GENERAL RULES AND GUIDELINES

No Gambling at any time. Stars-n-Bars is free for all legal aged persons to enter and play. There will be no side betting or cash betting at any time. Violators will be removed from the current event and subject to expulsion and ban from future Stars-n-Bars events. No currency of any type may be placed on a table at any time regardless of the purpose and intent. There are no exceptions to this rule at any time or under any circumstances.

Adhering to the rules. By filling out and signing a registration form, all players agree to adhere to all the rules and regulations as set forth in this document.

Minimum Age. Any person playing in a Stars-n-Bars event must be at least 18 with a valid photo ID to register and play. All players must register prior to playing in an event. Player must be 21 to claim Las Vegas trip or Atlantic City accommodations.

Etiquette. Poker etiquette is expected from all players at all times. Disruptive behavior such as throwing cards and/or abusive or inappropriate language may result in a penalty such as being dealt out of the game for a period of time. Severe or repeated infractions may result in player expulsion from the current event, and extreme cases may result in permanent ban from future Stars-n-Bars events.

Session Play. Session play does not stop except for breaks. Play may be stopped for 5 or 10 minute breaks at the Tournament Director's discretion.

Cancellation and Alteration. Stars-n-Bars as well as the current venue reserves the right to cancel or alter the event due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances in any manner deemed necessary to maintain fairness to all players.

Determinations. Stars-n-Bars Tournament Director’s decisions are final on all disputes.

TOURNAMENT SET-UP AND MAINTENANCE

Sign In. All players are to sign in prior to start of the current session. Players choose or draw for seat assignments at the time of sign in.

Starting Chips. All players start with the same amount of starting chips with the following exceptions; Players turning in ‘Starting Chip Bonus’ cards will be awarded the specified amount of chips to start the current session.

Late players. Players arriving late may join the tournament up until the third blind raise or the start of play following the first scheduled break. Players joining late are subject to posting a bet to play their first hand, and will be shorted chips to equal the amount of blinds they missed. Posted bets will be added to the pot of the first hand dealt to the late player.

Chip Coloring. As play progresses, chip denominations no longer needed in the blind structure will be removed from play. Example: When the blinds reach 100/200, the Tournament Director will remove all the green 25 valued chips from play. Odd chip values are rounded up to the next even valued chip. Example: Player turning in 225 in green 25 valued chips will be given 300 in black chips.

Blinds Schedule. The blind schedule and structure is as follows, along with approximate times:

Tournament Start: Small blind-25, Big Blind-50 (play for 15 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-50, Big Blind-100 (play for 15 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-100, Big Blind-200 (play for 15 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-200, Big Blind-400 (play for 15 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-300, Big Blind-600 (play for 15 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-500, Big Blind-1,000 (play for 15 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-1,000, Big Blind-2,000 (play for 15 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-2,000, Big Blind-4,000 (play for 15 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-3,000, Big Blind-6,000 (play for 15 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-5,000, Big Blind-10,000 (play for 12 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-10,000, Big Blind-20,000 (play for 12 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-20,000, Big Blind-40,000 (play for 12 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-30,000, Big Blind-50,000 (play for 12 minutes).
Blind Raise: Small Blind-50,000, Big Blind-100,000 (play for 12 minutes).

Tournament Director reserves the right to alter the blind schedule in a manner fair to all players due to session and venue constraints.

GAME PLAY

Starting Deal. Players high card for deal. Cards are spread out on the table and each player present selects a card. High card wins. In the event of a tie, suits are used to determine the dealer, in the descending order of spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs

Deal. All players present at a table will deal their turn. The deal rotates clockwise. A player not present for their deal will have the previous dealer assume the responsibilities with the button and the blinds continuing to rotate. If a table is reseated and half or more of the players are new to the table, players high-card again for deal. Players high-card for the deal at the start of the final table as well.

