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Hand Ranks – Learn
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· Glossary
– A list of all the different Poker terms
Registering
for a Poker Tournament is easy.
Just follow these steps:
Overview:
A poker tournament is an event
in which poker players compete
for all or part of a prize pool.
Each player, through registration,
pays an initial buy-in for a set
number of tournament chips. These
chips are nonnegotiable, having
no cash value. The game’s
stakes will usually increase with
time to hasten the tournament’s
end. The tournament contestants
play poker until all but one or
a few are eliminated. The top
finishers will be awarded cash
and / or prizes according to the
prize pool payout structure. By
participating in a tournament
you agree to abide by the following
rules, which in most cases will
be carried out automatically by
the gaming server.
1.
Registration
Currently, a player may register
for 1 or more tournaments. The
buy-in or entry fee is posted
for each tournament. When a player
registers for a tournament, funds
or tournament points are automatically
debited from his account. A player
may unregister for a tournament
until such time as he is seated,
and receive full credit for his
buy-in. A player who is registered
and does not connect in time to
play in a tournament will be automatically
unregistered and receive a full
credit for his buy-in.
For any tournament which allows
registration with both cash or
tournament points, we will convert
buy-ins made with tournament points
into the cash equivalent for purposes
of the prize pool distribution.
To ensure equal accessibility
for all players, registration
for "Free" or "low
buy-in promotional tournaments"
will be restricted to 60 minutes
before the start of the tournament.
The number of chips received for
the buy-in is dependent on the
specific tournament. Please read
the Tournament Details found by
clicking on "TNT Info",
"Details" in the lobby,
before the start of the tournament.
2.
Seating
At a specified time before the
start of the tournament (typically
between 1 and 10 minutes) the
computer will randomly assign
seats to all players. If, for
example, there are 97 players
with a maximum of 10 players per
table, the computer will create
10 tables; 7 tables of 10 and
3 tables of 9 for a total of 97.
Additional phantom tables may
also be created to allow players
to register after the initial
random assignment of seats. The
number of players at each table
at the start of the tournament
might only differ by 1 between
tables. The difference in players
will never be greater than 1.
3.
Call To Seats
Immediately after the random seating
generation, the computer will
call all players to their seats.
Once a player agrees to be taken
to his seat he is officially part
of the tournament and cannot unregister
for a refund. A player may also
claim his seat in the "Post
& Fold" mode. See number
6 below for details.
If new players register during
the "Call To Seats",
or registered players decide not
to play, the computer may rearrange
players and tables just before
the tournament starts to achieve
the optimum seating as described
in number 2 above.
4.
Start Time
The start time of each tournament
is listed in the main lobby. The
start times you see on the screen
should correspond to your local
time. If there is a discrepancy
between the start time and your
local time please see the "Support"
section on how to synchronize
these times. Tournaments at iPoker.net
will always start on time unless,
of course, there are technical
difficulties with our gaming server.
Players must ensure that they
are at their seats by the start
time in order to play all tournament
hands.
5.
The First Hand
The Dealer’s Button will
always start in the seat just
to the left of the dealer. (Position
#1 in a 10 player table). Blinds,
if required, will be posted by
players to the left of the Dealer’s
Button.
6.
Post & Fold Mode
The "Post & Fold"
mode indicates that a player is
missing and can no longer make
decisions such as check, bet,
call, fold, or raise for the current
hand being played. Cards will
be dealt to missing players, and
blinds will be automatically posted
and forfeited for as long as the
player is away. He may be moved
to another table just like any
other tournament player, and he
may even finish in the prize money
if his chips last that long. When
a player does arrive, he need
only click the "I’m
Here" button at his table
to indicate to the dealer that
he is here and ready to play his
cards.
Currently, any player in "Post
& Fold" mode and not connected
to the iPoker.net web site, will
have 1 hour to return to play.
After 1 hour (if not eliminated),
he will remain in "Post & Fold,
but will not be able to rejoin
the game. Players connected to
the iPoker.net web site however,
are not subject to this 1 hour
restriction, and have unlimited
time to rejoin the game.
