Tournament Rules

1. Membership and eligibility
2. Tournament format and blind levels
3. Registration, seating and late arrivals
4. Table management
5. Dealer, button and blinds
6. Misdeals and dealing irregularities
7. Betting, raises and player actions
8. All-ins, showdown and finishing positions
9. Dead hands and card protection
10. Player conduct and game integrity
11. Tournament authority and penalties
12. Frequently Asked Questions

Membership

All players must be registered members of the National Pub Poker League.

The minimum age to participate is 18 years. Photo identification is required when registering with NPPL. Players who cannot provide identification will not be permitted to register or participate.

Photo identification may also be required when participating in NPPL cash finals.

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Game Format

NPPL reserves the right to change the blind schedule of any tournament due to venue requirements or time constraints.

Once a player has lost all their chips, they are eliminated from the tournament unless rebuys are permitted.

Starting stacks, additional chip incentives and tournament formats may vary between regions and events. Players should refer to the Host for details.

Blind Levels

New blind levels take effect at the beginning of the next hand after the new level is announced.

A new hand begins with the first shuffle of the deck.

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Table Assignment

The Host is responsible for assigning players to tables and seats.

Where the number of players exceeds the available seats, a waiting list may be implemented.

Late Registration

Players may register until the end of the first break. Their chips must be in play from the beginning of the second session.

Starting stacks may be placed at empty seats during registration to ensure blinds are paid for late arrivals.

Late players will receive the remaining chips from an available starting stack that has already been paying blinds.

If no such stack is available, the Host will deduct the blinds the player would have paid from their starting stack.

The Host may remove unused starting stacks during the registration period.

Absent Players

Players may be absent from the table for a maximum of 30 minutes. After this period, their remaining chips will be removed from play.

Blinds will continue to be posted from an absent player's stack until they return or their chips are removed from play.

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Moving Players Between Tables

When a player is moved to another table, they assume the rights and responsibilities of their new seat.

A player moving to the small blind or dealer position must wait until the button has passed before being dealt into a hand.

When an equal number of players are moved to a new table, the dealer position may be redrawn at the Host's discretion.

Breaking and Balancing Tables

The Host determines which tables will be balanced or broken and where players will be moved.

Players must move to their assigned seats and cannot choose their own table or seating position.

Final Table Seating

When the tournament reaches the final table, the dealer position will always be determined by a redraw.

Seating positions may also be reassigned by random draw at the Host's discretion.

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Selecting the Dealer

The initial dealer position will be determined by drawing for the highest card. Players drawing cards of equal rank will redraw until a dealer is determined.

The player to the right of the dealer must cut the deck. The deck may only be cut once, with at least six cards remaining above and below the cut.

The dealer must shuffle the deck at least three times before the cut.

Posting Blinds

Players are responsible for posting their blinds when due.

When a player is absent, the dealer will post the required blind from that player's stack.

Absent players will continue to receive cards. Their hand will be declared dead if they are not present when it is their turn to act.

Dead Button

NPPL tournaments use the dead button rule.

The big blind is posted by the player due to pay it. The small blind and dealer button are positioned accordingly, even when this results in the button or small blind being assigned to an empty seat.

Heads-Up Play

When only two players remain, the dealer button is also the small blind.

The small blind acts first before the flop and last on all subsequent betting rounds.

The dealer button may be adjusted when heads-up play begins to prevent a player from paying the big blind twice consecutively.

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Misdeals

A misdeal occurs when any of the following situations are identified before substantial action has taken place:

The first card dealt to either the small or big blind is exposed due to dealer error.

Two or more hole cards are accidentally exposed by the dealer.

Two or more boxed cards (cards found face up in the deck) are discovered before the flop. See rule 6.2 c.

A player receives an incorrect number of cards, unless the error can be corrected without affecting the deal.

The dealer button is incorrectly positioned.

The first card is dealt to the wrong position.

Cards are dealt to an empty seat or a player not entitled to receive a hand.

A player entitled to receive cards is incorrectly dealt out.

In the event of a misdeal, all cards must be retrieved, shuffled, cut and dealt again.

Substantial action occurs when three players have acted (check, fold, call or bet), or when two players have acted and at least one action involves a call or bet.

Dealing Irregularities

If a hole card is accidentally exposed by the dealer and the situation does not constitute a misdeal, the exposed card will be replaced at the end of the deal with the first burn card. The exposed card then becomes the first burn card.

