1. Floor People: The Event Tournament Director, Managers, and Supervisors are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over the technical rules. The Bluff Street Poker Tournament Director reserves the right to overrule any floor decision. 2. Bluff Street Poker reserves the right to cancel or alter any Event at its sole discretion in the best interest of the casino or its Participants. 3. Official Language: The English-only rule will be enforced at all Bluff Street Poker tables during Tournament play. Participants who violate this rule are subject to penalty in accordance with Rules 58 and 59. 4. Official Terminology of Tournament Poker: Official terms are simple, unmistakable, time-honored declarations like: bet, call, fold, check, all-in, pot (in pot-limit only), and complete. Regional terms may also meet this standard. The use of non-standard language is at Participant’s risk because it may result in a ruling other than what the Participant intended. It is the responsibility of Participants to make their intentions clear. See Rules 5 and 35. 5. Non-Standard and Unclear Betting: Participants use unofficial betting terms and gestures at their own risk. These may be interpreted to mean other than what the Participant intended. Also, whenever the size of a declared bet can reasonably have multiple meanings, the bet will be valued at the largest amount possible that does not exceed the value of the pot. Example: Blinds are 200-400 and the first player to act on the flop throws out a 5K chip and announces “Five”. If the amount of the pot at this time is less than 5,000, the bet will be 500. If the amount of the pot is 5K or more, the bet will be 5,000. 6. Conditional statements regarding future action are non-standard and strongly discouraged; they may be binding and/or subject to penalty at Tournament Director’s discretion in accordance with Rules 58 and 59. Example: “if – then” statements such as "If you bet, then I will raise.” 7. Count of Opponent’s Chip Stack: Participants are entitled to a reasonable estimation of opponents’ chip stacks. Participants may only request a more precise count if facing an all-in bet. The all-in Participant is not required to count; if he opts not to, the dealer or floor will count it. Accepted action applies. 8. Communication: All cell phones and other voice-enabled and “ringing” electronic devices must be silenced during Tournament play. Participants not involved in a hand (cards in muck) shall be permitted to text/email at the table, but shall not be permitted to text/email any other Participant at the table. If Bluff Street Poker, acting in its sole and absolute discretion, believes a Participant is communicating with another Participant at the table, both parties will be immediately disqualified from the Tournament.. All Participants desiring to talk on a cell phone must be at least one table length away from their assigned table during all said communication. Those individuals who talk on a cell phone not at least one table length away from their assigned table shall be subject to a penalty to be determined by Tournament Staff. Participants at Televised Final and Feature tables must leave the tournament area to text, email or talk on a cell phone. No cell phones or other electronic communication device can be placed on a poker table. 9. Approved Electronic Devices; Prohibited Filming and Streaming: a. Participants are allowed to use approved electronic devices, iPods, MP3 players and other music playing or noise-reduction headsets during Tournament play until the Participants have reached the final table in any Tournament; so long as the approved electronic devices are not used to collude or cheat in any way. Once Participants have reached the final table in any Tournament, all approved electronic devices must be removed. An announcement will be made to Participants once they have reached the final table to remove all such electronic devices. Failure to do so will results in penalties up to and including disqualification, in accordance with Rules 58 and 59. Participants are also not allowed to use approved electronic devices if their table has been deemed a Feature Table for production purposes. b. Participants without an official media credential are prohibited from using any electronic or other devices to record or capture video or audio footage at any time during Tournament play, whether or not the Participant is involved in a hand or not. Recording, capturing and/or live streaming video or audio footage of the Tournament, and any attempt to use such recorded, captured or streamed video or audio by a Participant, whether involved in a hand or not, will subject the Participant to penalties and potential disqualification, in the sole and absolute discretion of Bluff Street Poker, as described in Rules 58 and 59. c. Participants are prohibited from using betting apps, gaming charts, or any poker information tool while involved in a hand. 1. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Participants may utilize the Bravo Poker Live registration app, BluffStreetPoker.com, or Caesars Mobile Sports App while involved in a hand as use of these applications does not give an unfair advantage to the participant. 10. Random Correct Seating: Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned. A Participant who started the Tournament in the wrong seat with the correct chip stack amount will be moved to the correct seat and will take their current total chip stack with them. Participants who start the Tournament in the wrong seat in a shootout or heads-up Event will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Tournament staff reserves the right to relocate Participants from their assigned seat to accommodate Participants based on special needs, and to balance tables at the start of the Tournament. 11. Breaking Order: The breaking order for an Event will be posted at the close of registration for that Event. The table to which a Participant is moved will be specified by a predetermined procedure. Participants going from a broken table to fill in seats assume the rights and responsibilities of the position. They can get the big blind, the small blind or the button. The only place they cannot get a hand is between the small blind and the button. Bluff Street Poker reserves the right to alter the breaking order due to unusual circumstances. 