A player will be put into "Post
& Fold" mode under the
following conditions:
- Player
chooses "Post & Fold"
mode when being called to
his seat
- Player
selects "Post & Fold"
mode while at a table
- Player
chooses to "Leave Table"
- Player
takes too much time to make
a decision and runs out of
time
- Player
loses connection with the
server
7.
I'm Here Button
To
speed up tournament play, when
the server detects any of the
above 5 "Post & Fold"
conditions it will display the
"I’m Here" button.
The player will continue to get
cards, post blinds and antes if
required; however, he will have
his hand folded automatically
each time it becomes his turn
to act. All other tournament players
at the table will know too that
a player is absent because of
a caption under the player’s
name reading "Post &
Fold".
When a player returns to his computer,
he may click the "I’m
Here" button and return to
normal tournament play.
8.
Missing Blinds or Antes
A player may not miss a blind
or ante. If the player is not
present at the table he will be
dealt cards, and any blinds will
be posted and antes contributed
to the pot. The player’s
hand will be automatically folded
if that player has not returned
before it is his turn to act,
and has not clicked the "I’m
Here" button.
9.
Movement of Players
The movement rules here apply
to "standard" tournaments
and not "shootouts"
which will be introduced in a
later stage. For the explanation
here we are assuming a game with
a maximum of 10 seats at a table.
- If
all tables have 9 or 10
players, no move is required
- If
a table has 8 or fewer players,
and there are 8 or more
seats available at all the
other tables, the table
of 8 will be broken up and
players moved to the open
seats at other tables.
- If
the number of players differs
by 2 or more between any
2 tables, a move of 1 player
is required from the table
with the higher number to
the one with the lower number.
Example: If "Table
A" has 10 players,
and "Table B"
has 8 players, 1 player
must move from "Table
A" to "Table B"
and both tables now have
9 players.
- In
most single player moves,
the player chosen to move
will be the next player
to post the big blind (least
desired position for many
players). The destination
seat in most single player
moves will be the seat furthest
away from the big blind
position.
- In
all cases, after a move
there should not be a difference
of more than 1 player between
any 2 tables.
- A
player coming from a broken
table, or being forced to
move to a new table for
any reason will receive
a hand at the start of the
next deal (or 1 deal later),
and assume any obligation
or benefit of the new seating
assignment, including posting
the big blind. A player
cannot take a hand if he
is seated on the dealer’s
button or seated between
the dealer’s button
and the small blind.
10.
Round Information:
Betting
Limits, Blinds, Antes, Round Length,
& Breaks
Details on the above can be found
by highlighting the desired tournament
in the lobby, clicking on the
"TNT Info" button, and
then selecting the "Details"
tab. You may also verify the same
information, while playing in
a tournament, by clicking the
"TNT Info" button on
the table and selecting "Details".
If the tournament is still in
progress after the last posted
round information, the betting
limits, blinds, antes, round length,
and breaks will continue at the
last posted level.
11.
Round Synchronization
At the end of each round there
will be a pause for all remaining
tables to finish their current
hand. When this is complete, all
tables will simultaneously start
dealing cards for the new round.
12.
Raises
Typically there will be a limit
of 3 raises allowed per betting
round. However, iPoker.net has
the capability of decreasing or
increasing the number of raises
in any one tournament. Please
check "TNT Info", "Details",
for your specific tournament to
verify the number of raises allowed.
13.
All-In Bet or Raise
A player shall never be obliged
to forfeit his interest in a pot
because he has insufficient chips
or money in play to match or make
a bet. Such a player may put the
last of his chips into the pot,
either to make a bet or raise,
or to call a bet or raise, whereupon
he is declared all-in. However,
such a player may contest only
for that portion of the pot to
which he has contributed. Any
action after a player is all-in
shall go into a side pot that
the all-in player is not eligible
to win. If more than one player
goes all-in during the course
of a hand, there may be more than
one side pot. To conserve table
space, chip totals for side pots
are indicated with numbers instead
of chips.
