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Push Poker Etiquette Push Poker House Rules How to play Texas Hold'em

Push Poker Etiquette - (Back to Top)

In this league, the main reason we play poker is to have fun. This is a free league and is supposed to be entirely entertainment. Poker is an enjoyable game and at Push Poker we want everyone to have fun. That being said, we do want to conduct our tournaments as professionally as possible. The following are Push Poker's Code of Conduct, Etiquette, and Points of Emphasis. These are established standards used throughout the poker industry and we hope that they will help prepare you for playing in tournaments when larger prizes are at stake.

Good luck at the tables!

Code of Conduct

In an attempt to maintain a pleasant environment for all our venues, players, and personnel, Push Poker has established a code of conduct, and may deny participation to violators. The following actions are not permitted:

Collusion with another player or any other form of cheating.
Verbally or physically threatening any other person.
Using profanity or obscene language.
Creating a disturbance of any kind including by arguing, shouting, or making excessive noise.
Throwing, tearing, bending, or crumpling cards and/or chips.
Destroying or defacing property.
Using an illegal substance.
Carrying a weapon.

Poker Etiquette

The following violations of poker etiquette may result in warnings, penalties, suspensions, disqualification and/or being barred from future participation:

Deliberately acting out of turn.
Deliberately splashing chips into the pot.
Agreeing to check a hand out when a third player is all-in.
Soft playing by refusing to bet against a certain opponent whenever heads-up.
Revealing the contents of a live hand in a multi-handed pot before the betting is complete.
Revealing the contents of a folded hand before the betting is complete. Do not divulge the contents of a hand during a deal even to someone not in the pot, so you do not leave any possibility of the information being transmitted to an active player.
Needlessly stalling the action of a game.
Deliberately discarding hands away from the muck. Cards should be released in a low line of flight, at a moderate rate of speed (not at the dealer's hands or chip-rack).
Stacking chips in a manner that interferes with dealing or viewing cards.
Making statements or taking action that could unfairly influence the course of play, whether or not the offender is involved in the pot.
Using a cell phone at the table. A player who wants to use a cell phone must step away from the table. If the cell phone becomes a distraction or slows the game, they will be asked to turn it off. Cell phones and other electronic devices cannot set on the tables.

Points of Emphasis

Do not talk about a hand when you aren't in it. Simply talking about the hand is also in very bad taste. The players who are still in the hand are trying to focus on the other live opponents. Giving advice to a live player is actually against the rules.
Place highest denomination chips in front of your chip stack for all to see.
Smoking is not allowed at the table. If you must smoke, smoke away from the table.
If you decide to show your cards after a hand is over, make sure to show everyone at the table. If you show just one player your cards, anyone else at the table has the right to see them too.
If you are still in a hand, make sure that your cards are in front of you and they stay on the table so that they are visible to all other players. If they aren't visible, another player may accidentally act out of turn not realizing you are still in the hand.
Don't hold or play around with the dealer button. It needs to be visible and clearly in front of a player at all times.

Push Poker House Rules - (Back to Top)

Push Poker conducts tournaments under rules established by the Tournament Director's Association and Robert's Rules of Poker. The following "House Rules" are designed specifically for Push Poker and take precedent over all other rules. If there is not a house rule pertaining to a specific situation, then TDA and Robert's Rules of Poker will apply. The goal is to provide a consistent rule interpretation that all of our league members will use to play the tournaments.