Blinds. All players will post their blinds with no exceptions. The player to the left of the dealer is the small blind, and the player to their left is the big blind. Players may have to post more than one big blind in succession, but only in the event of moving tables. If the player who would have been small blind is eliminated on a hand, then the player who just dealt will deal again with the blinds rotating. If the player who would have been small blind is eliminated during a hand, the blinds rotate and there is no small blind. All hands will contain a big blind. Players just joining a table after consolidation may not come in on the button or small blind, and must wait until the button has passed to join the game. Players may come in on the big blind. Blind raises occur at the Tournament Director's discretion, and will take effect at the next hand after announced. A hand starts with the first riffle of the shuffle.

Dealer responsibilities. The dealer will deal all eligible players into the hand according to standard poker rules. All hands will be pre-dealt with burn cards. There will be a total of 3 burn cards, with one before the flop, one before the turn, and one before the river. The dealer is the only one allowed to touch the fold pile. The dealer is also the only one to touch the chips in the pot. Players needing change should first try to make change from the surrounding players. If change is not available that way, then the dealer will make change for the player after the current round of betting is complete. After the deal is complete, the dealer will pass all cards and the button to the next player for their deal. If a card is accidentally dealt up, or if someone else at the table sees another players card, then that card is used as the next burn card. The deal continues, and the dealer replaces the players seen card with the final card dealt. The seen card is left face up as the first burn, and the flop is pre-dealt. The fold pile and the burn cards will be kept separate. A misdeal is declared when two cards are dealt up during a deal or a player is skipped and the correct cards cannot be agreed upon by all players present. If a card is viewed while dealing the community cards, all remaining cards will be shuffled and the board re-dealt at the point of the misdeal. Dealers must shuffle at least 3 times, and should offer a cut to the right. If the final table has a full-time dealer, the dealer cuts the deck him/herself, and continues to pre-deal the board cards.

Table layout. All chips must remain in plain view of all players at all times. All cards must remain on the table at all times. Chips should be stacked in front of the player on the table, or in a chip tray if one is included as part of the table. Players cards must remain in front of their chip stack except for viewing. All bets placed are to remain in front of a players cards and are not to be put into the pot until the dealer announces that the pot is correct.

Absent Players. If a player is away from the table they are still dealt cards and their blinds are posted by the dealer. Players absent will have their hands folded, and this includes the big blind regardless of any other actions. Players may be absent for up to two blind raises. If a player is absent at the third blind raise, the players chips are taken off the table and the player is considered out of the tournament.

Player Actions. Players must act only in turn, and should announce their intentions. Players should announce “Fold”, “Call”, or “Raise” based on what they wish to do. Players first announcement is binding. If a player is folding, they pass their cards to the dealer as such. If a player is calling a bet, they place the required amount of chips in front of them. No pot splashing allowed. Keep your bets in front of you until betting action is complete for the current round, and then push the chips to the center pot. No string bets allowed. If a player is raising the bet, the player must count out their chips behind their cards and place their total bet into the betting area at one time. No short bets allowed. To raise, you must announce “Raise”, and raise the minimum required. See the RAISES section for examples and details. If at any time a players cards touch the fold pile, those cards are dead and the player loses all action on that hand.

General Play. Tournaments continue until one player has all the chips. One player per hand. Players may not ask advice or act on unsolicited advice. If a player shows his cards to one player, they must show the cards to every player. Called players must show their cards first. Player calling another does not have to show. Hands that conclude in a checked situation will be revealed in order of play. Example; 3 players see the river and everyone checks. Player who acted first in the hand reveals their cards and so on. In order to claim any called or checked pot, player must show both hole cards.

All-Ins. Any player may go all-in during their turn. All-ins should be announced as such to the dealer. Player should then place their chips in front of them for the dealer to count out and verify the total. In the event that more than one player goes all-in for differing totals, a side pot or side pots will be made. Players can only win amounts equal to their stake in the hand. Whenever a player or players are all-in and all other possible betting action is done, all players reveal their cards. Any player calling an all-in or being called must show their cards. If a player lacks sufficient chips to post a blind, that player is all in and a side pot will be established for any remaining players. If two or more players are eliminated during the same hand, the player who entered the hand with more chips finishes in the higher position.

Withdrawing. If a player is needing to or wanting to withdraw from the event, they should alert the Tournament Director. Players should not go all-in to try to lose their chips as a means to getting out of the event. Chips from a player withdrawing will be removed from the tournament.