how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

I'm tired of always fighting about the rules in our home (no limit hold'em) tournament.

Is there a website that lists "official rules" of tournament play that we could all agree to once and for all?

Typical subjects of disagreement are:

Who posts blinds when a player is ousted? What if two non-consecutive players are ousted at the same time? Who posts the big blind when there are only two players left in the game? If you say "I call, and I raise", is that a string bet? If you say "I will raise" and start putting little stacks of chips in front of you one after the other while watching your opponents reaction, is that a string bet?

And so on and so on....

Re: how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

This website. Home Poker Tourney
Any questions that aren't answered there can be answered by following the links that are provided.

Re: how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

You should make the rules before the tournament, that way there will be no second guessing.

To answer your questions, once the player says call, they can no longer raise. If they want to raise, they should announce raise. IMO, a raise can take two motions to move the chips to the pot - 1 motion to place the amount of chips to call, then a second motion to place the amount of chips to raise. Anymore than 1 motion to move the chips in for a raise is, IMO, a type of string bet and should not be allowed.

Re: how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

The few of us that play constantly, have been on the casino multiple times, know the workings, make the rules. We follow basic casino tourney rules. If somebody doesn't like it, tough [censored]. It's our game. We've been playing home games for over a year, and found the best setup.

The way I see it, whoever's hosting the game sets the rules, but they need to be specified before the game. Generally the only things changing now are how often the blinds will be raised.

Re: how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

As others have said, www.homepokertourney.com is a must-read for everyone who hosts home games. Robert's Rules of poker (http://www.homepokertourney.com/rules_roberts.htm) is the standard set of rules. It's huge, but it covers every last rule.

I have it printed out for anyone who wants to question the rules. I also have my own little cheat sheet that has the tournament setup, chip values, etc. If it's not discussed in my cheat sheet, it defaults to Robert's Rules of Poker. Also, the host always has the last word in disputes where something is not completely clear cut. Period. Don't like it? Don't play.

-Nate

Re: how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

Cut down on fights by having the rules agreed on beforehand.

Do you need answers to these specific ones? Or will you get the rules online? I'll answer anyway:

1) Who posts blinds when a player is ousted?
The blinds stay the same as they should have been- person to the left of the button is the SB, two to the left is the BB. HOWEVER, you can't skip posting a blind OR post a blind twice.

If the next BB person was ousted, then the player to his left is the new BB (two from button). If the next SB is ousted (he was BB when he was ousted), there is no SB on this hand, only the BB.

2) What if two non-consecutive players are ousted at the same time?
Depends on where they are and if they affect the blinds- see #1

3) Who posts the big blind when there are only two players left in the game?
The button posts the SB and acts first preflop (normal action, acting before the BB). Normal play after that.


4) If you say "I call, and I raise", is that a string bet?
Yes

3) If you say "I will raise" and start putting little stacks of chips in front of you one after the other while watching your opponents reaction, is that a string bet

No, that's angle shooting. They should announce what the raise is up to, or put the chips out in one or two motions, or both. Stringing out the raise so you can get a read should be banned.

Re: how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

- Always have a list of rules available before play
- Send it out by Email to have everyone up to speed before they come over
Use Robert's rules of poker ( Robert's Rule's)
I have abrev. NL Tourney rules here ( ThePokerFanatic)
- If you want a word document (min amount of pages) of these rules PM and I will be happy to do so. I have not had a chance to get it to my site.

Big O

Re: how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

Declare a Tournament Director that has familiarity with the standard rules as described elsewhere and state that their rulings are final.

If someone doesn't like the Director, don't sit.

Re: how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

A good place to start is HomePokerTourney.com (or something like that). They have a complete set of rules that you can use.

Whether or not you choose to use their rules or not, you should have a complete set of rules, in writing, that everyone has the ability to read before and/or during the tourney. If something comes up during the tourney, you cannot change the rules for that tourney, but you can make adjustments for the next.

"House" rules are critical for a successful poker game.

Re: how do you avoid fighting about rules in a tournament?
 

Alright folks, thanks to all of you who answered this. I will look in details at those rules and email them to all my poker friends. THANKS!