]
11.Electronic Devices. At no time may a player use an electronic device that is capable of two-way communication. [Source: TDA Rule No. 15]
12.Disclosure of Financial Interest. When two or more players at the same table have a financial interest in one another’s winnings, that interest must be disclosed to the dealer or floor, who shall inform the other players at the table. [Source: WPA]
13.TV Final Table Clothing. Collared shirts and/or sports jackets are required for men; smart casual clothing for women. [Source: WPA]
Rules Relating to Chips
14.Chip Race. When it is time to color-up chips they will be raced off with a maximum of one chip going to any player. The chip race will always start in the No.1 seat. Chips will be changed to the next higher value in play and an odd number of chips will be rounded up (50% or more) or down (less than 50%). A player cannot be raced out of a tournament. A player who loses his or her remaining chip(s) in a chip race will be given one chip of the smallest denomination still in play. At least one other employee or player in addition to the dealer shall remain at the table to witness the chip race. [Source: TDA Rule No. 2]
15.Odd Chips in Split Pots. In flop games the odd chip will go to the first player after the button. In High-Low games the odd chip(s) will go to the high hand. When there are two or more high hands or two or more low hands the odd chip(s) will go to the first player after the button. In Stud games the odd chip will go to the high card by suit. [Source: TDA Rule No. 3]
16.Higher Denomination Chips Visible. Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible to all players at the table at all times. [Source: TDA Rule No. 19]
17.Chips Visible. All chips must be visible at all times. Players may not hold or transport tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of view. A player who does so will forfeit the chips and may be disqualified. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play. [Source: TDA Rule No. 23]
18.Chip Count. A player involved in a hand is entitled to ask how many chips an opponent has. If a player does not wish to respond verbally to such a request, the dealer shall count the player’s chips and respond to the question. [Source: WPA]
19.Splashing the Pot. A player may not interfere with the existing pot during a hand. A player may not splash the pot with his/her own chips when making a bet. [Source: WPA]
Rules Relating to Bets and Raises
20.Raise Requirements. If a player puts in a raise of 50% or more of the previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed. In no-limit and pot limit, an all-in bet of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted. [Source: TDA Rule No. 10]
21.Oversized Chip. A single oversized chip will be considered a call if the player does not announce a raise. If a player puts an oversized chip into the pot and states raise but does not state the amount, the raise will be the maximum allowable up to the size of that chip. After the flop, an initial bet of a single oversized chip without comment will constitute the size of the bet. To make a raise with a single oversized chip a verbal declaration must be made before the chip hits the table surface. [Source: TDA Rule No. 11]
22.Raises. There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit games. A raise must be at least the size of the previous raise. In limit events, there will be a limit of three raises even when heads-up until the tournament is down to two players. [Source: TDA Rule No. 26]
23.Methods of Raising. In no-limit or pot-limit a raise must be made by (1) placing the full amount in the pot in one motion or (2) verbally declaring the full amount prior to the initial placement of chips into the pot or (3) verbally declaring “raise” prior to the placement of the amount to call into the pot and then completing the action with one additional motion. [Source: TDA Rule No. 32]
24.String Raises. A raise must be first announced or must be made by moving all of the chips forward in a single motion. Going back to the chip stack for more chips when raising without announcing raise first is prohibited as a string raise/bet. Dealers will be responsible for calling string raises. [Source: TDA Rule No. 39]
25.Forward Motion Rule. Forward motion is not considered to be a bet unless chips are released from the hand. Chips must be released in one continuous motion. [Source: WPA]
Rules Relating to Dead Hands
26.Calling for a Clock. Once a reasonable amount of time has passed (2 minutes) any player at the table can ask for a clock, and a player will be given a maximum of one minute to make a decision. If action has not been taken before time expires, there will be a 10-second countdown. If a player does not act by the time the countdown is over, the player’s hand is dead. [Source: TDA Rule No. 5]
27.In Your Seat. A player must be in his or her seat by the time all players have been dealt complete initial hands in order to have a live hand. A player must be in his seat to call time. [Source: TDA Rule No. 8]
28.No Disclosure, No Advice, One Player to a Hand. Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Therefore, whether in the hand or not, players may not:
1.Disclose contents of live or folded hands
2.Advise or criticize play before the action is complete
3.Read a hand that hasn’t been tabled
