Official BERN House Rules

1. All players must be registered members of the BERN Poker League.
   
   
2. Players must be at least 18 years of age. Some locations require players to be 21 years of age.
   
   
3. All players arriving prior to session start time start with an equal amount of chips and continue to play until one player remains and accumulates all the chips. Blinds are raised consistently throughout the tournament according to the blind structure.
   
   
4. Late arriving players can join a tournament until the fifteen minute break is over. If a player arrives before level three has started the player receives a stack of chips minus the ten and twenty chips (3300) and is to be placed at a table with an open seat. If a player arrives after level three has started, but before break has ended the player receives a stack of chips minus all ten and twenty chips and three one hundred chips (3000).
   
   
5. The lowest denomination of chip in play will be removed from the table when it is no longer needed in the blind structure (coloring up). All lower denomination chips that are of sufficient quantity for a new chip will be changed up directly. The remaining odd chips will be rounded up to the next chip denomination.
   
   
6. In BERN Poker League tournament events, the 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 preference of spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs will determine who starts with the button.
   
   
7. Players will rotate dealer responsibilities in a clockwise rotation.
   
   
8. Players are obligated to take their "blinds". (A blind is a fixes amount of money determined by the size of the game that is automatically put into the pot in hold'em tournaments prior to the hand being dealt in order to force action.)
   
   
9. The small blind is the player immediately to the left of the dealer button. The big blind is the player to the immediate left of the small blind. It is possible for a player to take two big blinds in a row, but only if a player is changing tables. For example, if he just had big blind at his table, which just broke down and then he was seated in the big blind at his new table.
   
   
10. If a player in the small blind is eliminated, the button moves to the empty position and the player immediately to the right of the button deals the hand for the missing player. The other players post blinds as usual. If the player in the big blind is eliminated, the small blind position is dead and only the big blind is posted. (See Fig. 1 of blind examples) This ensures that all players post the big blind every round.
    
    
11. New players are dealt in immediately unless they sit down in the small blind or button position. In these two cases, they must wait till 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.
    
    
12. If a player is reseated and at least 50% of the players are new to the table, then the players "high card" for the button immediately prior to resuming the session.
    
    
13. When two players remain, the player due to assume the big blind will do so, and the small blind will inherit the button. The small blind or button will act first prior to the flop and second after the flop
    
    
14. An absent player is always dealt a hand, and will be put up for blinds
    
    
15. If you are not present when it becomes your turn to act, your hand is mucked (folded). This includes situations in which a live blind is not present to act, since an absent player can not exercise the option to raise.
    
    
16. If a player is accidentally dealt a card face up (or a card is seen by someone else at the table), the dealer continues to deal the hole cards to all players. The dealer then replaces the seen card with a new card and the seen card becomes the first burn card.
    
    
17. The burn cards and the muck pile must be kept separate until the hand is completed.
    
    
18. The current dealer is the only player allowed to touch the muck pile. After completion of the hand, the current dealer will collect all cards and pass the deal and button.
    
    
19. If at any time a players cards touch the muck pile (discard pile) the cards are dead and must remain in the muck and the player loses all action on that hand.
    
    
20. If a player lacks sufficient chips for a blind or forced bet, the player is entitled to get action on whatever amount of money remains. In this situation a side pot could occur for players with remaining chips.
    
    
21. Whenever a player is all in and all betting action is complete, all hands in play will be turned face up.
    
    
22. When a player loses all their chips, they are eliminated from play and must leave the table.
    
    
23. 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.
    
    
24. Tournaments will continue until one player wins all the chips.
    
    
25. Players' chips must remain on the table at all times, unless you are reassigned to another table.
    
    
26. All cards must remain above the table top during play.
    
    
27. 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)
    
    
28. No splashing the pot. You are to place your chips calmly in front of you, and then push your chips to the center after the dealer has stated that the "pot is right".
    
    
29. No string bets. A player must state their intentions (call, check, raise) before placing chips in front of them. You must place all chips required to satisfy your intentions in one motion. You may not go back into your bank multiple times.
    
    
30. Only the dealer is allowed to touch the chips in the pot. You must make change from your neighbor first. If you can not do that between hands, then you should state your action (check, call, raise) then put down a chip. The dealer will pull your change from the pot and give it to you after the action is completed by all players. The dealer must state that the "pot is right". All players should then push their chips into the center of the table (pot).
    
    
31. No short bets. If you state "raise", your raise must be at least double the previous bet. Example, if the previous bet is 400, then your bet must be at least 800.
    
    
32. The dealer must shuffle the cards at least three times, and must cut the cards every hand. This is to expedite play.
    
    
33. Session play never stops, except during break time. If you are seated at a table that has empty seats, you must notify the session host and continue playing until other players are seated or you are moved. Even if you are down to two players.
    
    
34. Poker etiquette is expected from all players. Inappropriate behavior like throwing cards that go off the table may be punished with a penalty such as being dealt out for a length of time. A severe infraction such as abusive or disruptive behavior may be punished by eviction from the tournament.
    
    
35. Management retains the right to cancel any event, or alter it in any manner fair to the players.
    
    
36. All participants of a BERN Poker League sanctioned event are prohibited from placing any form of currency on a session table, as state law prohibits this. There will be no exceptions to this rule and violators will be asked to leave immediately.
    
    
37. Absolutely NO GAMBLING at any BERN Poker League tournament event. No side bets and no cash bets are allow at any time. Any member found violating this rule will be banned from the BERN Poker League.
    
    
38. The tournament host decision is final on all disputes.

Fig. 1