TD Discretion - Tournament Directors are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision making process. Unusual circumstances may require that exceptions be made in the interest of fairness. The Tournament director's decision is final. A player who is disqualified from the game will be asked to leave and all his or her chips not in play at the time of the incident shall be removed from play. An incident report must be written up by the TD.
Sign In - All players must sign-in in order to play. League registration is not required to play, but is necessary to collect points. Sign in begins a minimum of 45 minutes prior to game time. Players cannot have another person sign them in for the purpose of earning early sign-in chips. To earn early sign-in chips, players must sign in and be present at least 25 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game.
Late Arrival - Players can join the tournament up to the end of the first break. When joining a table, the late player must pay a penalty of twice the big blind of the first hand dealt to them and also pay the current blinds if playing the hand. If they join the game during the break, they will be assessed a 1000 chip penalty when play resumes.
Starting Chip Stack - All players will start with an equal amount of chips, unless early arrival or other bonus chips are awarded, and continue to play until one player remains and accumulates all the chips.
Bounty Chips - In regular Hold'em games, the tournament director will issue a number of bounty chips based upon the total number of players entered. If at least 12 players have entered, there will be 3 bounty chips issued. Using that as a minimum guideline, the tournament director, at his discretion, may issue of to a total of 8 bounty chips for the game.
Bonus Chips - Players may earn bonus chips for most games through these means:
- Players can earn 2400 chips for early arrival and sign-in at least 25 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game.
- Bringing a new player into the league earns a one time 1000 chip bonus for that game.
- A 5000 bonus chip is awarded to the 8 players making the final table.
Electronic Devices - Players may not talk on the phone while at the poker table. They must leave the table while on the phone and play will continue in their absence. Players may listen to IPods and MP3 players when using earphones, but the device must be in a pocket and not visible to the player during play. No electronic devices of any kind are allowed on the table or table rails. No other electronic devices are allowed at the table.
Random Seating - All players will be randomly seated by the tournament director at the start of each game. As late arriving players sign in, the tournament director will seat them at tables as needed to balance the tables. Accommodations for players with special physical needs will be made when possible.
Final Table - The final table will consist of the final eight (8) players. When necessary, up to ten players may be seated at the last table, but it does not become the official final table until only eight (8) players remain. Unless a computer program is used, random seating for the last table will be done by drawing cards for seat assignments. After seat assignments have been determined, a separate draw for dealer using the entire deck will be conducted.
High Card for Dealer - Players "high-card" for the button (dealer position) immediately prior to the start of play. This means the player who draws the highest card will start with the button. In case two players get the same high card, the suit (in descending order of spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs) will determine who starts with the button. If a table is reseated and 50% or more of the players are new to the table, then the players "high-card" for the button immediately prior to resuming the session. At the start of the final table, players will "high card" for the button.
Dealer shuffle - Unless Push Poker provides a dealer, tournaments are conducted with each player in turn serving as the dealer. Players will rotate dealer responsibilities in a clockwise rotation. Dealers must shuffle the deck at least three times, and must cut cards every hand. If any player is concerned about the shuffle, cut, or other preparation of the cards they may call for a reshuffle before the cards have been dealt.
Blinds - New players are dealt in immediately unless they sit down in the small blind or button position. In these two cases, they must wait until the button passes. If a player is seated in the Big Blind position, the player must post the Big Blind and will be dealt in the hand. It is possible for a player to take two Big Blinds in a row, but only if the player is changing tables. Players are obligated to take their blinds.
Absent Player - An absent player is always dealt a hand, and will be put up for blinds if in a blind position. If you are not present when you are forced to action, your hand will be mucked (folded) after all cards have been dealt.
Color Up - At TD discretion, the lowest denomination of chip will be colored up and removed from play when no longer needed in the blind structure. All lower denomination chips that are of sufficient quantity for a new chip will be colored up directly. All remaining odd chips will be rounded up to the next chip denomination.
Misdeal/Exposed cards - If the dealer exposes either of the first two cards, a misdeal is called. If two or more cards are exposed due to dealer error, it is a misdeal and cards are reshuffled and re-dealt. If the flop needs to be re-dealt because the cards were exposed prematurely, the burn card remains and the board cards are mixed back into the deck, reshuffled and cut, then a new flop exposed. Anytime a card is exposed prematurely post flop, the exposed card plus the burn card will be placed back into the deck of remaining cards, shuffled and cut, and a new burn card and turn / river card exposed. If the burn card is exposed it must be shown to all players at the table but will remain the burn card and the remaining cards dealt. If action is taken on an incorrectly exposed card that action will be rescinded and the appropriate correction made.
