Older TDA Rules

[BillM16]

Is there an archive of all of the TDA Rules previously published?  I'd like to obtain a copy of each. Thanks.

[BillM16]

The first rules published in 2001

Tournament FAQ

The Tournament Directors Association (TDA) is a group of poker room managers, tournament directors and players from around the country who's objective is to draft a standardized set of rules for poker tournaments around the world. The TDA meets once a year to discuss the addition of new rules and to amend or eliminate current rules. The TDA was founded by Matt Savage, David Lamb, Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher in 2001.

The current TDA rules are below and are courtesy of well known tournament manager Matt Savage (based at Bay 101 in San Jose, California as well as tournament director of the World Series of Poker®).



Founding Rule set

1. Chip race rule: 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.

2. Odd chips: The odd chip(s) will go to the high hand. In flop games, when there are two or more high hands or two or more low hands, the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button. In stud-type games, the odd chip will go to the high card by suit.

3. Side pots: Each side pot will be split as a separate pot. They will not be mixed together before they are split.

4. Calling for the clock procedures: Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called for, a player will be given one minute to make a decision. If action has not been taken by the time the minute is over, there will be a 10-second countdown. If a player has not acted on his hand by the time the countdown is over, the hand will be dead.

5. Dead Button: Tournament play will use a dead button.

6. Penalties: A penalty MAY be invoked if a player exposes any card with action pending, if a card(s) goes off the table, if soft-play occurs, or similar incidents take place. Penalties WILL be invoked in cases of abuse, disruptive behavior, or similar incidents.

7. 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).

8. Half-bet rule: If a player puts in a raise of 50 percent or more of the previous bet, he will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed.

9. All in: All cards will be turned face up once a player is all in and all action is complete.

10. Oversized Chip: In limit games, an oversized chip will be constituted to be a call if the player does not announce a raise. In no-limit, an oversized chip before the flop is a call; after the flop, an oversized chip put in the pot will constitute the size of the bet.

11. Help: The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced.

12. Deal for button: A draw for the button will be held at the beginning of each flop-type event.

13. Seat Assignment: Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned.

14. English-only: The English-only rule will be enforced in the United States during the play of hands.

Another 23 Rules Adopted in 2002?


15. Cell Phones: A player who wants to use a cellular phone must step away from the table.

16. Foreign Chips: There will be no foreign chips on the table except for a maximum of one card cap.

17. Deck Changes: Deck changes will be on the dealer push or limit changes or as prescribed by the house. Players may not ask for deck changes.

18. Time Expiration: When time has elapsed in a round and a new round is announced, the new limits apply to the next hand. A hand has begun with the first riffle.

19. Missing Hands: A player may not miss a hand. If a player announces the intent to rebuy before the first card is dealt, that player is playing behind and is obligated to make the rebuy.

20. Big Chips: Players must keep their highest denomination chips visible at all times.

21 Verbal Declarations: Verbal declarations as to the content of a player's hand are not binding; however at management's discretion, any player deliberately miscalling his hand may be penalized.

22. No rabbit hunting is allowed.

23. Blind Dodging: A player who intentionally dodges his blind(s) when moving from a broken table may forfeit the blind(s) and/or incur a penalty. The money will be put into the next pot and may be considered dead money

24. Visible Chips: All chips must be visibly displayed at all times. Players may not have tournament chips in their pockets at any time. A player who has chips in his pocket will forfeit the chips. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play from the tournament.

25. Moving players: In flop games, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position.

26. Raises: In limit events, there will be a limit to raises, even when heads-up. (The limit will be the house limit.) Once the tournament becomes head-up the rule does not apply.

27. Stud Games Misdeal: In stud-type games, if any of the players' two down cards are exposed due to dealer error, it is a misdeal.

28. Dealer Kill: If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to his money back. An exception would be if a player raised and his raise had not been called yet, he would be entitled to receive his raise back.

29. Face Up Hands: Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was turned face up and was obviously the winning hand.

30. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Action out of turn may be binding.

31. Floor People: Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can, on occasion, dictate that the technical interpretation of the rules be ignored in the interest of fairness. The floor person's decision is final.

32. Cancellation: Management reserves the right to cancel or alter any event at its sole discretion in the best interest of the casino or its players.

33. Moving Tables: Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the seat. 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.

34. Away Penalties: Penalties available for use by the TD are verbal warnings, 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes away from the table and may be used with discretion. These may be utilized up to and including disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his chips removed from play.

