Tournament Directors Association Rules

I have been interested in rules for games all my life, particularly poker rules. In 1984 I wrote the first comprehensive set of poker rules that were publicly available, for the Poker Players Association (which is now defunct). As is noted at the end of every column I write for Card Player, I have my own set of carefully crafted poker rules, which I call "Robert's Rules of Poker." They are available to anyone in digital form for free on my website. I periodically update those rules.

In trying to constantly improve what is already a very fine product (my rules), I pay particular attention to the rules used by the Tournament Directors Association (TDA). As a longtime advocate of standardized rules, it seems to me that the TDA is our best hope for achieving that goal. Although we are still a ways away from standardized rules for real and virtual cardrooms, we are in good shape for achieving standardized tournament rules. The TDA consistently makes good decisions for their rules. I hate the slogan, "It doesn't matter what the rules are, as long as we know what they are and they are properly enforced." That is pure hogwash. Of course some rules on a particular poker situation are better than others, and one of them is the best.

Card Player columnist Linda Johnson was kind enough to provide me with the most recent set of the TDA rules. Thanks, Linda. I would like to comment on some of the recent rules changes of the TDA. Do not mistake the fact that I focus on what I perceive to be poor wording in some places, and even get sarcastic about it, as I applaud what the TDA has done and is trying to do. Now, let's talk specifics.

Here is a recent addition to a TDA rule. The added part is in bold italics.

"A player must be seated at the table by the time all players have complete hands in order to have his hand live. Players must be at the table to call time. In flop games, the big blind's hand will be dead if he is not there to act on it before the flop. In stud-type games, the forced low hand will be immediately dead if the player is not there to act on his hand at the time he is required to put money in the pot (the minimum bring-in will be posted and the hand will be killed)."

I can guess why the TDA believed the addition was necessary. In previous wording, a player in the game had a degree of control over whether the absent player's hand was live or dead. He could be a "tough guy" and act quickly on his hand, making the absentee's hand dead, or he could be a "gentleman" and stall the action until the absentee reached the table. I am sure a player running back to the table yelling his head off would not be happy with a quick folder. On the other hand, a player with a short stack who had reached the money places would not be smiling if the player who was given a chance to act by another player's stalling also had a short stack. It is not always a pleasure being the player who is given control over whether an absent player's hand is live or dead. He may be damned whatever he does. Nor is it fair if a player looking at pocket aces gives the absentee time to get back and possibly go broke.

As you may have guessed, I think changing the point at which an absentee's hand is dead or live to the moment when all players have their cards is a good idea. However, I take issue with the requirement that the absentee player actually be seated in order for him to be ruled "back." I am going to concoct some scenarios to illustrate my point. Again, do not mistake my sarcasm and humor as making fun of the TDA itself, or its rules. What follows are some (drummed up) stories told by tournament players who faced the new wording in the rule on absentee players.

Big Ben – "When I came back to the table, I tried to get back into my chair on the left side, because the guy on my right was so humongous that he blocked me off. The guy on my left was sitting a little sidesaddle, so I said, 'Excuse me.' He looked up at me and said, 'Huh?' As I was getting ready to barge into my seat, the dealer dealt the last card and grabbed my hand."

Dolly Dresser – "I dashed back to the table just as the dealer was finishing up. I plumped down just in time to have a live hand. Unfortunately, someone had spilled part of a drink on my seat, which in my haste I didn't notice. When I felt that cold stuff sink into the bottom of my drawers, I knew what had happened. I started playing real fast poker, figuring that I would either get some chips or get to change my clothing. I had bad luck and busted out quickly. I darted up to my room, and as luck would have it, my plastic key wouldn't open the door. I had to go back down to the lobby and get another key. I was as mad as a wet hen."

Bill Bettem – "I was tired of bustin' out in tournaments by calling and losing, so I bet one of my buddies, laying four hundred to a hundred bucks, that I would not go out calling this time, and promised not to do anything crazy. I ran bad and was down to $150 when we were at the $50-$100 blind level. I hate to leave the table when I'm short, but I had a 'hurry call.' When I got back to the table, I was under the gun and the dealer was just finishing up dealing the second card. I have a bad knee, so instead of trying to sit own quickly, I just threw my six green chips into the pot and said, 'All in.' The dealer reached out to snatch my hand, because I had not yet sat down, so of course I grabbed my cards real quickly and protected 'em. Now, the dealer called for the tournament director (TD). After finding out that I had been absent, he asked, 'Was he sitting in his seat when he acted?' The dealer said, 'No. That's why I tried to take his hand.' The TD then said, 'His hand is dead.'

"I tried to argue, but the man said, 'I made my ruling. If you do not surrender your hand right away, I'll rule the money has to stay in the pot.'

"'Let it stay in the pot,' I said. 'It will save me a hundred bucks.' Then, I threw my cards away real hard and left the table."

Requiring a player to be seated to be considered "back" is too stringent. In addition to everything else, maybe it discriminates a little against the handicapped. Let's change the wording of the rule before someone with leg problems sues the hotel that hosted the tournament. My suggestion would be to make the rule state: "An absent player is considered back in the game when he has touched his chair, cards, or chips after returning."

[Postscript: The TDA is changing its rule to require only that the absent player be at the table before all the cards have been dealt. (The part about being seated was dropped.) This rule is fine with me, and has been incorporated into "Robert's Rules of Poker." I applaud the TDA's quick and efficient reaction to my article.]

Editor's note: Bob Ciaffone's latest book, Middle Limit Holdem Poker, co-authored with Jim Brier, is available (332 pages, $25 plus $7 shipping and handling). This work and his other poker books, Pot-limit and No-limit Poker, Improve Your Poker, and Omaha Holdem Poker, can be ordered through Card Player. Ciaffone is available for poker lessons. E-mail [email protected] or call (989) 792-0884. His website is www.diamondcs.net/~thecoach, where you can download Robert's Rules of Poker for free.