Welcome to the
Extreme Poker Tour Rules Information!

All Extreme Poker Tour tournaments are No-Limit Texas Hold’em!

Players must be 21 years of age and have a valid ID.

You must be present to add your name to the sign-up list.

Chips represent no monetary value.

Click here to view ETP's Poker Etiquette and Proper Behavior notice.

• Players all start with a minimum of $5,000 in chips, however, this may vary and is up to the discretion of EPT for various factors.
• Players that arrive late will be allowed to play provided they arrive before the beginning of the 4th level of blinds. Late arriving players will start with a chip total less the amount equal to three(3) times the big blind.
• Only one(1) player per hand.
• Once a player has lost all his/her chips, they are eliminated from the tournament and must leave the table and remain a minimum of three feet back. Players may not re-buy into any tournament.
• Players will draw high card for deal. The deal will be awarded to the highest card by suit as follows: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs.
• Cards must be shuffled a minimum of three (3) times following each hand. The person to the right of the dealer is required to cut the deck a minimum of one card.
• If a card is dealt face up by accident, the dealer continues to deal all of the hole cards as usual. The dealer then replaces the improperly dealt card with a new one after the dealer has dealt themselves their second hole card. The improperly dealt card then becomes the first burn card. If two(2) cards are dealt face up by accident, the hand will become a misdeal.
• The small blind is to be posted by the player to the immediate left of the dealer and the big blind is posted by the player two(2) seats to the left of the dealer.
• The minimum opening bet on any round must be equal to or greater than the big blind. Any subsequent raise must be equal to or greater than the previous bet or raise. The only exception to this rule is when a player is all in.
• If a player is all-in and cannot meet the full raise, players still to act may call the all in bet or can raise an amount equal to or greater than the previous legal bet. (For example, the blinds are $500 and $1,000 and the player to the left of the big blind goes all-in with $1,500, the next player may call the additional $500.00 or if he/she wants to raise, would have to bet a minimum of $2,000 or above)
• New players to a table must take a hand unless they are moved into the dealer or small blind position at which time they must wait for the deal to pass before dealt into hand.
• The dead button rule applies. That is, the big blind is always required and advances to the next person in turn. The small blind and dealer button adjust accordingly and either one, or both, may be dead.
  
• Blind will increase according to blind schedule, however, EPT reserves the right to alter the blind schedule at any time.
  
• Players are required to post their blinds. If a player is absent from the table for any reason, the dealer will post the blind on their behalf using chips from the players stack. If the player has not returned by the time they are required to act on the hand, their cards will be automatically folded.
  
• Your chips may be picked up and forfeited if you are away from the table for more than 15 minutes. Your absence may be extended provided the Tournament Director is notified in advance.
  
• Lower value chips will be colored-up at the conclusion of level four(4) and level seven(7). Any amounts not equal to the colored-up chip denomination will be rounded up.
• All hands will be turned face up whenever a player is all-in and betting action is complete.
• If multiple players are eliminated on the same hand, the player starting the hand with the larger amount of chips finishes in the higher place for prize money or points.
• Odd chips for any split pot will be broken down to the lowest denomination chip in play. Any odd chips that remain will be left in the middle and become a part of the next hand’s pot.
• The dealer is responsible for collecting the cards in the muck pile and passing them onto the next dealer. At no time may a player go through or turn over cards placed in muck pile.
  
• Players are responsible for protecting their hole cards. Card protectors are not required, but recommended. A player whose cards touch the muck face down are dead and will lose all action on that hand.
• No string bets or raises. The player must use a verbal statement giving the amount of the raise or put chips into the pot in a single motion.
• To win a pot showdown, a player must show both hole cards. Additionally, if a player wins a non-called pot, they are not required to show their cards, however, should they choose to show one card, they must show both cards. And finally, show one, show all applies at all times.
• Players must keep their cards in full view. This means above the table-level and not past the edge of the table. The cards should also not be covered by the hands in a manner to conceal them.
• Chips are to remain in full view at all time.
• At no time may any player touch the chips in the pot. If change is needed, state your intentions and get permission from the dealer.
• A player in a multi-handed pot may not show any cards during a deal. Heads-up, a player may not show any cards unless the event has only two remaining players, or is winner –take-all. Showing cards from a live hand during the action injures the rights of other players still competing in an event, who wish to see players eliminated.
• Cards speak for themselves. The dealer assists in reading hands, but players are responsible for holding onto their cards until the winner is declared.
  
• In cases where hands are concluded prior to the last card being dealt, the next card to be dealt will not be exposed under any circumstances. This prohibited practice is commonly referred to as “rabbit hunting”.
• No “splashing the pot”. Place all bets directly in front of you.
• Calling-for-clock procedures: Once a reasonable amount of time has passed, a player may call clock at which time the player will be given one(1) minute to act. If action has not been taken by the time the minute has expired, there will be a ten(10) second countdown.
• If a player has not acted on his/her hand by the time the countdown is over, their hand will be dead.
• When “heads-up”, the small blind is on the button and acts first. When beginning heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure no player takes the big blind twice.
• At the end of the last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive betting action in that betting round must show their cards first. If there was not a bet, the player to the left of the button shows first, and so on in a clockwise direction.
• Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. The Tournament Director reserves the right to warn or ask any player to leave the table and tournament at any time.
• Tournament Directors reserve the right to make rulings on situations that may occur which aren’t specifically covered in these rules.
• The English-only rule will be enforced at all Extreme Poker Tour events during the play of hands.
• Cash is not permitted on the table at any time.
• Extreme Poker Tour may disqualify any person for any prize based upon fraud, dishonesty or other misconduct.

Extreme Poker Tour's Poker Etiquette and Proper Behavior

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.  The following actions are improper, and grounds for warning, suspension or barring of violator:

• Collusion with another player or any form of cheating
• Verbally or physically threatening any patron or employee
• Using profanity or obscene language
• Creating a disturbance by arguing, shouting, or making excessive noise
• Throwing, bending, tearing or crumpling of cards
• Throwing cards off the table
• Throwing chips at player or off table
• Destroying or defacing property
• Deliberately acting out of turn
• Deliberately splashing the pot
• Agreeing to check a hand out when a third player is all-in
• 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 betting is complete
• Needless stalling the action of a game
• 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
• The proper time to draw attention to an error or irregularity is when it occurs or is first noticed