Muck and Burn cards - The burn cards and muck pile must be kept separate until the hand is completed. If at any time a player's cards (face down only) touch the muck pile, the cards are dead and must remain in the muck and the player loses all action on that hand. No player is allowed to turn over any cards in the muck pile. After completion of the hand, the current dealer will collect all cards and pass the deal and button.
Chips - Only the dealer is allowed to touch the chips in the pot. You must make change from your neighbor first. If change can not be made, you should state your action (Check, Call, Raise) then put down your chip(s). The dealer will pull your change from the pot and give it to you after the action is complete. Chips taken from the table by any player leaving the tournament will be removed from play.
No splashing the pot - You are to place your chips calmly in front of you. After all action in a round is complete, the dealer will state "the pot is right" and then rake all the bets into a pile.
No string bets (One motion) - A player must state their intentions (Call, Check, Raise) before placing chips in front of them. If you do not state raise, any single chip placed in front of you will be an assumed call and the dealer will return your change. Unless a raise has been declared, placing multiple chips into the pot that add to less than double the bet one is facing, will be deemed a call if removal of any one chip leaves less than the bet the player could have called. You must place all chips required to satisfy your intentions in one motion. You may not go back into your bank multiple times.
All in - When a player is all-in and all betting action is complete, all hands in play will be turned face up. If a player's all-in does not complete a raise, remaining players may call the all-in. Any additional raises must complete or exceed the raise. A player can never win more than they have in the pot. If a player lacks sufficient chips for a blind or a forced bet, the player is entitled to get action on whatever amount of chips the player has.
Showdown - At showdown both cards from the winning hand must be displayed.
Card verification - Any player that was dealt in may request to see any hand that has been called.
Cards speak for themselves - Players are responsible for holding onto their cards until the winner is declared. Although verbal declarations of hand ranks are not binding, intentionally miscalling your hand with the intent to cause a player to discard a winning hand may result in a penalty, including possible forfeiture of the pot.
Protect your hand - A player is responsible for protecting their cards at all times. All cards must remain above the table top, and not past the edge of the table, as well as remain visible during play. If a dealer kills an unprotected hand, the player will have no redress and will not be able to get their chips back. An exception would be if a player raised and their raise had not yet been called. They would be entitled to receive their raise back.
Dead hand - A hand is declared dead if: (1) a player folds or announces they are folding when facing a bet or raise; (2) throws their hand away in a forward motion causing another player to act behind them; (3) their cards touch the muck pile (face down only); (4) or, if cards are thrown into or at another players unprotected hand (face up or down). In this situation both hands are dead. Once a hand is dead and/or in the muck pile it can not be retrieved or made live again, with the exception of an instance in which one player intentionally mucks his cards onto another player's cards. In that instance, circumstances may allow the Tournament Director to recover cards in the best interest of the game.
Visible Chips - All chips must remain visible and on the table at all times (including during breaks), unless you are moving to a new table. A player's highest chip denomination must be in front and visible to all players at all times.
Multiple players eliminated - If two (or more) players are eliminated on the same hand, the player who started the hand with the most chips will be awarded the higher finishing position. If both eliminated players started the hand with equal chips, they would tie for the higher finishing position.
One player per hand - You may not ask advice as to how to act during your action period. If you show your cards to a player at the table, you must show all players. (Show one-Show all)
Exposing card during play - A player who exposes his cards with action pending may incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. The penalty will begin at the end of the hand.
Table Consolidation - As players are eliminated, each table will play down to no less than four players. Tables will be consolidated at Tournament Director's discretion.
Play never stops - Play will continue except during break time. If you are seated at a table that has empty seats, you must notify the TD and continue playing until other players are seated or you are moved. A table will play to no less than four players.
Player Behavior - Players are expected to behave in a civil manner toward all other players, the Tournament Director, and all venue staff. Violations may result in penalty or disqualification.
- Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Discussing discarded cards or possible hands are not allowed during an active hand.
- Players may not look through mucked cards or keep them in front of them.
- One player to a hand rule will be enforced.
- A player who shows his cards to anyone must show all players at the table.
- No smoking at the table. Smoking must be away from the table.
- No cash on the table at any time for any reason.
- Being too intoxicated to play will result in disqualification and expulsion from the game.
- No rude or obnoxious behavior, including language, toward any person at the venue.
- Violence of any type will result in instant expulsion from the game.
- Deliberately slamming or splashing chips, or throwing cards at anyone will result in disqualification from the game.

