• If the clock is called, the dealer should use their discretion to decide whether or not enough time passed for the clock to be called. Once the clock begins, the player has 60 seconds to act.
  • If they don’t act by the time ends, their hand is dead.
  • If the player was checked to and doesn’t act by the time the clock ends, their hand is automatically checked behind.
  • If the player announces an act other than fold exactly when the clock ends, their called act takes precedence.
  • Any dealers unsure of whether the clock should be called or any other concerns should feel free to request the TD to initiate the clock instead
• If a player is all in, it is recommended for the player to put either all of their chips forward or none (with the all in puck visible in both scenarios). This prevents players from misunderstanding how much the all in is for. Dealers also MUST announce all in. Too often I see dealers only throwing out the puck without saying anything (this does not look cool btw).
• Blinds must be out before you pitch, especially the ante
  • This rule is can be pretty relaxed depending on if you see the player picking up the chips to put in their blinds
• One Player to a Hand. Please do not discuss strategy or make comments about a player’s hand or what you witnessed about a hand if you are not in the hand or if it is multiway.

Forward Motion Actions

Forward motion is a binding action.

• Once players move chips and/or cards toward the pot in a way that clearly indicates a bet or call (or fold), you are committed to that action — even if you haven't fully released the chips/cards
  • For the most part, you do not need to force players to put in more chips as a call, but you should tell them it’s strongly discouraged and they may have to put the rest of their chips in next time
  • A hand is folded when the player pushes cards forward or they announce fold
• Hands that are 100% retrievable and identifiable are still live at showdown when a player takes back their hand after accidentally mucking
  • Note that this is only allowed at showdown because no more action follows
• To “table” your hand, and make it a live hand, the hand must be placed on the felt face up and released from the player’s hand. If one card is covering the other card, the dealer may instruct the player to spread the cards, but the dealer may also spread the cards to expose both cards themselves.
  • If the player did not want to expose their second card that the dealer exposed, it is the player’s responsibility to protect their hand or card(s)

Clarifying Action and Rules

Dealers can explain rules to players, but never instruct them what to do or influence action in any way by using instructional phases.

If a player asks if they can raise,

• If all options are available: you should announce that all options are available
• If they cannot raise: you may say that the other player made a short raise and it does not reopen action but all other options are available

Dealers unsure of a player’s action must ask “what is your action?”, this way the dealer does not assume what the player’s intensions are

• It is bad practice to ask “Call?” or “Raise?” as it may be perceived as influencing and/or assuming action

If a player has chips in front of them and they throw in more chips on top, that is their total bet. If they say they intended to call, let it be a call and issue a warning

Showdown Procedure

It is important that when it is showdown, you present the hands that were turned over in the middle of the table so everyone can see, pull down the cards that are not played, turn over the losing hand (not into the muck), and award the pot to the winning hand

If the player plays the board, it is NOT proper to say “playing the board”, instead you should announce the hand on the board (e.g. “7-high straight” or “Q high flush”)