Critique my House Rules (1 Viewer)

[TheYeti]

I've hosted a home game since around 2004, but most of my regulars dropped out over the years and I didn't have enough interest to get a game together at all from about 2012-2018. Finally got a new crew that was pretty regular (monthly), then covid hit. Over the last year or so I've been able to get most of the new crew back together and we have a pretty regular game just about every month. I'm now seeing more interest from new players (mostly friends of current players) and wanted to make sure that everyone knew the House Rules (which had been mostly verbal up to this point).

I based these rules on RRoP but would like some feedback from the forum on anything I should add/remove/change. Thanks in advance!

 

[bernielomax]

I can tell you put some effort into this. I don't really know what to critique here.

To me this all of this seems pretty reasonable and it only took a two minutes to read which is good for a new player.

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

That min is very very low. Id have to make it clear to my players that they're gonna have a bad time if they're buying in that light, buts thats only cause they're pretty smooth.

If heads up, I raise on the river, am called, can I throw my cards into muck or can the caller demand to see my cards?

 

[krafticus]

my only critique would be the straddle. I'd either stick with UTG only, or Button only .. not either or. Which gets priority?

Mark

 

[natumes]

I would raise the min buy-in to 50BB personally, and I also do up to half the big stack for any rebuys with no time restriction. I would also ditch the button straddle for UTG only. Everything else looks great.

I would add a one player to a hand rule to your list as well. If seat 2 shows seat 3 his hole cards after 3 folds, can anyone ask to see it?

 

[raynmanas]

i would raise the min as well, probably to $40, and the max should be half the big stack. it's not good for the game when someone goes on an early heater and can just steamroll small stacks all night.

 

[allforcharity]

$10 min? At some games, this might last 1 hand. Maybe 2.

But again, depends on your group. If every hand is limped to the flop....

 

[TheYeti]

If heads up, I raise on the river, am called, can I throw my cards into muck or can the caller demand to see my cards?

Of course. In hopes of keeping the rule sheet short, I had to leave some things out.

my only critique would be the straddle. I'd either stick with UTG only, or Button only .. not either or. Which gets priority?

Mark

UTG only it is!

I would raise the min buy-in to 50BB personally, and I also do up to half the big stack for any rebuys with no time restriction. I would also ditch the button straddle for UTG only. Everything else looks great.

I would add a one player to a hand rule to your list as well. If seat 2 shows seat 3 his hole cards after 3 folds, can anyone ask to see it?

Done! Min is now $25 and rebuys are $100 or half the Big Stack, whichever is greater. Also added the one player to a hand rule.


What do you guys think of the Rabbit Hunting rule? It only happens on occasion at my game, but I wanted some sort of penalty for it. Do you think tabling your cards to see the run-out is fair?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, keep 'em coming!

 

[NotRealNameNoSir]

Of course. In hopes of keeping the rule sheet short, I had to leave some things out.

No worries, I needed to clear that up at my game. Do you mean of course I could muck or of course they could demand to see?

 

[natumes]

What do you guys think of the Rabbit Hunting rule? It only happens on occasion at my game, but I wanted some sort of penalty for it. Do you think tabling your cards to see the run-out is fair?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, keep 'em coming!

Yes showing cards is reasonable. Some hosts get rabbit hunt chips to restrict how often it happens as well. If it's not a constant problem, showing the hand is fine.

 

[Budha]

Overall looks really good. Couple of quick thoughts. I didn’t see any reference to table stakes (can they reload in the middle of a hand), and if cards speak.

May want to clarify your position on those those two items.

Also, agree the min buy- in is way low.

 

[upNdown]

What do you guys think of the Rabbit Hunting rule? It only happens on occasion at my game, but I wanted some sort of penalty for it. Do you think tabling your cards to see the run-out is fair?

I think it’s fine making them show their cards. I think it would be fine without it too - let them see what was coming ig they want. No big deal.

 

[Joe Harris]

The straddle rule is ambiguous. The max is 4x the big-blind but re-straddles are allowed at 2x minimum. What does the max apply to, only the first straddle, or the last one? 3 straddles at the 2x minimum is $4 (8x the big-blind).

Personally I allow straddles of any size (at 2x minimum), and around the table up to the current blinds. But I fully accept that a bit wild.

The rabbit hunting rule is really nice and I'm gonna steal it.

 

[Joe Harris]

One rule I'd suggest adding: if you don't bring small bills (<$20) then you can't expect them as change when buying out with an odd amount. This lessens the host's need to constantly visit the bank for small bills.