If any card is accidentally or prematurely exposed due to dealer error, the card must be made known to all players. The appropriate dealing irregularity rules will apply to determine how play continues.

A boxed card found face up in the deck is removed from play and replaced by the next available card. If replacing it immediately would disrupt cards already dealt, the replacement will occur at the end of that dealing round.

A joker discovered in the deck is treated as an invalid card and does not automatically result in a misdeal. If discovered before the player acts, it is replaced. If the player acts without reporting the joker, their hand is dead.

A player discovered to have an incorrect number of hole cards after substantial action has occurred will have their hand declared dead.

Prematurely Exposed Community Cards

A community card exposed before the previous betting round is complete cannot be used. The betting round must be completed before the dealing error is corrected.

Flop Exposed Prematurely

• The original burn card remains on the table.
• The exposed flop cards are returned to the remaining deck.
• The deck is reshuffled and cut.
• Once pre-flop betting is complete, a new flop is dealt without another burn card.

Turn Exposed Prematurely

• The exposed turn card is placed aside.
• The original burn card remains on the table.
• Once flop betting is complete, the dealer burns another card and deals the card originally intended as the river in the turn position.
• After betting on the turn is complete, the prematurely exposed card is returned to the remaining deck.
• The deck is reshuffled and cut, and a new river card is dealt without another burn card.

River Exposed Prematurely

• The original burn card remains on the table.
• The exposed river card is returned to the remaining deck.
• The deck is reshuffled and cut.
• Once turn betting is complete, a new river card is dealt without another burn card.

Other Dealing Errors

Dealers must not expose, arrange or prepare community cards before the appropriate betting round is complete.

If the dealer burns an incorrect number of cards, the error must be corrected before betting begins on that round. If betting has already occurred, the Host will determine the appropriate correction.

A live card accidentally dropped below the table must be shown to all players and remains in play.

If the remaining deck becomes mixed or disturbed, the Host will determine how it should be reconstructed to allow the hand to continue fairly.

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Minimum Bets and All-Ins

The minimum opening bet on any betting round is the amount of the big blind, unless a player is all-in for a lesser amount.

If the big blind is all-in for less than the required amount, other players must still meet the full big blind amount to enter the pot, unless they are also all-in for less.

An all-in bet below the minimum opening bet does not change the normal minimum betting requirements for other players.

When a player bets all-in for less than the minimum amount, another player may call that amount or make a valid raise based on the applicable minimum betting rules.

Oversized Chip Betting

When facing a bet or blind, placing a single oversized chip into the pot without first declaring a raise is considered a call.

To raise using an oversized chip, the player must announce the raise before placing the chip into the pot.

If a player announces "raise" without specifying an amount, the raise will equal the value of the oversized chip.

When no bet is being faced, placing an oversized chip into the pot without a verbal declaration is considered a bet equal to the chip's full value.

Multiple Chip Betting

When facing a bet, placing multiple chips of the same denomination into the pot without declaring a raise is considered a call if removing one chip would leave less than the amount required to call.

Mixed-denomination chip bets are subject to the 50% raise rule outlined in rule 7.6 c.

Making a Bet or Raise

A player must make a bet or raise by:

Placing the full amount into the pot in one continuous motion.

Verbally declaring the full amount before placing chips into the pot.

Announcing "raise" before placing the calling amount into the pot, then completing the raise in one additional motion.

Players are encouraged to verbalise their actions clearly to avoid misunderstandings.

Chip Handling and the Pot

Only the acting dealer may handle chips already in the pot, unless another player has been authorised to assist.

Players needing change must exchange chips before betting or declare their action and receive change from the dealer.

Players must not take change directly from another player's bet.

The dealer is not required to count the pot. However, players may request that the chips be arranged neatly for visibility.

String Betting, Splashing the Pot and Minimum Raises

String betting is prohibited. Players must declare their intended raise or place the full amount into the pot in one continuous motion, unless they have announced "raise" beforehand.

A raise must be at least equal to the largest previous bet or raise increment during the current betting round.

A wager of 50% or more of the required minimum raise, but less than a full raise, must be completed to the minimum legal raise, subject to the multiple-chip betting rules.

An all-in wager that does not constitute a full raise does not reopen betting to players who have already acted.

