FAQ
Q. Is it truly free poker for players?
A. YES! We are providing a free entertainment service at our sponsored locations! Always free for the players to enter our tournaments, although we strongly encourage tipping the dealers ($5/game is customary). At some events we might offer a dealer appreciation add-on for $10 $20 but is not required.
Q. Is there an age requirement to play?
A. The minimum age to play is 21.
Q. How long is a typical season?
A. The Queen of Hearts Poker League will run four seasons each calendar year. Seasons will typically be between thirteen and sixteen weeks long.
Q. What can I win?
A. Players have the opportunity to a lot of prizes, including cash, in a variety of different ways. Queen of Hearts Club holds nightly events at various locations.
Each event consist of three single table tournaments; points are awarded by order of finish with the top 3 players in points each night winning Tickets which when accumulated to certain tiers levels will buy them into a local or Las Vegas Casino Tournament! Many of our venues provide gift certificates for the winner of the night which can be use for food and beverage at a later visit.
Q. How does Queen of Hearts Club regulate /not regulate players with regards to Covid?
A. Queen of Hearts Club follows local guidelines and the rules of the establishments that host us.
Q. What if I’m new to the game, or want to bring someone with me that is just learning how to play? Will I/they feel comfortable?
A. Absolutely! We strongly encourage ALL player levels to come and enjoy our league. While it can be intimidating and expensive to learn to play poker in a casino, the Queen of Hearts Club provides a free, fun, and safe environment for all to enjoy.
Q. Is there a drink minimum at the bars where you have your events?
A. There is not. We encourage players to buy a beverage and/or food at the host locations but it is never required.
League Rules
COST
1.FREE Tournaments, No Entry Fee (Dealers are Volunteers, Tips are Appreciated
and Will Help us Keep Good, Competent Dealers for Your Games).
2.You must be at least 21 to play. No wagering of any kind on QofH games.
Violators will be banned immediately.
3.Dealer: the dealer will be responsible for running the game and all
decisions made by the dealer/floor person are final.
4.TDA rules will apply in most cases. Please keep in mind TDA is a guideline
for poker rooms to use and always respect rule #1 which states the following:
floor people (The lead dealer is considered floor in All games) are to consider
the best interest of the game and fairness as top priorities in the decision
making process. Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate that decisions in
the interest of fairness take priority over technical rules. The floor person’s
decision is final.
SEATING
1.Players may choose their own seating (as
available). Tournament Director reserves the right to assign a certain
seat number based on special needs or circumstances. Siblings,
husbands/wives, etc. may be separated to protect the integrity of the game. The
house reserves the right to require that any two players not play next to each
other or at the same table.
2.A new player will be
sent to the table most in need of an additional player. The person to move will
be the person who will be in the next big blind for the next hand at the table
losing the player. The Player moving will be put in the place of the open seat.
(They do not have to move to the big blind)
3.When the tournament
gets down to the final table, players will fill in the open seats, then redraw
for the button.
PLAY
Player’s cards must remain in plain view of the Dealer and other players and remain over the table at all times.
The minimum bet in any round shall be at least the amount of the big blind.
When raising please state your intentions. “Raise 600” for example will mean a raise of 600 on top of whatever the bet is.
If you put a single chip in the pot that is larger than the bet, but do not announce a raise, you are assumed to have only called. Example: In a $3-$ game, when a player bets $6 and the next player puts a $25 chip in the pot without saying anything, that player has merely called the $6 bet.
Verbal declarations in turn are binding.
An action or verbal declaration out of turn is binding unless the action to that player is subsequently changed by a bet or raise.
No string bets are allowed. If a player puts in half of the required raise, they must complete the raise.
No forward motion rule. There will not be a bet until the chips are released or a verbal declaration is made.
Less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a player who has already acted.
When a player is all-in for less than the required big blind, the remaining players will have the following options: Fold, place a full bet of the required Big Blind, or raise.
If a player gestures or throws their cards in face down their hand is dead.
The player is responsible for turning their hand over at the showdown. The last aggressor will show their hand first. If there isn’t a bet on the river, first player to the left of the button will show first.
Cards speak for themselves. The best five cards determine the winning hand.
If a pot has been incorrectly awarded and mingled with chips that were not in the pot, management reserves the right to reconstruct the betting and award the pot to the rightful winner.
If a player wishes to contest the results of a completed hand, they must do so prior to start of the next hand. The first riffle of the shuffle marks the start of the next hand.
Players may ask for a count of an all-in bet that is in the pot. Players may not ask for a specific count/breakdown of any chips their opponent has in front of them that are not part of the pot. Players must use their own judgment visibly of what another player has “behind”.
The house is not responsible for player’s chips left on the table.
Chopping is allowed, but must be agreed upon by all parties involved in the chop.
Points must be determined by chip stack and is not negotiable.
All chips must be visibly displayed at all times. All oversized chips must be on top of the stack or off to the side. Players may not have tournament chips in their pockets or out of plain sight at any time.
A player who has chips in their pocket will forfeit the chips. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play from the tournament.
Removal of tournament chips, intentionally or unintentionally, may result in forfeiture of entry and prize monies and possible permanent eviction from the league.