A bet of less than a full bet
is currently considered a bet
in our limit tournaments. An all-in
bet of less than a full bet will
reopen the betting for any player
who has already acted and has
committed to the pot for all previous
bets.
14.
Timed Out All-Ins
When a player has:
a)
not yet folded and
b) has put money in the pot
and
c) still has chips remaining
and
d) does not respond to the dealer
to either bet, check, call,
or fold, and
e) does not respond in a certain
amount of time, (whether it
may be a connection problem,
computer problem, or personal
one) he should consider himself
to have earned a "Timed
Out All-In". A player will
typically have up to 25 seconds,
sometimes more, when players
at his table are waiting for
him to make a move. If he reconnects
and gets back to the table before
his time has elapsed, he can
avoid earning a "Timed
Out All-In". The player
may still be in contention for
the portion of the pot towards
which he has contributed money,
as long as he has not
gone over the number of allowed
"Timed Out All-Ins".
If the player is over
the allowable limit of "Timed
Out All-Ins" then his hand
will automatically be folded
and any chips he has contributed
to the pot forfeited.
In
tournaments you will be granted
a set number of "Timed
Out All Ins" per tournament,
which can be used up to a specific
tournament round number. You
can see the number of Timed
Out All-Ins you have remaining
in the upper right hand corner
of your table screen. In order
to uphold the integrity of the
tournament, no "Timed Out
All-Ins" will be allowed
in later rounds. Please check
Tournament Details for the specific
tournament you wish to enter
to view the number of "Timed
Out All-Ins" allowed, and
the cut off round for these
"Timed Out All-Ins".
Please
note that players must exercise
caution when they have used
up their "Timed Out All-Ins"
as they cannot be reset.
15.
Split Pots
When
players tie with a high hand,
or when a pot is divided between
the holder of a high hand and
that of a low hand, the pot is
divided equally. If there is an
extra .01 of a chip, the active
player in the small blind or closest
player clockwise to the small
blind will receive the extra .01
of a chip.
16.
Coloring Up / Chip Race Offs
Since players on the computer
do not have real chips but only
a total amount, there is no benefit
to replacing smaller denomination
chips with higher denomination
chips when the limits go up.
17.
Rebuys
A rebuy is a purchase of additional
chips made by a player during
the course of a tournament. Example
1: A player would purchase more
chips if he has lost all his chips
and would like to continue to
play in the tournament. Example
2: A player might purchase more
chips to increase his chip count,
so as to make it more difficult
for him to lose all his chips
and be out of the tournament.
The fee for a rebuy and the number
of chips received is listed in
the tournament details for each
specific tournament. A rebuy may
be purchased (up to the tournament
limit) by clicking on the "Rebuy
Button" on the dealer’s
chip tray. An option to rebuy
(if permitted by the rules) may
also come up automatically if
you run out of chips. We recommend
that you have sufficient funds
or tournament points for a rebuy
or rebuys before the start of
the tournament, as there may not
be enough time for you as a player
(e.g. if you lose all your tournament
chips) to increase your account
balance with a credit card and
then return to your table for
a rebuy.
A player may rebuy anytime as
long as he meets the conditions
set out in his specific tournament.
If he rebuys while playing in
a hand, the number of tournament
chips from the rebuy is not credited
to him until the start of the
next hand.
The "Rebuy Button" appears
on the tournament table screen
(over the dealer’s chip tray)
for any player as long as he is
still allowed to purchase a rebuy.
When no one is allowed to purchase
a rebuy, the rebuy button disappears
entirely from every player’s
screen.
Players should check "TNT
Info", "Details"
for your specific tournament to
know if and when rebuys apply
to your tournament.
18.
Hand Synchronization
This is usually important and
used in big tournaments with large
prize money. You should check
"TNT Info", "Details"
for each tournament you enter
to know whether this applies to
your tournament. If hand synchronization
is on, and the final number of
tables condition is met, the remaining
tables will start each deal of
the cards at the same time. Example:
There are 2 remaining tables,
Table A and Table B. Hand synchronization
is on for the final 2 tables.
