Charity Poker Tournament Rules

Poker tournaments require the use of cards and betting chips.

Poker can either be played as a cash game or in a tournament format. In tournament form, players pay an entry fee into the game and are given a set of tournament chips to play with. These poker tournaments are a great way to raise money for charity. Players compete for prizes and bragging rights, while the proceeds from the entry fee become charitable donations. Charity poker tournaments have established rules that all players must follow.

Game Variations

The rules for the specific card game vary from one variation of poker to another. Texas Hold’em, for example, has a different style of play than 7 Card Stud Poker, which is entirely different than 5 Card Draw Poker. Ask in advance what version of poker the tournament uses and familiarize yourself with the specifics of that type of poker.

Tournament Registration

The minimum age for most charity poker tournaments is 18. In cases where alcoholic beverages are available to players, the minimum age becomes 21. Space is limited so advance registration is required. Players who do not have advance registration should ask to be added to the waiting list for available seats. Note that the tournament registration fee must be paid at the time of registration, and a no-refund policy is typically in effect.

Seat Assignment

Seat assignments are selected at random shortly before the start of the tournament. In some cases, a tournament sponsor may purchase all seats at a table. In these cases, the sponsor may give those seats away to whomever they wish to play for them in the tournament. Other seats receive a random assignment for the start of the game, with an average of 10 seats and one dealer per table.

Disqualifying Acts

A number of actions result in a player being immediately suspended or disqualified from any poker tournament, even a charity tournament. Deliberately playing out of turn or calling out hand information are causes for disciplinary action. In some tournaments it is against the rules for two players to verbally agree to check down a hand when a third player has committed all of her chips. A player is also subject to suspension or disqualification if her discard is thrown in the direction of another player’s cards rather than toward the dealer’s muck pile.

References

• Wild Bill's Charity Poker: Official Rules
• Charity Poker League: General Rules