There is no limit to the number of raises permitted in no-limit play.

Splashing the pot is prohibited. Chips must be placed where the amount can be clearly identified and counted. An unverifiable wager may need to be placed again at the Host's discretion.

Verbal Declarations

Verbal declarations made in turn are binding.

Chips placed into the pot during a player's turn must remain in the pot unless the Host determines otherwise.

Where a player has genuinely misunderstood the amount wagered, the Host may allow the player to reconsider their action, provided no other player has been disadvantaged.

Players are responsible for paying attention to the action and confirming the amount required before acting.

Acting Out of Turn

Players must act in turn. Deliberately or repeatedly acting out of turn may result in penalties.

An action or verbal declaration made out of turn remains binding unless the action changes before returning to that player.

A check, call or fold by another player does not constitute a change in action. A bet or raise does.

Folding out of turn is binding and may result in a penalty.

Conditional statements about future actions, such as "If you bet, I will raise", are discouraged and may result in a penalty at the Host's discretion.

Folding in Turn

A player who folds in turn when no bet is being faced has made a binding fold and may be penalised for soft play.

Calling for a Clock

Any player may request a clock once a reasonable amount of time has passed, but not before one minute.

Once the clock is called, the player will have a maximum of 30 seconds to make a decision.

If no action is taken, a final 10-second countdown will begin. If the player has not acted when the countdown ends and the hand is declared dead, their hand is folded.

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All-In Showdowns

When a player is all-in and all betting action is complete, all remaining players must turn their cards face up before any further community cards are revealed.

Showdown Order

At a non-all-in showdown, the player who made the last aggressive action during the final betting round must show their cards first.

If there was no bet during the final betting round, the first player to the left of the dealer button must show first, followed by the remaining players clockwise.

Show One, Show All

If a player shows their cards to another player, all players at the table are entitled to see those cards.

Where the information could influence ongoing betting decisions, the cards must be revealed to all players without delay. Otherwise, the cards will be shown after the hand is complete.

Playing the Board

A player must show both hole cards to claim a share of the pot when playing the community cards.

Requesting to See a Hand

Requests to see another player's hand may be granted at the Host's discretion where necessary to protect the integrity of the game, including suspected collusion or an invalid hand.

Split Pots

Suits do not determine the winner of a tied hand.

Where an odd chip remains after splitting a pot, it is awarded to the first eligible player to the left of the dealer button.

Final Standings

If two or more players are eliminated on the same hand, the player with the most chips at the beginning of the hand receives the higher finishing position.

If their starting chip counts are equal, the player with the higher-ranking hand finishes higher.

If the chip counts and hands are equal, finishing positions are determined by drawing a high card. Any divisible prizes will be shared.

Players must not make agreements to manipulate finishing positions, tournament points or prize allocations.

Disputed Pots

The right to dispute a hand ends when the next hand begins.

A new hand begins with the first shuffle of the deck.

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Dead Hands

A player's hand will be declared dead if:

They are not at the table when it is their turn to act.

They fold or verbally announce a fold.

They release their cards forward in a manner that causes another player to act.

They have an incorrect number of hole cards and substantial action has already occurred.

They act on a hand containing a joker.

They fail to act before the clock expires and their hand is declared dead.

They deliberately expose their cards during play.

Protecting Your Hand

Players are responsible for protecting their cards at all times.

If an unprotected hand is accidentally mucked or mixed with another player's cards, it may be declared dead.

Players are not entitled to recover bets already committed to the pot when their hand is declared dead. Any uncalled portion of a bet or raise will be returned.

A clearly identifiable hand placed into the muck may be retrieved and ruled live at the Host's discretion where doing so is in the best interests of the game. Particular consideration may be given where a player folded based on incorrect information.

A correctly tabled winning hand cannot be declared dead by the dealer.

Declaring Hand Values

Cards speak for themselves. Verbal declarations about the value of a hand are not binding.

Deliberately misrepresenting the value of a hand may result in a penalty.

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All players must comply with the following rules to ensure fairness, integrity and an enjoyable tournament environment. Breaches may result in penalties as outlined in Section 11.

Player Responsibilities

Only one player may participate in a hand. Players must make their own decisions without assistance from others.

Players must not play another player's chips or allow another person to play on their behalf.

Players must keep their cards visible and above table level at all times.

Players involved in a live hand must remain at the table while they have action pending.

