Poker Game
The poker game will be considered to be a "friendly" game. The cards laid on the table will determine the winning hand. Players are expected to play in good faith as this is primarily a social league.
All standard rules of No Limit Texas Hold 'Em poker will be applied unless it has been deemed by the league members, in the best interests of the league or a game, to do otherwise. Majority rule votes (50.1 % of league members) will apply.
Any changes outside of the standard rules will be agreed to prior to the start of a poker game. Agreements may be verbal in nature.
A copy of the standard rules can be found at
Seat allocation will be determined by the players. The dealer will be selected by a random draw.
Players will start each game with his/her designated number of chips based on the results of bowling (see: "How It Works - Bowling".
Each chip will have a value of one (1) unit unless the players determine otherwise. If a chip is determined to have a value other than one (1), all players will agree and acknowledge the value based on the chip colour (example: the players agree that the black chip will be worth two (2) units).
A blind system, without antes, will be used to start the pot for each hand. Blinds will increase with each concluding round of hands. A round of hands is considered to be the point where all players have had the opportunity to deal a hand. Both the big and small blinds will increase with the
completion of a round.
If all players agree prior to the start of a game, blind increases may occur after a unanimously agreed to number of rounds.
The following will be considered the schedule of blind increases:
Blinds - Small/Big
Round 1 - 1/2
Round 2 - 2/4
Round 3 - 3/6
Round 4 - 4/8
Round 5 - 5/10
* After five rounds, remaining players may verbally agree on small/big blind increases and frequency so long as the game is not unnecessarily prolonged.
Poker Points
All players at the table will be playing for points, which will be used to determine final standings for the last night of the season (Final Table Night), and a weekly prize for winning the game. Each point will represent one chip for the poker game at Final Table Night.
Players will accumulate points according to their order of elimination from each week's poker game.
For example, assuming a table of eight players, the weekly point allocation could be as follows:
Weekly Finish - Points
1st - 8 points (and weekly winner prize)
2nd - 7
3rd - 6
4th - 5
5th - 4
6th - 3
7th - 2
8th - 1 (and weekly first-out prize)
Actual point allocation will depend on the number of players participating on any given night.
If a player has been eliminated from the game before the blind allocation is 3/6, the player has the option of buying back into the game for $5. The money will go into the league pot and the player will receive 30 chips. The player must notify the other players of her/his intention to buy back into the game immediately at the point of elimination and must participate in the hand immediately following the elimination.
The player who has been eliminated (but buys back in) will not earn any additional points based on his/her new position finish in the game but may continue to earn points for other achievements. If a player buys back into the game and goes on to win the poker game, he/she is eligible to win the weekly prize and receive credit for the win (but not the poker points).
Each chip will have a value of one (1) unit unless the players determine otherwise. If a chip is determined to have a value other than one (1), all players will agree and acknowledge the value based on the chip colour (example: the players agree that the black chip will be worth two (2) units).
A blind system, without antes, will be used to start the pot for each hand. Blinds will increase with each concluding round of hands. A round of hands is considered to be the point where all players have had the opportunity to deal a hand. Both the big and small blinds will increase with the
completion of a round.
If all players agree prior to the start of a game, blind increases may occur after a unanimously agreed to number of rounds.
The following will be considered the schedule of blind increases:
Blinds - Small/Big
Round 1 - 1/2
Round 2 - 2/4
Round 3 - 3/6
Round 4 - 4/8
Round 5 - 5/10
* After five rounds, remaining players may verbally agree on small/big blind increases and frequency so long as the game is not unnecessarily prolonged.
Poker Points
All players at the table will be playing for points, which will be used to determine final standings for the last night of the season (Final Table Night), and a weekly prize for winning the game. Each point will represent one chip for the poker game at Final Table Night.
Players will accumulate points according to their order of elimination from each week's poker game.
For example, assuming a table of eight players, the weekly point allocation could be as follows:
Weekly Finish - Points
1st - 8 points (and weekly winner prize)
2nd - 7
3rd - 6
4th - 5
5th - 4
6th - 3
7th - 2
8th - 1 (and weekly first-out prize)
Actual point allocation will depend on the number of players participating on any given night.
If a player has been eliminated from the game before the blind allocation is 3/6, the player has the option of buying back into the game for $5. The money will go into the league pot and the player will receive 30 chips. The player must notify the other players of her/his intention to buy back into the game immediately at the point of elimination and must participate in the hand immediately following the elimination.
The player who has been eliminated (but buys back in) will not earn any additional points based on his/her new position finish in the game but may continue to earn points for other achievements. If a player buys back into the game and goes on to win the poker game, he/she is eligible to win the weekly prize and receive credit for the win (but not the poker points).
During the poker game, if any player is dealt 7-2 (any suit) in his/her hole cards, wins the hand, and shows his/her cards, the player will be awarded one bonus chip for every player who started the game.
Players may also earn points for other achievements including having the highest pins over average ("POA") game at bowling (see below) and/or earning "knock out" points during the poker game by eliminating a bounty (see below), defending a bounty (see below) and/or winning any post-poker card games (example: "31" - see below).
Players may also earn points for other achievements including having the highest pins over average ("POA") game at bowling (see below) and/or earning "knock out" points during the poker game by eliminating a bounty (see below), defending a bounty (see below) and/or winning any post-poker card games (example: "31" - see below).
"POA" - the player who has the best game over his/her average at bowling will receive one (1) additional poker point.
"Knock-out" point - players will earn one (1) point for eliminating another player from the poker game.
"31" - players have the option of playing an additional card game of "31" after the poker game has completed. The winner of the "31" game will receive one (1) additional poker point and a small prize.
"Bounty player" - before the poker game, one or more players will be selected at the "bounty". By default, this player will automatically be the winner (or winners) of the previous week's poker game.
Scenarios in which a "bounty" player is selected:
- one poker game and there is no poker winner from the previous week in attendance - bounty to be randomly selected by high card draw
- one poker game and there is one winner from the previous week in attendance - bounty is the previous week's winner
- one poker game and there are two or more winners from previous weeks - all previous winners are bounties
- this situation would happen when a previous week' winner missing one or more following weeks of play after his/her win
- two poker games and there is no poker winner from the previous week in attendance - bounty to be randomly selected by a high card draw at each table
- two poker games and there is one winner from the previous week in attendance - one bounty will be the previous week's winner for one table and the other table will randomly select a bounty by a high card draw
- two poker games and there are two winners from previous weeks in attendance - the two previous winners will be split between the two games; game selection to be determined by a high card draw between the two players
- two poker games are there are three or more winners from previous weeks in attendance - there will be at least one bounty at each table; game selection to be determined by a high card draw between the players
The person who eliminates a "bounty" from the game will receive one (1) additional poker point. If the bounty player has been eliminated within the first two rounds and buys back into the game, there will be no additional "bounty" points available (the "bounty" will have been claimed for the night). If the "bounty" is not eliminated and goes on to win the weekly poker game, that player shall receive an additional point (a "defend").
"Defend" - a "bounty" player who wins poker during the week s/he is designated at the "bounty" shall be awarded one (1) additional poker point.
The poker game winner for each night shall receive a $25 gift card of his/her choosing.
Final Table Night Qualification
In order for a player to qualify for the Final Table Night (the league championship), the player must have participated in the league for a minimum of 10 weeks during the season.