DEALING (Round Table)
When it is your turn to deal, you are the dealer from
start to finish of the hand. You must deal the deck yourself, do not hand
it off to another player for any reason.
If there is an error during the deal that cannot be
reasonably resolved, the hand will be canceled and all chips will be
returned to their original owner at the beginning of the hand.
You must offer the person behind you the option to cut
the deck.
All burn cards must be visible in relation to the board
cards. Do not discard the burn cards into the muck pile.
If the flop or any part of the flop is flipped
prematurely; 1. Burn & turn the “Turn” card and leave it face down
2. Burn & turn the “river” card and leave it face down 3.
Re-enter the original flop card into the remaining deck cards and
re-shuffle 4. Flip the flop (Do not burn a card)
If a “turn” or “river” card is prematurely flipped; 1.
Finish the running of the remaining cards as normal as listed above, then
reshuffle and turn the card.
During the deal; if a card is exposed on the first
round to one of the players in the blind, it is an automatic misdeal. (If
it is round 2 the first burn card will be used to replace the exposed
card.
CONDUCT
Show one player, show all players.
One player to a hand. A player may not seek advice as
to the play of their hand.
The English only rule will be enforced while a hand is
in progress. This includes sign language.
Any form of cheating will result in termination and
forfeiture of all monies to the game and or league tournament.
Players may not discuss the current hand while it is in
progress. This includes the contents of one’s hand, cards that were
mucked, the possibilities on the board, or encouraging play of a call or
fold.
If a player throws his/her cards off the table they
will be subject to the above time penalties with the 3rd offense resulting
in expulsion from the tournament and forfeiture of all buy-ins, entry
fees, and/or prizes. Players guilty of disruptive or abusive
behavior towards other guests or players will be subject to the above
listed penalties in #3. The severity of a player’s conduct will
determine which penalty will be instituted, up to and including expulsion
from the game, tournament and or league.
A player who exposes his/her cards on purpose or shows
them to any player at the table before the action is complete, even if the
player is not in the hand, can be subject to the following
penalties. Also if a player verbally discloses the contents of their
hand or advises another player how to play a hand, he/she can be subject
to the following penalties. Penalties available include verbal
warnings and “missed hand” penalties. A missed hand penalty will be
assessed as follows: The offender will miss one hand for every
player, including the offender, who is at the table when the penalty is
given multiplied by the number of rounds specified in the penalty; for the
period of the penalty the offender shall remain away from the table.
Tournament staff can assess one-, two-, three-, or four-round penalties or
disqualification. A player who is disqualified shall have his/her
chips removed from play. Repeat infractions are subject to
escalating penalties. On the first and second offenses the hand is
still live. If there are more than two infractions assessed, the
hand can be declared dead.
Penalties:
OTHER
It is the player’s responsibility to protect their hand
at all times.
Players may not enter a game after the 1st hand after
the 1st break.
Tournament Director reserves the right to change,
alter, or cancel any tournament at any time.
Tournament Directors decision is final.
GAMES
Each location will run 3 sessions and generally the times are
6pm/7:30pm/9:00pm. (see league calendar page for times set by each location).
Each session/tournament will be a single table satellite with a minimum of 6
players and will accept new players anytime during the first 3 levels.
POINTS
These are determined by the number of players in each game and assigned in
the order of knockout. For example: if there are 10 players in a game the first
player eliminated would receive 1 point and would increase to 10 points for the
winner of that game. These points will be tabulated and entered into the
standings page no later than the next day and player will have 72 hours to
contest. Also, 5 Additional points will be given to each player who plays all
three games at that location for the evening.
PRIZES
There must be a minimum of 8 players for the nightly prizes to be awarded. Schedule:
the league will run as listed on the Queen of Hearts website and is subject to
change without notice.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
While making a purchase at the bars is not mandatory, no outside food or
beverage will be allowed at any of the locations. Players may be disqualified
should they bring outside food and/or beverage into the location.
DRESS CODE
While there will be no formal dress code, we do ask players to keep in mind
that we are playing our games in someone’s business and to dress respectfully.
If the bars complain, you will be asked to leave.
CONTACT INFO
Playing in the league will require a one time registration; name. phone #
and email address is all that is needed.
RELAX & HAVE FUN!
The league rules are more relaxed than if you were in a regular poker room;
our main objective is to create a fun, friendly atmosphere where players of all
skill levels can enjoy a night out while doing something they enjoy and meeting
new friends.
Management reserves the right to make changes at its sole discretion.
Management also reserves the right to refuse service to any player and suspend
or bar any player from league play.
TIE BREAKER
If there is a tie between any of the final
places the tie breaker will be determined by the following;
The person with the most Wins (1st,
2nd 3rd place (In that order)) throughout the season
The person with the most seats at the Final table throughout
the season
The 2 players will play a heads up game with the winner
being awarded the higher place final spot.
Example: Player 1 has 3-1st place wins and player 2 only has 1-1st place wins, player one wins the higher point. If this too
is a tie, then 2nd place wins will be evaluated, and so on.
If there is still a tie after the final table seats have been evaluated, then
the 2 players will play a heads up game with the winner being awarded the
higher place final spot.
12/7/2022