Currency of any kind is strictly prohibited on poker tables during NPPL tournaments.

Fair Play and Collusion

The following actions are strictly prohibited:

Cheating or attempting to gain an unfair advantage.

Colluding or making agreements to influence the outcome of a hand or tournament.

Players must not agree with one another to check down a hand when another player is all-in.

Soft playing, including deliberately avoiding betting against a particular opponent.

Chip dumping or deliberately transferring chips to another player through betting or folding.

Influencing Play and Sharing Information

Players must not make statements or take actions that could unfairly influence play, whether or not they are involved in the hand.

This includes:

Revealing or discussing live or folded cards before the hand is complete.

Commenting on community cards, possible hands or another player's potential holdings during play.

Reading or identifying another player's hand before their cards have been placed face up at showdown.

Providing advice or assistance to another player during a hand.

Using a phone or other device to communicate information or receive assistance relating to a hand in progress.

Deliberately misrepresenting the contents of a hand to influence another player's actions.

Cards, Chips and Table Procedures

Chips must be neatly stacked, with higher denomination chips clearly visible to all players.

Players must not deliberately discard cards away from the muck pile.

Rabbit hunting, window shopping or looking through undealt, burned or mucked cards is prohibited.

Burn cards must remain visible and separate from the muck pile until the hand is complete.

Player Behaviour

Players must treat fellow players, Hosts, venue staff and spectators with respect.

The following behaviour is prohibited:

Abusive, offensive, threatening, intimidating or harassing behaviour.

Deliberately disrupting the tournament or interfering with other players.

Intentionally delaying play or repeatedly stalling the action.

Repeatedly disregarding instructions or rulings given by the Host.

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Fairness and the Spirit of the Game

The Host will consider fairness and the best interests of the game when making decisions.

Unusual circumstances may require a ruling that prioritises fairness over the strict application of a technical rule.

The Host's ruling is final.

Penalties

Depending on the circumstances and severity of a breach, the Host may issue a warning, a one-hand penalty, a penalty of one to four rounds, or disqualification.

Players serving a penalty must remain away from the table but will continue to be dealt into hands and have their blinds posted.

Repeated breaches may result in escalating penalties. Warnings may carry over between tournaments.

Serious misconduct, cheating, intimidation or actions that compromise the integrity of the tournament may result in immediate disqualification without prior warning.

A disqualified player's remaining chips will be removed from play.

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Why are NPPL rules different from other poker leagues?

Each poker league has its own set of house rules, which may differ from those used by other leagues or poker rooms. Players are responsible for familiarising themselves with and following the rules that apply to all NPPL tournaments.

Why is the small blind on the button during heads-up play?

During heads-up play, the dealer is also the small blind. This ensures the dealer acts first before the flop and last on subsequent betting rounds, maintaining the correct order of play.

This is a friendly game. Does it really matter if I break the rules?

Although NPPL tournaments are friendly, social games, rules are necessary to ensure fairness and consistency for all players.

As NPPL is an entry-level poker league, Hosts are available to explain the rules and assist new players. Warnings may be given for genuine mistakes, allowing players the opportunity to learn without being unfairly penalised.

However, deliberately or repeatedly breaking the rules affects the fairness and enjoyment of the game. Players who do so may receive penalties at the Host's discretion.

If a player exposes one or both of their cards while the hand is still being played, is their hand dead?

If a player unintentionally exposes their cards, their hand remains live. However, the exposed cards give the other players an advantage.

If a player deliberately exposes their cards during play, their hand will be declared dead, and further penalties may be imposed at the Host's discretion.

Why shouldn't players comment on community cards or possible hands during play?

Making comments about community cards, possible hands or what another player might be holding can unfairly influence the decisions of players still involved in the hand.

It is each player's responsibility to read the board and make their own decisions. Any statements or actions that could influence play are prohibited, regardless of whether the person making them is involved in the hand.

Is hand-for-hand play used near the final table?

Due to time constraints, hand-for-hand play will not be implemented at regular NPPL tournaments.

Why might Hosts make different rulings in similar situations?

No two hands are exactly the same, and Hosts must consider several factors when making a ruling. While situations may appear similar, the circumstances can differ and may result in different decisions.

The Host will make a fair and informed decision, taking all circumstances into account. Ultimately, the Host's ruling is final.

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