A.C.E.S. Tournament Rules

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY *       

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and expense to provide you with games and prizes.

Your support will help to ensure that it continues.

RULE # 1 -    Have fun and enjoy the game!! 

·            Minimum age to play: must be 21 years of age.

·            All players must sign up and be registered with A.C.E.S. Poker League. See a Tournament Director for sign up sheet.

·            Players will start with approx. 1500 in chips. Tournament Directors discretion

·            Play will begin at the official posted start time.(verify start time to be sure)

·            Players must be present to sign up and must be in their seat at the official start time.  

·            LATE RULE:  After game start, a late player will forfeit 10% of their starting chips for the 1st blind and 50% for the 2nd blind.  A player will not be allowed to play after the 2nd set of blinds.   

·            Standard Texas Holdem Rules apply. (Tournament Directors Association)

·            When a player has lost all of their chips they are out of that game and cannot “Re-Buy”,    

·            During some scheduled breaks players trade in smaller ($$) chips for large ($$). (Colored up) NO Passing chips to other players.

·            The computer will randomly select Player seating. If no computer is available, the “Tournament Director” will assign seating.

·            Position one at the table is the first dealer.

·            The person to the left of the “Dealer” is the “Small Blind.”

·            The person two spots to the left of the “Dealer” is the “Big Blind.”

·            You must offer a cut to the player on the right of the dealer.

·            Players cannot "Chop" at any time. (Take back blinds and fold)

·            The deal rotates clockwise. DO NOT DEAL AHEAD OR LOOK AT CARDS!!!

·            All Initial bets must be equal to or greater than the big blind. Raises have to be at least double the blind or the bet before it.  Re-raises have to be at least double what the previous raise was.  (The only exception is if a player is 'all in')

·            If a player's all in amount is less than a normal raise, this does not reopen the betting to a player who already has acted. i.e. For those who have already acted, the only action is to call or fold. In other words they can not raise.

·            String Betting/Raising is not allowed. (You cannot reach back for more chips unless you've: declared 'raise', stated the raise amount, or are 'all in') Once chips are placed into the pot they are there for good.  Pay attention to the bets before you. A verbal ‘call’ can be binding to whatever bet is out there.

·            Players are required to post the appropriate blind.  If they must leave the table their blind will be posted for them.  If they are not back after a bet has been made, their cards will be “mucked” when it’s their turn to bet.

·            There will be NO CELL PHONE USE while playing.  If you need to use your phone, get up from the table and go use your phone. You cannot play cards and use your phone (texting, talking OR surfing) at the same time.

·            At any time during the game, if a player leaves the table for one “FULL” blind cycle, the player is disqualified and chips turned in.

·            During the final table an active player may request a 10 minute timer on a missing player. Blinds must be posted and cards mucked.  If the missing player does not return within 10 minutes, the player is disqualified and the chips are turned in. A player who wishes to leave the table may do so for less than 10 minutes, but this is a "ONE TIME ONLY" situation.  If the player leaves the table a second time, said player will be removed from the game.

·            As players are removed from the game, players may be moved to a new table to keep the number of players at each table equal.

·            Players moved to a new table must play the first hand they can.  They cannot move into the dealer or small blind position and must “sit out” those hands.  If they are moved into any other position they must be dealt in.

·            All players must leave the table once they have lost all of their chips.  They may not stand around the tables and talk about hands or suggest what a player should or should not do or have done in any hand; this is called "Railbirding" and is not allowed. 

·            At any time a tournament director may ask you to leave the area/vicinity out of consideration for the players that are still in the game, especially if it is requested by said player(s). 

·            Once a player makes a bet with all remaining chips, they are “All In”

·            If a player calls an “All In”, the hands will remain face down and betting will continue if more than one of the remaining players still has chips to bet.

·            If all players in the hand are “All In,” and no more betting can take place, then all hands in play are turned face up with the best hand declared the winner. (The “All In” cannot “Muck” or fold)

·            If two or more players are eliminated, the player who had the most chips prior to the last hand will finish higher than the player with fewer chips.

·            If requested, you must show BOTH of your cards if a player has "Paid" to see the hand.

·            The game will continue until all players have been eliminated.

·            In "Heads Up" play (2 players left), the dealer is small blind and the other player is big blind.

·            First, Second, And Third place may receive prizes.  Prizes are not to be SPLIT in an official tournament*.  (*May vary by location)

·            Chips and cards must remain on or above the table at all times. 

·            “Players” and ”Non-Players” are NOT allowed to discuss hands that are in play. This means that NO ONE is allowed to discuss a hand in play.

·            Mucked (folded or discarded) cards are not to be reviewed at any time. No exceptions. Any player caught cheating will be banned from the league. 

·            If mucked cards touch another players hand that is not protected (ie. does not have a card cover on it), then that hand is also mucked.

·            Rabbit Hunting is not allowed. Once a hand is over, the dealer or the next person to shuffle should collect the cards. 

·            At no time while playing in an A.C.E.S. sanctioned event may there be any money on the table or money “side bets” placed. No Exceptions.  There shouldn't be any talking about playing for money!  This is a free game.

·            There will be 6-8 weeks of qualifiers.   

·            Any inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Profanity / Disruptive behavior is strongly discouraged and can result in a penalty or if severe enough, up to a 2 week suspension from the league.

·        Bad sportsmanship, (insults and name-calling), Bad conduct (being argumentative or carrying a conflict from one table to the next) or the inability (intoxicated) to keep the pace of the game, are unacceptable and can result in a penalty or if severe enough, up to a 2 week suspension or TOTAL Dismissal from the league.

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*PENALTIES * 

The Tournament Director may assess a penalty to any player that does not adhere to the rules.

 (3 strikes and your out)

           1st penalty = Verbal warning

2nd penalty = one “Full Blind” blinded out and removed from the general vicinity.

           3rd and final penalty = Disqualified from the game, chips forfeited.

Any ACES player that has been removed from a game will be automatically reviewed for circumstances and may be suspended or permanently banned from any and all ACES events.

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* ACES * 

• All Casino Entertainment Services (A.C.E.S.), and its sponsors reserve the right to change, or modify the terms and rules at any time.
• All Casino Entertainment Services (A.C.E.S.), and its sponsors assume no liability from any event.
• All Casino Entertainment Services (A.C.E.S.), and its sponsors will, where possible and practical,  inform of any changes prior to the beginning of a scheduled "Tournament" and are in no way to be held responsible for any changes that may or may not affect the outcome of such tournament or events.

  * PRIZES *

• Anyone that receives any gift or prize at any level is responsible for any taxes or liabilities of said prize or gift.
• A player can qualify for as many tournaments as possible each term. Only one seat will be awarded per player at the “PRIZE FINAL.”
• All Casino Entertainment Services (A.C.E.S.), and its sponsors assume no liability from any gift or prize.
• All Casino Entertainment Services (A.C.E.S.), and its sponsors reserve the right to change or modify the gifts and prizes at any time for any reason.