TDA Rules Updated

The Tournament Directors Association (TDA) is the global association of poker tournament officials dedicated to the advancement of the poker industry and to the adoption of uniform tournament rules worldwide. The TDA meets every two years to review, amend, and adopt new tournament rules. Following are the new and amended 2011 TDA rules.

Explanation is added in italics at the end of the rule if needed. Please note that rules that had very minor changes that did not impact the intent of the former rule are not included below.

Rule #3: Official Terminology of Tournament Poker

Official terms are simple, unmistakable, time-honored declarations like: bet, raise, call, fold, check, all-in, pot (in pot-limit only), and complete. Regional terms may also meet this standard. The use of non-standard language is at player’s risk because it may result in a ruling other than what the player intended. It is the responsibility of players to make their intentions clear. This is a new rule.

Rule #9: Number of Players at Final Table

In flop games, the final table will consist of 10 players. In six-handed games, the final table will consist of 7 players. In stud games, the final table will consist of 9 players.

Rule #14: Uncontested Showdown

In a non all-in showdown, when all opponent(s) cards have been mucked without being revealed, the last live hand wins. Opponents who muck at showdown without revealing their hands also lose the right to ask to see the winning hand.

Rule #15: Asking to See a Hand

Except where house policy provides an express right to see a hand, asking to see a hand is a privilege granted at TD’s discretion to protect the integrity of the game (suspicion of invalid hand, collusion, etc). This privilege is not to be abused. I love this new rule. It stops players from asking to see opponents’ hands just to gain information on their playing strategies or to annoy or “needle” them.

Rule #22: Chip Stacks Kept Visible & Countable

Players are entitled to a reasonable estimation of an opponent’s chip count; thus chips should be kept in countable stacks. The TDA recommends clean stacks in multiples of 20 as a standard. Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible and identifiable at all times. Tournament directors will control the number & denomination of chips in play and may color up at their discretion. Discretionary color ups are to be announced.

Rule #25: Calling for a Clock

Once a reasonable amount of time has passed & a clock is called for, 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 followed by a declaration to the effect that the hand is dead. If the player has not acted before the declaration, the hand is dead. The language clarifies that the hand is still live until the declaration has formally been made.

Rule #32: Misdeals

In stud-type games, if any of the player’s two down cards are exposed due to dealer error it is a misdeal. In flop games, misdeals include but are not necessarily limited to: a) exposure of one of the first two cards dealt; b) two or more exposed or boxed cards; c) first card dealt to the wrong seat; d) cards dealt to a seat not entitled to a hand; e) a seat entitled to a hand is dealt out. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button. If substantial action occurs, a misdeal cannot be declared and the hand must proceed. This rule was substantially expanded with several additional examples of misdeals. It was further clarified that a misdeal will not be declared once substantial action has occurred.

Rule #33: Substantial Action

Substantial Action is defined as either: A) any two actions involving two players each putting chips in the pot (bet, raise, or call); or B) any combination of three actions (check, bet, raise, call, or fold).

Rule #35: Verbal Declarations / Acting in Turn

Players must act in turn. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Chips placed in the pot in turn must stay in the pot. This rule was expanded to include the provision that chips placed in the pot in turn must stay in the pot. This covers situations, for example, where a player may mistakenly place less than the amount to call.

Rule #36: Action Out of Turn

Action out of turn will be binding if the action to that player has not changed. A check, call or fold does not change action. If action changes, the out of turn bet is not binding and is returned to the out of turn player who has all options including: calling, raising, or folding. An out-of-turn fold is binding. The rule now explicitly states that if the action changes, a bet out of turn is returned to the out-of-turn player who then has all options available.

Rule #42: Accepted Action

Poker is a game of alert, continuous observation. It is the caller’s responsibility to determine the correct amount of an opponent’s bet before calling, regardless of what is stated by the dealer or players. If a caller requests a count but receives incorrect information from the dealer or players, then places that amount in the pot, the caller is assumed to accept the full correct action & is subject to the correct wager or all-in amount. Rule 1 may apply in certain situations at tournament director’s discretion. This rule was adopted in order to clarify that the caller bears significant responsibility for knowing the correct amount of a bet he is calling. If a bettor pushes out a stack of chips and then declares an incorrect amount, the caller is generally responsible for the full correct amount.

Rule #45: Non-Standard & Unclear Betting

Players use unofficial betting terms and gestures at their own risk. These may be interpreted to mean other than what the player intended. Also, whenever the size of a declared bet can have multiple meanings, it will be ruled as the lesser value. Example: “I bet five.” If it is unclear whether “five” means $500 or $5,000, the bet stands as $500.

Rule #46: Non-Standard Folds

Anytime before the end of the last betting round of a hand, folding in turn when facing a check or folding out of turn are both binding folds and may be subject to penalty. Hopefully this rule will stop players from folding out of turn or when there is no bet since they could be penalized for doing so.

Rule #47: Conditional Statements

Conditional statements regarding future action are strongly discouraged; they may be binding and/or subject to penalty. Example: “if – then” statements such as “If you bet, then I will raise.”

Rule #50: Dead Hands in Stud

In stud poker, if a player picks up the upcards while facing action, the hand is dead.
I owe a great deal of thanks to TDA Board Member Mike Bishop for taking such good notes during the TDA summit and for helping to summarize the new and amended rules for this column. ♠

Linda Johnson is a partner in Card Player Cruises. She is available to host poker events, seminars, and charity fundraisers. You can contact her at [email protected].