 

[TheYeti]

No worries, I needed to clear that up at my game. Do you mean of course I could muck or of course they could demand to see?

Yes, sorry...I meant of course they can demand to see the hand they called, they paid for that right. That's the rule at every casino I've ever played at. However, it very rarely happens.

Overall looks really good. Couple of quick thoughts. I didn’t see any reference to table stakes (can they reload in the middle of a hand), and if cards speak.

May want to clarify your position on those those two items.

Also, agree the min buy- in is way low.

Reloading in the middle of a hand would be, well, ridiculous. I don't think that needs to be spelled out for people.

I added "cards speak" to my new revisions and also raised the min buy-in to $25.

The straddle rule is ambiguous. The max is 4x the big-blind but re-straddles are allowed at 2x minimum. What does the max apply to, only the first straddle, or the last one? 3 straddles at the 2x minimum is $4 (8x the big-blind).

Personally I allow straddles of any size (at 2x minimum), and around the table up to the current blinds. But I fully accept that a bit wild.

The rabbit hunting rule is really nice and I'm gonna steal it.

Hmmm...I thought my verbiage concerning the straddle was pretty clear. First straddle must be $2 (no more, no less), and subsequent straddles must double the previous straddle (2nd straddle = $4, 3rd = $8, 4th = $16). When I say "limited to" that is only for the first straddle. Make sense?

One rule I'd suggest adding: if you don't bring small bills (<$20) then you can't expect them as change when buying out with an odd amount. This lessens the host's need to constantly visit the bank for small bills.

We literally almost never have a problem with people not bringing small enough bills...in fact, it's kind of the opposite. I have guys bringing 20-30 singles sometimes. lol

 

[ArielVer18]

If your house rules are based on RRoP and you want to keep it short, I suggest adding this, "RRoP is our cash game rulebook, but house rules always take precedence." This way you can take out anything RRoP already covers, such as one chip rule and string bets.

It depends what you want to improve by having a printed copy of the house rules. For me, I have a printed copy of RRoP and my house rules are under two pages long. New players get a 10-second verbal description of the main rules and procedures. Players rarely read my house rules nor do I require it because it's meant to be a reference for when things go awry. New players don't need to worry about falling into any "gotcha" traps.

 

[Joe Harris]

Hmmm...I thought my verbiage concerning the straddle was pretty clear. First straddle must be $2 (no more, no less), and subsequent straddles must double the previous straddle (2nd straddle = $4, 3rd = $8, 4th = $16). When I say "limited to" that is only for the first straddle. Make sense?

It makes sense now that you clarified it. But "limited to" still has multiple meanings in this context so the ambiguity is unresolved. If it's not a problem for your players, no worries. Part of my day job involves writing technical documents so I am probably more sensitive than most to this type of thing.

 

[Dugthefish]

Regarding rabbit hunting: I instituted a new rule about a year ago. Rabbit hunting had gotten excessive, probably at least once per orbit. You must now juice the next pot 2bb if you want to see the rabbits. Now it happens 2-3 a night.

 

[ArielVer18]

I have some more suggestions:

This is more concise.
Buy-in range is $10-$100 for the first hour, then max buy-in increases to $200.

Below is copy/paste from my own house rules, but I don't suggest you keep them all. My seven-deuce bounty rules are ridiculously verbose because my crew keeps running into fringe scenarios.
Seven-Deuce Bounty. If a player wins any percentage of the pot with seven-deuce (a seven and a two) in his hole cards, everyone dealt in that hand will give him a predetermined amount. Winning an uncontested pot with the seven-deuce due to the rest of the table folding qualifies as winning the pot. You must table your entire hole cards to win. If everyone conveniently forgets the seven-deuce bounty is active, you must remind players while your hand is still clearly identifiable. Table stakes still apply. For example, if a player has $1 in his stack at the end of the hand but the seven-deuce bounty is $2, this player only owes $1. He will not be required to go into his pocket to complete the $2 bounty. Alternatively, if a player loses his entire stack by the end of the hand, he owes nothing.

Seems like you already changed your straddling rules, but this is what I'll suggest if you want to go back to your old rule.
Straddling is allowed UTG or on the button. UTG takes precedence. The straddle is 4x the BB ($2). Up to three re-straddles are allowed. Re-straddles are 2x the previous straddle.

I'm just suggesting alternative wording here. Your original rabbit hunting rule is already very good.
Rabbit Hunting is allowed, but the requester must table his hole cards. This privilege may be revoked to stop persistent delays.

