Communicating House Rules (4 Viewers)

[SSTB2213]

Hey All, running my first game this weekend and have a question about house rules. I know some people make flyers and list them there, or include them in the invite, but assuming you slacked (like I did) and playing catch-up, how would you communicate the house rules? For what it's worth, I know everyone that is playing personally, and don't anticipate any issues, but would like to have something to fall back on. My curernt plan is to write them on a standing dry erase board, but should I read them out loud before we start? Email them in advance?

The rules are nothing crazy- not introducing 7-2/stand up etc, but a few of the players are admittedly "rusty" when it comes to poker. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Munchies11]

In my opinion because you mentioned they are friends and no issues should occur. I think reading them out prior to your “first” game is adequate. I don’t believe you need to write out on a whiteboard. With that said have them written out on a paper incase any discrepancies/ inquires during the game that comes up. As you move forward with your games and new players join I would just read them out to them prior to game individually. Given they are new player and the other players around them know the rules precisely already the culture is set and hopefully no issues arise !

 

[mdt11]

Do you have a text or email thread where you’re organizing? You could send a quick note there. Otherwise, just mention them at the beginning of the session, and as new players arrive late. It shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[allforcharity]

Set up a dedicated CRT TV in the corner. Record yourself on VHS wearing a North Korean officer's uniform shouting out the house rules. Play on loop through the evening, rewinding as necessary.

 

[Tight_Lay_DOWN]

Hey All, running my first game this weekend and have a question about house rules. I know some people make flyers and list them there, or include them in the invite, but assuming you slacked (like I did) and playing catch-up, how would you communicate the house rules? For what it's worth, I know everyone that is playing personally, and don't anticipate any issues, but would like to have something to fall back on. My curernt plan is to write them on a standing dry erase board, but should I read them out loud before we start? Email them in advance?

The rules are nothing crazy- not introducing 7-2/stand up etc, but a few of the players are admittedly "rusty" when it comes to poker. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hosted and attended many many home/private games. Never thought about writing down House Rules,(doesn’t mean it is a bad idea) but for new players they are discussed prior to the game and individually if a player arrives late.

Don’t forget to cataogise house rules, into poker playing rules and house/host rules. Host rules can be, announcing where the trash is located, where the bathrooms are located, expectations of behavior, cleaning up after themselves, etc.

The most important House Poker Rule is announcing “ who is the floor person “ for deciding rulings. As the Host, I am the floor person, you know the old saying, my house my rules.

Sometime during the night (game), the floor might be asked, is that a fold? Is that a raise? Do you use the 1 chip rule for betting? Just to name a few. It might not happen every game, but it will happen.

Anyway enjoy and have fun, the less problems you have the more fun it will be, (so get ride of the problems before the game starts, announce/communicate your expectations)

 

[Tonystark137]

Hosted and attended many many home/private games. Never thought about writing down House Rules,(doesn’t mean it is a bad idea) but for new players they are discussed prior to the game and individually if a player arrives late.

Don’t forget to cataogise house rules, into poker playing rules and house/host rules. Host rules can be, announcing where the trash is located, where the bathrooms are located, expectations of behavior, cleaning up after themselves, etc.

The most important House Poker Rule is announcing “ who is the floor person “ for deciding rulings. As the Host, I am the floor person, you know the old saying, my house my rules.

Sometime during the night (game), the floor might be asked, is that a fold? Is that a raise? Do you use the 1 chip rule for betting? Just to name a few. It might not happen every game, but it will happen.

Anyway enjoy and have fun, the less problems you have the more fun it will be, (so get ride of the problems before the game starts, announce/communicate your expectations)

This pretty much covers it; I send my rule set anytime there is a new player joining.

Anytime there is a new player to a session, I'll cover the bigger points. One chip rule, rebuy rules, cash out rules.

I like this ; need to do this in the future.

announcing where the trash is located, where the bathrooms are located, expectations of behavior, cleaning up after themselves, etc.