4.Do any form of taunting towards another player or dealer
The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced. [Source: TDA Rule No. 12]
29.Official Language. The official language at the table will always be the native language, along with English unless otherwise announced. [Source: TDA Rule No. 14]
30.Misdeals. In Hold’em and Stud games if two or more cards are exposed on the deal due to a dealer error, it is a misdeal. In flop games, exposure of one of the first two cards dealt is a misdeal. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button. [Source: TDA Rule No. 27]
31.Unprotected Hands. If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to a refund of bets. However, if a player had raised and the raise had not yet been called, the raise will be returned to the player. [Source: TDA Rule No. 28]
32.Killing Winning Hand. Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was tabled and was obviously the winning hand. Players are encouraged to assist in reading tabled hands if it appears that an error is about to be made. [Source: TDA Rule No. 29]
33.Verbal Declarations; Acting Out Of Turn. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Action out of turn will be binding if the action to that player has not changed. A check, call, or fold is not considered action changing. [Source: TDA Rule No. 30]
34.Exposing Cards. A player who exposes his cards with action pending will incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. The penalty will begin at the end of the hand. If a player intentionally opens his hand without declaration it will be ruled a dead hand. It will be up to the tournament director’s judgment when to enforce the rule. [Source: TDA Rule No. 31]
35.Dead Hand. Players are responsible for their own cards. A hand is deemed to be dead if the cards touch the muck. However, a hand that is clearly identifiable may be retrieved at management’s discretion if doing so is in the best interest of the game. The Tournament Director will make an extra effort to rule a hand retrievable if it was folded as a result of false information given to the player. [Source: WPA]
Rules Relating to Final Action/Showdown
36.Side Pots. Each side pot will be split separately in the reverse order from the order in which the side pots were created. [Source: TDA Rule No. 4]
37.Face Up. All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all betting action is complete. [Source: TDA Rule No. 9]
38.Showdown. At the end of last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive action in that betting round must show first. If there was no bet on the river it will be the player who acted first on the turn or the flop. In Stud games, the player with the high board must show first. In Razz, the lowest board shows first. [Source: TDA Rule No. 37]
39.Playing the Board. A player must show both cards face up on the table when playing the board in order to get part of the pot. [Source: TDA Rule No. 40]
40.See Cards in a Showdown. No player may ask to see the cards of a losing hand in a showdown. The winning hand (whether it is called or checked) MUST be shown. A floor person can always be consulted to check any cards on request of a player. [Source: WPA]
Rules Relating to Penalties
41.Penalties and Disqualification. The Tournament Director may impose a penalty for any violation of these rules by a player. Penalties will be invoked in cases of abuse or disruptive behavior. Penalties available to the TD include verbal warnings and “missed hand” penalties. A missed hand penalty will be assessed as follows: the offender will miss one hand for every player, including the offender, who is at the table when the penalty is given multiplied by the number of rounds specified in the penalty; for the period of the penalty the offender shall remain away from the table. Tournament staff can assess one-, two-, three-, or four-round penalties or disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his or her chips removed from play. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties. [Source: TDA Rule No. 7]
42.Declarations. Verbal declarations as to the content of a player’s hand are not binding; however, any player deliberately miscalling his or her hand may be penalized. [Source: TDA Rule No. 20]
43.Rabbit Hunting. No rabbit hunting (to see what card would have been dealt if a player had remained in the hand) is allowed. [Source: TDA Rule No. 21]
44.Dodging Blinds. A player who intentionally dodges (a) blind(s) when moving from a broken table will incur a penalty and will have to pay his blinds anyway. [Source: TDA Rule No. 22]
45.Ethical Play. Poker is an individual game. Soft play will result in penalties, which may include forfeiture of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping will result in disqualification. [Source: TDA Rule No. 33]
46.Etiquette Violations. Repeated etiquette violations will result in penalties. Examples include: unnecessarily touching other players’ cards or chips; delay of the game; and excessive chatter. Players are required to act in turn. [Source: TDA Rule No. 36]
47.Action Pending. Players must remain in their seat if they still have action pending on a hand. [Source: TDA Rule No. 38]
48.Foul Language. A player may not use foul language of any sort whether or not it is directed at another player or at the table. [Source: WPA]
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