 

[BottomPair7]

Love the rabbit hunting rule. I'm definitely adding it to my game!

 

[Rakrul]

Looks good, but I oppose deep stacks. You allow 400BB buy ins. This only benefits the good players and kills the fish. Then you have a nitfest and the game dies. I've been running 100BB max buy in for 15+ years now. There was some mumbling about this, as at the end of the night some players would have 3-500 BB stacks, and they wanted to buy in more than 100 BB (because they wanted to recoup their losses faster). I finally gave the group the option to either bump up the blinds from 5-5 to 5-10 ($.50 - $.50 to $.50 - $1) or allow 200 BB after midnight but the majority of the group of ~10 players had to vote on one of the options.
4 people voted.

Edit: I should add that most of my players comes for the social and not the poker but most of them play in clubs and/or national championship(s) and they know poker.

 

[Machine]

my only critique would be the straddle. I'd either stick with UTG only, or Button only .. not either or. Which gets priority?

Mark

Priority was my first thought as well.

I would allow a Mississippi straddle, straddle it from anywhere, Button priority then worst position. Straddles should be placed PRIOR to any cards being dealt for the hand.

If you allow a straddle, you should also allow a re-straddle, it will help keep the crazy down or UP!

 

[Halozz]

Is there a undershaft ruling eg; UTG bet 1 next to act shove all in with 1.5 can the next player raised again or it has to be a all in?

 

[TheOffalo]

Is there a undershaft ruling eg; UTG bet 1 next to act shove all in with 1.5 can the next player raised again or it has to be a all in?

If UTG bets 1, UTG+1 goes all in for 1.5, other players who haven't acted can raise.* But if all other players just calls the 1.5 (or folds), when it comes back to UTG, they cannot reraise because the all-in isn't enough to qualify for a full raise. That's in both TDA and RRoP I believe, applies to no limit.

*My question is how much they can min raise? Full raise should be 1, based on UTG's bet. So would the min raise be 1, added to the 1.5 all-in, so to 2.5 total?

 

[Halozz]

Thanks on the clarification cause we have this issue as some say either you call or raise all in can't do any 2x or 3x raise from there on out for the UTG player

 

[TheOffalo]

Thanks on the clarification cause we have this issue as some say either you call or raise all in can't do any 2x or 3x raise from there on out for the UTG player

I've never encountered in a game where one player's all-in would force all other players who still want to be in the hand (and not just fold) to all have to go all-in too. Would be pretty wild!

 

[kk405]

A few suggestions:

1. Button straddle is a terrible idea. Just no. Plenty of action can be induced from UTG straddle, and if need be, UTG+1 double straddle
2. Rabbit: show your cards + tip the dealer $1
3. Showdown, if everyone checks on the river, everyone shows their cards... some places it's a last aggressor, others it's worse position... best, IMO, is that ALL show their cards. if everyone checks, there shouldn't be a distinct advantage of one player's hand shown.. everyone should show their cards. This way, you also never have to worry about who acted first or last and or who was the aggressor, etc...(and yes, all who are chickens and it goes check check check check on the river... you should all show your fu*&^% hands )

 

[Eriks]

Hmmm...I thought my verbiage concerning the straddle was pretty clear. First straddle must be $2 (no more, no less), and subsequent straddles must double the previous straddle (2nd straddle = $4, 3rd = $8, 4th = $16). When I say "limited to" that is only for the first straddle. Make sense?

I didn’t quite get it either. To me it sounds like it can be other amounts as well, but not more than $4 (I am not a native English speaker though). Also, why 4x? Isn’t first straddle typically 2x?

Maybe it’s all regulars or you make it clear when sending invites, but if I was invited to a 25c/50c game, I don’t expect to have to bring money to cover a potential $8/16 game, nor would I want to.

 

[JScott]

Since all the points have been discussed, I just want to say that rabbit hunt rule is awesome and I’m also stealing it.

 

[Machine]

Showdown, if everyone checks on the river, everyone shows their cards... some places it's a last aggressor, others it's worse position... best, IMO, is that ALL show their cards. if everyone checks, there shouldn't be a distinct advantage of one player's hand shown.. everyone should show their cards. This way, you also never have to worry about who acted first or last and or who was the aggressor, etc...(and yes, all who are chickens and it goes check check check check on the river... you should all show your fu*&^% hands )

It should be the last aggressive action (bet) on the river, or it would start left of the button.