How to play Texas Hold'em (basics) - (Back to Top)

So you're new to Texas Hold'em poker? Not a problem. Texas Holdem poker is by far the best game for a beginner to learn, Texas Hold'em can be learned in a few minutes by anyone, and you can be playing fairly well with a few hours practice. In order to learn the game, however, you must play and you must play fairly often.

A Texas Hold'em poker game goes as follows:

The Push Poker games start with two players to the left of the dealer placing out a predetermined amount of chips so there is an initial amount to get things started. This is called posting the blinds. The dealer is determined by drawing the highest card, and then shuffles up a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
Each player is dealt two cards face down. These are called your hole or pocket cards.
Then there is a round of betting starting with the guy or gal to the left of the two who posted the blinds. This round is usually referred to by the term pre-flop betting.
The amount a player can bet is not limited, they could put all there chips in at any time in the no limit game that Push Poker plays. (Check out our page on blind structures) like most games of poker, players can call, raise, or fold.
After the betting round ends, the dealer discards the top card off the deck. This is called a burn card. This is done to prevent cheating. The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the flop. These are communal cards that anyone can use in combination with their two pocket cards to form a poker hand.
There is another round of betting starting with the player to the left of the dealer. After the betting concludes, the dealer burns another card and flips one more onto the table. This is called the turn card or fourth street. Players can use this sixth card now to form a five card poker hand.
The player to the left of the dealer begins another round of betting starting with the player to the left of the dealer. Finally, the dealer burns a card and places a final card face up on the table. This is called the river card or fifth street. Players can now use any of the five cards on the table and/or the two cards in their pocket to form a five card poker hand.
There is one final round of betting starting with the player to the left of the dealer. After that, all of the players remaining in the game begin to reveal their hands. This begins with the player to the left of the last player to call. It's called the showdown. Players use a combination of their pocket cards and the community cards to form a poker hand. The player who shows the best hand wins! There are cases where players with equal hands share the winnings this is a split pot and the winning are divided among the winners.

Once you understand this basic structure of the game, you can play texas hold'em. Texas Hold'em is an easy game to learn, just very difficult to master. The "mastering" part is the costly part, especially in the traditional setting of a casino poker room. Thankfully, you can practice all you want for free attending Push Poker league events and possibly pocket some extra cash too.

The only way to learn the game is to play. So come out to the different places you can play PPL no limit texas holdem games across Central Indiana tonight. Push Poker League Event Calendar

Texas Hold'em poker hand ranks:

In texas hold'em poker, players compare five card hands against each other to determine who wins. A player with a flush has a better hand than a player with a straight, for example. The following list is from best to worst, so any hand on the list beats any hand below it and loses to any hand above it.

Royal Flush - An Ace-High straight of one suit.

Straight Flush - A straight of entirely one suit.

Four-of-a-Kind (Quads) - Four cards of the same rank.

Full House (Full Boat, Boat) - Three-of-a-kind and a pair. The example below would be called "Queens over Aces" or "Queens full of Aces".

Flush - Five cards of the same suit. The highest card determines the winning flush.

Straight (Run) - Five cards of sequential rank. Note that in holdem, Aces can be high or low.

An example of a straight where the Ace is low: (for Karen)

Three-of-a-Kind (Trips, Set) - Three cards of the same rank.

Two Pair - Two cards of the same rank and another two cards of the same rank. The example below would be called "Jacks and Twos".

One Pair - Two cards of the same rank.

High Card - When you don't have any of the above, your highest card determines your hand. The example below would be "King High" or "High card King".