35. Hand Discussion: Players, whether in the hand or not, may not discuss the hands until the action is complete. Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Discussing cards discarded or hand possibilities is not allowed. A penalty may be given for discussion of hands during the play.

36. Hand Exposure: A player who exposes his cards during the play may incur a penalty, but will not have his hand killed. Subsequent infractions may have hands killed.

37. No Limit/Pot Limit Raising: In NL or PL, when raising, you either put the amount of the raise out in one motion or state your raise amount. If you state the amount, you may make more than one motion.

[BillM16]

The 2004 World Series of Poker TDA Rules
1. Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can, on occasion, dictate that the technical interpretation of the rules be ignored in the interest of fairness. The floor person's decision is final.

2. Chip race rule: 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. A player cannot be raced out of a tournament. In the event that a player has only one chip left, the regular race procedure will take place. If that player loses the race, he will be given one chip of the smallest denomination still in play.

3. Odd chips: The odd chip(s) will go to the high hand. In flop games, when there are two or more high hands or two or more low hands, the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button. In stud-type games, the odd chip will go to the high card by suit. There will be an exception to this rule: An attempt will be made in identical hand situations to split the pot as evenly as possible: Example - a wheel in Omaha/8.

4. Side pots: Each side pot will be split as a separate pot. They will not be mixed together before they are split.

5. Calling for the clock procedures: Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called for, a player will be given one minute to make a decision. If action has not been taken by the time the minute is over, there will be a 10-second countdown. If a player has not acted on his hand by the time the countdown is over, the hand will be dead.

6. Dead Button: Tournament play will use a dead button.

7. Penalties: A penalty MAY be invoked if a player exposes any card with action pending, if a card(s) goes off the table, if soft-play occurs, or similar incidents take place. Penalties WILL be invoked in cases of abuse, disruptive behavior, or similar incidents.

8. A player must be in their seat by the time all players have complete hands in order to have a live hand. Players must be at the table to call time. 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 tim   e he is required to put money in the pot (the minimum bring-in will be posted and the hand will be killed).

9. All cards will be turned face up once a player is all in and all action is complete.

10. If a player puts in a raise of 50 percent or more of the previous bet, he will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed.

11. In limit games, an oversized chip will be constituted to be a call if the player does not announce the raise. In no-limit, an oversized chip before the flop is a call; after the flop, an oversized chip by the initial bettor put in the pot will constitute the size of the bet. In pot-limit and no-limit, if a player states raise and throws in an oversized chip, the raise will be the maximum amount allowable up to the size of that chip.

12. The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced.

13. Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned.

14. The English-only rule will be enforced in the United States during the play of hands.

15. A player who wants to use a cellular phone must step away from the table.

16. There will be no foreign chips on the table except for a maximum of one card cap.

17. Deck changes will be on the dealer push or limit changes or as prescribed by the house. Players may not ask for deck changes.

18. When time has elapsed in a round and a new round is announced, the new limits apply to the next hand. A hand has begun with the first riffle.

19. A player may not miss a hand. If a player announces the intent to rebuy before the first card is dealt, that player is playing behind and is obligated to make the rebuy.

20. Players must keep their highest denomination chips visible at all times.

21. Verbal declarations as to the content of a player's hand are not binding; however at management's discretion, any player deliberately miscalling his hand may be penalized.

22. No rabbit hunting is allowed.

23. A player who intentionally dodges his blind(s) when moving from a broken table will forfeit the blind(s) and/or incur a penalty. The money will be put into the next pot and will be considered dead money.

24. All chips must be visibly displayed at all times. Players may not have tournament chips in their pockets at any time. A player who has chips in his pocket will forfeit the chips. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play from the tournament.

25. Moving players: In flop games, players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position.

26. In limit events, there will be a limit to raises, even when heads-up. (The limit will be the house limit). Once the tournament becomes heads-up the rule does not apply.

27. In stud-type games, if any of the players' two down cards are exposed due to dealer error, it is a misdeal.

28. If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be entitled to his money back. An exception would be if a player raised and his raise had not been called yet, he would be entitled to receive his raise back.

29. Dealers cannot kill a winning hand that was turned face up and was obviously the winning hand.

30. Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Action out of turn may be binding.

31. Management reserves the right to cancel or alter any event at its sole discretion in the best interest of the casino or its players.

32. Players going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the position. They can get the big blind, small blind, or the button. The only place they cannot get a hand is between the small blind and the button. A player moved to balance tables will take the worst position. A dead button situation may occur.