 

[redstar]

I keep a what’s app group chat for my home game. I have a google doc with any house rules or more importantly less commonly known or understood poker rules. I keep a link to the doc in the description of the group chat. Over the years the document has gotten longer as things have come up. Never any big arguments or anything but things that people have wanted clarified.

 

[inca911]

Quick poster print works!

 

[Tonystark137]

I keep a what’s app group chat for my home game. I have a google doc with any house rules or more importantly less commonly known or understood poker rules. I keep a link to the doc in the description of the group chat. Over the years the document has gotten longer as things have come up. Never any big arguments or anything but things that people have wanted clarified.

How do you feel about using a group chat app? i feel like another barrier to entry beyond texting

 

[redstar]

I like it. Pretty much everyone I know uses WhatsApp and it’s an easy way to share information and promote the games. (Not to mention talk some shit in between sessions lol). I usually have people come to a game a or two before I add them to the chat

 

[SSTB2213]

Hosted and attended many many home/private games. Never thought about writing down House Rules,(doesn’t mean it is a bad idea) but for new players they are discussed prior to the game and individually if a player arrives late.

Don’t forget to cataogise house rules, into poker playing rules and house/host rules. Host rules can be, announcing where the trash is located, where the bathrooms are located, expectations of behavior, cleaning up after themselves, etc.

The most important House Poker Rule is announcing “ who is the floor person “ for deciding rulings. As the Host, I am the floor person, you know the old saying, my house my rules.

Sometime during the night (game), the floor might be asked, is that a fold? Is that a raise? Do you use the 1 chip rule for betting? Just to name a few. It might not happen every game, but it will happen.

Anyway enjoy and have fun, the less problems you have the more fun it will be, (so get ride of the problems before the game starts, announce/communicate your expectations)

Thank you, incredibly helpful.

 

[SSTB2213]

How do you feel about using a group chat app? i feel like another barrier to entry beyond texting

haha, that crossed my mind. I just joined a 35+ basketball league, and the team captain asked everyone to download an app for communications...I def don't want another app, and I imagine that's how my players would feel about poker

 

[TheYeti]

Tell your players that you run your game in accordance with Robert's Rules of Poker and text/email everyone the link. Then tell them if any of your "house" rules differ from RRoP, which should be a pretty short list. That should cover it.

 

[Tight_Lay_DOWN]

Tell your players that you run your game in accordance with Robert's Rules of Poker and text/email everyone the link. Then tell them if any of your "house" rules differ from RRoP, which should be a pretty short list. That should cover it.

It's good to see some people reading this material.

Bob Ciaffone was a great friend of mine, he helped me begin my structured education and analytical process of poker. We played and competed against each other in chess as well, and he sponsored my membership into the Chess Federation. Met him in Michigan while I was a young lad playing poker and beating my father and his friends at poker in home games through out the Tri-City Area.

Bob became aware of my early success because poker players all travel in the same small circles at the time and I was only a teen (late teens) at the time.
Also learning of my interest in chess, we participated in many chess tournaments in the area. I don't think Bob ever had children, so he was a free spirt, traveling the world, writing books about card games and coaching other poker players. Even in those early days, many of our poker games were No-Limit, including Holdem - Stud - Razz / Low ball - 5 card draw, even Omaha occasionally.

One could say - I was raised on it. I could write a book about him - but he has already done that.

 

[inca911]

Following up on a few requests for the content in the pic I posted:

RULES OF THE HOUSE​

• This game is for fun, so only play with what you can afford to lose. Please no chip souvenirs!
• All chips must be purchased from the house. Cash games are table stakes. Rebuys are capped at the initial buy-in or half the big stack, whichever is greater. Amounts less than a dollar are rounded down at cash-out.
• In cash games, you may not remove any portion of your buy-in or winnings from the table until cash-out.
• Higher denomination chips must be easily viewable by the entire table (i.e., in front/on top). Tournament chips must never be pocketed, else they will be forfeited from tournament play.
• Protect your hand at all times (e.g., use a card protector). This includes not folding your hand until the dealer reads all hands and awards the pot to a specific player at showdown.
• One player to a hand. No sharing live or folded hands, and don’t dig in the muck. Refrain from comments on a hand in play. You may discuss or show a hand with an opponent only if you are heads-up with one player.
• Don’t splash the pot. Players should keep bets in front of them until the end of action for that round of betting. Change will be made at the end of action, then chips will be pushed into the pot.
• For split pot games, both players should confirm the split before chips are taken from any side pots or main pot. Put chips in the pot, then do the split(s), and avoid doing splitting math in your head. Resolve the last side pot first, and then work back to the main pot.
• If you throw a single chip into the pot without first announcing a raise, then you have called. Change should be made at the end of the action for any round of betting.
• Please act in turn, as Folding, Checking, or Betting out of turn can affect the other players in the hand. 4 bet max for Limit (i.e., Bet—Raise—ReRaise—Cap) unless players are heads-up prior to the beginning of a betting round, in which case the number of bets is uncapped. No cap on betting rounds for Pot Limit or No Limit.
• Verbal declarations are binding. No string betting: any verbal bet starting with “I see/call your bet, and XXX” is a call. If you want to raise, start with “Raise”. A single forward motion of chips in the pot is binding. Cut your chips before moving a stack toward the pot, else you are betting the stack.
• Out-of-turn action is binding, unless a player sitting before that action changes it with a bet or raise. A "call" or “raise” may be ruled not binding if it is obvious that the player grossly misunderstood the amount wagered (e.g., did not notice a raise, or mis-heard a raise amount). In a gross misunderstanding situation, the player may withdraw the wager and reconsider the action, provided that no one else has subsequently acted.
• Cards speak once all cards are tabled. The pot will be awarded to the best hand showing. Players should not comment on any hand until all cards are tabled. Players should speak up if something is missed.
• If you show one person your cards, you must show all at end of play. This includes shown folds.
• Shuffle behind the button. Someone who didn’t shuffle the deck must always cut the deck with a single hand. Keep all cards on the table, and in view of all players at all times. If you notice a damaged or unusual card, call the house for replacement.
• Don’t pre-deal hands, as the burn cards protect the players. Don’t rearrange cards or announce possible hands. Keep the Flop, Turn, and River in order, so players can reconstruct the hand.
• The clock may be called on any player who has taken more than 2 minutes to make a decision. The host will give the player an additional 2 minutes to announce/make a decision, else their hand is folded. Please avoid slow play. Repeated delaying of the game is not allowed.
• If the house provides food/drink, throwing in a few bucks to help is appreciated. There is no rake.
• No smoking inside, take it outside and use a can for an ashtray.
• If any situation outside of these limited rules arises, Robert’s Rules of Poker will be used to make a decision. A copy is kept on site, and house interpretations / decisions / exceptions that are made to preserve the best interests of the game are final. If the house is involved in a dispute, a non-partisan person will be chosen to make a ruling (ideally announced in advance).

Please respect the players, the house, and the game. Failure to do so, or to follow these rules, may result in your ejection and exclusion from future events.​

 

[ef28]

Tell your players that you run your game in accordance with Robert's Rules of Poker and text/email everyone the link. Then tell them if any of your "house" rules differ from RRoP, which should be a pretty short list. That should cover it.

That’s a great link. Amazing how lengthy the rule book can get.

 

[cpac54]

We organize our games over a facebook group. I have a copy of my house rules stickied in the group for reference, and they're pretty similar to what @inca911 posted above. In fact, I'm pretty sure I used another PCFer's rules as the template for my own (actually, looking at them, it may well have been inca's!)

 

[Tonystark137]

Pretty sure I stole mine from the Roberts rule of Poker

 

[TheYeti]

I've posted my rules to the forum for feedback a couple of times before and got some great feedback on making them more concise. As a result, I've removed most of the rules that are duplicated in RRoP and got it down to a single page.