Table A has just finished playing
their hand, while Table B is still
in the middle of their hand. Table
A must wait for Table B to finish
playing their hand before they
can start a new deal. Consequently,
every new deal is started at the
same time for both tables. While
Table A is waiting for Table B
to finish, a message will appear
on Table A’s screen in the
chat box area: "Hand synchronization
is on. We are waiting for Table
B to finish playing their hand
before we can continue."
Why is this important? Many players
realize that the faster a table
plays the quicker players will
be eliminated from a tournament.
If their table plays fast, they
will be at a disadvantage to the
other table. When synchronization
is on, each deal starts at the
same time, and no advantage is
given to the slower table.
19.
Final Table
(The following final table procedures
will not be available until sometime
in the near future)
A tournament table is considered
the final table when only enough
players remain in the tournament
to form one full table. At this
time there is usually a short
break while the computer randomly
assigns new seats to each of the
remaining players. When play at
the final table begins, the Dealer’s
Button will be in seat #1. Play
will resume at the previous limits
unless the time limit on the previous
round has elapsed, in which case
play will resume at the new round
limits.
20.
Ties
Currently, if 2 or more players
are eliminated at the same time,
they will finish in the same position
(possibly sharing prize money)
regardless of their starting chip
counts at the beginning of the
hand.
21.
Tournament Ends
Players are eliminated from the
tournament when they lose all
their chips, and can no longer
or wish not to rebuy. A tournament
ends when there is 1 remaining
player who has all the chips.
22.
Prize Money
Prize Money information is always
available during tournament play.
While at the table click on "TNT
Info", "Prize Money".
The Prize Money screen will show
the distribution of the prize
pool and the current prize structure
based on:
- A
percentage of the total number
of buy-ins and rebuys or
- A
fixed amount (independent
of the total number of buy-ins
and rebuys) or
- A
fixed amount minimum guarantee,
or a percentage of the total
number of buy-ins and rebuys,
whichever is greater
From
time to time, to promote a specific
tournament, iPoker.net will
add money to the prize pool
at no cost to the player.
23.
Collusion or Cheating
Collusion
with another player or any other
form of cheating is not acceptable
conduct in our poker tournaments.
The following actions are improper,
and grounds for warning or disqualification
from a tournament: a)
Collusion with another player
b) Chip dumping
c) Agreeing (in chat) to check
a hand out when a third player
is all-in.
d) Revealing the contents of
a live hand in a multi-handed
pot before the betting is complete.
e) Making statements or taking
action that could unfairly influence
the course of play, whether
or not the offender is involved
in the pot.
In the
above cases, management may stop
play to rule on a given situation,
but in all likelihood will decide
to review the play, cards, chat,
and any other pertinent information
after the completion of the tournament.
In such cases, disqualification
of the offending player(s) may
be possible, as well as a redistribution
of the tournament prize pool.
All affected players will be made
aware of management's decision
by email.
24.
Server Problems
In the unlikely event of a server
problem, a tournament in play
may be canceled. In this situation,
the full buy-in including the
administration fee will be refunded
to each player remaining in the
tournament. Additionally, each
of the remaining players will
share in the prize pool accumulated
from all the rebuys (if any) and
all the buy-ins from players that
were already eliminated from the
tournament. The new prize pool
payout will be based on each player’s
chip total compared to all other
remaining players. A player who
was eliminated from a tournament
before the server problem occurred
will not receive a refund in any
form. Management reserves the
right to modify the refund policy
for a specific tournament if there
is a more fair and appropriate
solution.
25.
Open Tables
Players may view up to 4 tables
at any given time. However, players
may only actively participate
in a maximum of 2 simultaneous
tournaments, or 1 tournament and
1 side game.
26.
Canceled Tournaments
The management will always reserve
the right to cancel or alter any
tournament at its discretion.
Management may also, at their
discretion, pause a tournament
(usually at the final table if
one or more players are experiencing
connectivity problems) in order
to maintain a fair tournament
environment.
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