33. Penalties available for use by the TD are verbal warnings, 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes away from the table and may be used with discretion. These may be utilized up to and including disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his chips removed from play.

34. Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Discussing cards discarded or hand possibilities is not allowed.

35. A player who exposes his cards during the play may incur a penalty, but will not have his hand killed.

36. In NL or PL, when raising, a player must either put the amount of the raise out in one motion or state the raise amount. By stating the word raise, a player protects his right to raise, but the raise must be made in one additional motion unless he states the amount.

37. Verbally disclosing the contents of your hand or advising a player how to play a hand may result in a penalty.

38. In no-limit, less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who already has acted.

[BillM16]

2007 TDA Rules

Forty rules will make up the 2007 Tournament Directors Association list, TDA compliance houses will begin using these rules by March 15th.

1 Floor People- Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over the technical rules. The floor person's decision is final.

2 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. A player cannot be raced out of a tournament: Players are encouraged to witness the chip race.

3 Odd Chips- The odd chip(s) will go to the high hand. In flop games when there are two or more high hands or two or more low hands the odd chip(s) will go to the left of the button. In stud games the odd chip will go to the high card by suit. However when hands have identical value (e.g., a wheel in Omaha/8) the pot will be split as evenly as possible.

4 Side Pots- Each side pot will be split separately

5 Calling For a Clock- Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and 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. If a player has not acted by the time the countdown is over, the player's hand will be dead.

6 Dead Button- Tournament play will use a dead button.

7 Penalties and Disqualification- A penalty MAY be invoked if a player exposes any card with action pending, throws a card off the table, violates the one-player-to-a-hand rule, or similar incidents take place. Penalties WILL be invoked in cases of soft play, 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.

8 At Your Seat- A player must be at his or her seat by the time all players have been dealt complete initial hands in order to have a live hand. Players must be at their seat to call time.

9 Face Up- All cards will be turned face up once a player is all-in and all betting action is complete.

10 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.

11 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.

12 No Disclosure - No Advice - One Player to a Hand- Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Therefore, players, whether in the hand or not, 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

The one-player-to-a-hand rule will be enforced.

13 Random Seats- Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned.

14 Official Language- The English-only rule will be enforced in the United States during the play of hands. English will be used in international play along with the local or native language.

15 Communication Devices- A player may not use a cellular phone, text-messaging device, or other communication device at the table.

16 Deck Changes- Deck changes will be on the dealer push or level changes or as prescribed by the house. Players may not ask for deck changes

17 New Limits- When time has elapsed in a round and a new level is announced by a member of the tournament staff, the new level applies to the next hand. A hand begins with the first riffle.

18 Re-buys- A player may not miss a hand. If a player announces the intent to re-buy before a new hand begins, that player is playing chips behind and is obligated to make the re-buy.

19 Higher Denomination Chips Visible - Players must keep their higher denomination chips visible at all times.

20 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.

21 Rabbit Hunting- No rabbit-hunting is allowed.

22 Dodging Blinds- A player who intentionally dodges (a) blind(s) when moving from a broken table will incur a penalty.

23 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 will face disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play.

24 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.

25 Balancing Tables- In flop games when balancing tables players will be moved from the big blind to the worst position (which is never the small blind). The table to which a player is moved will be as specified by a predetermined procedure. Play will halt on any table that is at least three 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).

26 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 to raises even when heads-up until the tournament is down to two players; the house limit will apply.

27 Misdeals - In stud games if any of the players' two down cards are exposed due to 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.

28 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.

29 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.

30 Verbal Declarations- Verbal declarations in turn are binding. Action out of turn may be binding and will be binding if the action to that player has not changed. A check, call, or fold is not considered action-changing.

31 Exposing Cards- A player who exposes his cards with action pending may incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. The penalty will begin at the end of the hand.

32 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.

33 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.

34 Pot Size- Players are entitled to be informed of the pot size in pot-limit games only. Dealers will not count the pot in limit and no-limit games.

35 Button in Heads-up- When heads-up the small blind is on the button and acts first. When beginning heads-up play the button may need to be adjusted to ensure that no player takes the big blind twice in a row.

36 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.

37 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 the player to the left of the button shows first and so on clockwise. In stud games the player with the high board must show first. In razz the lowest board shows first.

38 Action Pending- Players must remain at the table if they still have action pending on a hand.

39 String Raises- Dealers will be responsible for calling string raises.

40 Playing the Board- A player must show both cards when playing the board in order to get part of the pot.