homepokertourney.org House Rules

This is a plain text file of numerous poker house rules.
There is no copyright on this document. You may use it as you wish.
YOU CANNOT USE *ALL* THE RULES INCLUDED IN THIS DOCUMENT BECAUSE SOME CONTRADICT!!!
Create your own house rules by cutting and pasting rules from this file into your own file.
This file should easily import into MS Word or any other word processor. It is a Text File (house-rules.txt).

The first section titled "Home Poker Tourney House Rules" is a collection of some of the other rules found elsewhere in the document. It is a good starting point for creating your own house rules, simply add, delete, or move rules around as you see fit. 

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Home Poker Tourney House Rules

Please check your firearms at the door.
No smoking. No spitting. No farting upwind.
The house has the authority to close any game at any time.
The house has the authority to remove any player, at any time, for any period of time.
The 'dead button' rule will be used.
Do not place anything on the poker table except your cards, your chips, and your drink.
Keep your cards and chips on the poker table and in plain view. Keep your big chips out front.
Never touch another player's cards or chips.
Do not splash the pot.
Do not bend or mark the cards.
Only one player to a hand.
Players may not show their live cards.
Players who are all-in must reveal their hands when no further action is possible.
The cards speak for themselves.
Do not reveal your folded cards, either physically or verbally.
String bets are not allowed.
Check-raising is acceptable and ... encouraged!
Unless you suspect cheating, please do not ask to view a hand that has been called.
No rabbit hunting (seeing what the next cards would have been).
Chopping (splitting) blinds is not permitted.
Straddle bets are not permitted.
Insurance is not permitted.
Only the English language may be spoken at the table.
No speaking on the phone at a table.
Be kind to the dealer and to other players.
Immediately inform the Tournament Director when a player has been eliminated.
No cheating! Remember, a Smith & Wesson beats five aces!

Poker House Rules

House & Property

No smoking. 
No strong perfumes or scents. 
No consumption of illegal intoxicants. 
No swearing. 
No sexist talk. 
No hitting on another player. 
Please park in the rear. 
Please car-pool. Please designate a driver. 
Please bring your own chair.
Please use a coaster under your drink, it protects the table. 
Hats are encouraged (glaring overhead lights). 
Sunglasses are not allowed. 

At the Table

Only the english language may be spoken at the table. 
Be kind to the dealer and to other players. 
No side bets allowed on the poker action. 
No speaking on a phone at the table. 
Hats are encouraged due to glaring overhead lights. 
Sunglasses are not allowed. 
Do not bend or mark the cards. 
Keep your cards and chips on the table and in plain view. Keep your big chips out front. 
Never touch another player's cards or chips. 
Do not place anything on the poker table except your cards, your chips, and your drink. 
Try not to encroach upon your neighbor’s space
Talk is permitted. Players not in the hand should refrain from influencing the play. 

The Game

There is never any rake.
The house has the authority to close any game at any time. 
The house has the authority to remove any player, at any time, for any period of time, for any violation of any rule. 
The 'Dead button' rule will be used. (Use this rule or the rule directly below) 
The 'Moving button' rule will be used. (Use this rule or the rule directly above) 
Do not 'read' the board possibilities out loud. 
The One Chip rule will be used.
No rabbit-hunting (seeing what the next cards would have been). 
Unless you suspect cheating, please do not ask to view a hand that has been called. 
Do not ask for deck changes.
Chopping (splitting) blinds is not permitted. 
Straddle bets are not permitted. 
Insurance is not permitted. 

The Action

Do not act out of turn. 
Act in an appropriate amount of time when it is your turn.
Please verbally announce your betting action. 
Do not splash the pot. 
Check-raising is acceptable and ... encouraged! 
String bets are not allowed. 
Only one player to a hand. 
Players who are all-in must reveal their hands. 
The cards speak for themselves. 
Do not 'slow-roll'. Turn over your winning hand promptly.
Immediately inform the Tournament Director when a player is eliminated. 
Do not reveal your folded cards, either physically or verbally. 
Never reveal another player's mucked cards! 

Non-tournament House Rules

If you must leave early, please announce it at the beginning of the night. Don't take the money and run! 
The game is played for 'table stakes' and as such, a player may not be forced out of hand for a lack of money. To complete the hand, a player will be allowed to go all-In. 
A 'cap' of three (3) raises is allotted per betting round. Note: Some houses allow 4 raises instead of 3. 
If there are only two remaining players, playing 'heads up,' then raises are unlimited. 
Minimum buyin is at least ten times (10x) the highest stakes of the game. 
For Pot Limit and No-Limit games the minimum buyin is at least ten times (10x) the big blind but no more than fifty times (50x) the big blind. The minimum rebuy is at least ten times (10x) the big blind. When you rebuy into a pot limit/no limit game, you may not exceed the maximum buyin/rebuy limit. 
Short buys are not permitted. The only exception to this rule is a player who has already bought into the game for the minimum, and wants to add chips but does not have enough money to buy the minimum. That player will be allowed to add as many chips as he has money left. 
Low is none, high is one, both ways is two chips in your hand. If a player opens his hand, or begins to open his hand, and realizes that he made an incorrect declare, it must stand as declared. 
Humorous House Rules
Please check your firearms at the door. 
Please car-pool. The more you drink, the more I win! 
I don’t play poker in your toilet, please don’t pee in my laundry tub! 
No smoking. No spitting. No farting upwind. 
Please return the outhouse seat to the 'down' position after use. 
If you can't buy it in a case, you might want to re-consider bringing your brand of "beer" to my house. 
You may be asked (forced!) to deal some day. Learn how to deal. 
No fights allowed inside the house. Outdoor fights allowed only after all side bets have been made. 
No cheating! Remember, a Smith & Wesson beats five aces!