12. Balancing Tables: In 8, 9, and 10-handed Events, play will halt on a table that has 3 or more Participants less than the table in that Event with the most Participants. Play will halt on other game formats (ex: 6-handed and turbos) at the Event Tournament Director’s discretion. Not halting play is not a cause for a misdeal, and Event Tournament Director’s may elect not to halt play at their discretion. In fields greater than 20 tables, Participants will be moved from the next numerical table at full capacity to the short table. Once a Tournament is below 20 tables, Participants will be moved from the next table in the breaking order that is at full capacity to the short table. Participants moving from a full table to a short table assume the same rights and responsibilities of the position as outlined in Rule 11. a. In flop Events when balancing tables, the Participant who will be the big blind next will be moved from the big blind to the worst position, including taking a single big blind. Worst position is never the small blind. b. In mixed game Events with any stud variant, Example: HORSE: when the game shifts from the Flop Game, Omaha, to the Seven Card Game, Razz) after the last Omaha hand, the button is moved to the position that it would be in if the next hand was to be Hold-Em; then frozen during the Seven Card games of Razz, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud 8 or Better. When Hold-Em resumes, the button for the first hand will be at the position where it was frozen. In Dealer’s Choice Events, a separate Dealer’s Choice button will be used to determine and track the starting position of the Participant making the game selection. a. When balancing tables in stud Events or mixed Events with any stud variant, a high card will be drawn at the table to determine the participant who will move. This process is followed regardless of whether the current game being played is a stud variant or not. c. When the Tournament reaches 12 tables or when manageable as deemed appropriate by the tournament staff, the remaining tables will be balanced within one Participant until the final table is reached. There will be a re-draw for seat assignments when play reaches three tables, again at two tables, and for the final table seat assignments for Events that have 100 or more Participants. For Events with less than 100 Participants but more than 50, there will be a re-draw at two tables and again for final table seat assignments. 13. Number of Participants at the Final Table (This rule does not apply to heads-up Events): a. 9 – Handed event – combine to Final Table with 10 participants remaining. b. 8 - Handed event – combine to Final Table with 9 participants remaining. c. 7 - Handed event – combine to Final Table with 7 participants remaining. d. 6 - Handed event – combine to Final Table with 7 participants remaining. 14. Declarations: Cards speak to determine the winner. Verbal declarations of hand value are not binding at showdown. However, deliberately miscalling a hand may be penalized. Any Participant, in the hand or not, should speak up if he or she thinks a mistake is being made in the reading of hands. However, at Bluff Street Poker’s discretion, any Participant deliberately miscalling his or her hand will be subject to penalty in accordance with Rules 58 and 59. 15. Face up for All-Ins: All cards will be turned face up once a Participant is all in and all betting action for the hand is complete. If a Participant accidentally folds/mucks their hand before cards are turned up, the Tournament Staff reserves the right to retrieve the folded/mucked cards if the cards are clearly identifiable. 16. Killing Winning Hand: A dealer cannot kill a winning hand that was tabled and was obviously the winning hand. A tabled hand is defined as a hand that a Participant places on the table such that the dealer and all Participants at the table can read. Participants are encouraged to assist in reading tabled hands if it appears that an error is about to be made. 17. Showdown: During a showdown where no Participants are all-in and if cards are not spontaneously tabled, the Floor People may enforce an order of show. The last aggressive Participant on the final betting round (final street where betting is possible) must table first. If there was no bet on the final betting round, then the Participant who would be first to act in a betting round must table first (i.e. first seat left of the button in flop games, high hand showing in stud, low hand showing in razz, etc.) Participants not still in possession of their cards at showdown, or who have mucked face down without tabling their cards; lose any rights or privileges they may have to ask to see any hand. The winning hand must be shown to claim the pot unless there are no other live hands at which point the pot can be awarded to the only live hand remaining. If a Participant refuses to show their hand and intentionally mucks his or her hand, the Participant in violation will receive a penalty, in accordance with Rules 58 and 59. 18. Awarding Odd Chips: Odd chips will be broken into the smallest denominations in play. In button games with 2 or more high or low hands, the odd chip goes to the first seat left of the button. In stud high, razz, and if there are 2 or more high or low hands in stud/8; the odd chip goes to the high card by suit in the best 5-card hand displayed for showdown. In H/L split games, the odd chip in the total pot goes to the high side. If identical hands win both high and low (ex: 2 wheels in Omaha/8) the pot will be split as evenly as possible. 19. Side Pots: Each side pot will be split separately. 20. Playing the Board at Showdown: When playing the board, a Participant must table all hole cards in order to get part of the pot. 21. Disputed Pots: The right to dispute a hand ends when a new hand begins. A hand begins with the first riffle of the deck. When an automatic shuffler is being used, a hand begins with the push of the green button to access the deck. 22. Chip Race and Scheduled Color Ups: a. At scheduled color-ups, odd chips will be raced off, starting in seat 1, with a maximum of one chip awarded to a Participant. Participants cannot be raced out of an Event: a Participant losing his remaining chip(s) in a race will get 1 chip of the lowest denomination still in play. b. Participants must have their chips fully visible and are encouraged to witness the chip race. c. If after the race, a Participant still has chips of a removed denomination, they will be exchanged for current denominations only at equal value. Chips of removed denominations that do not fully total at least the smallest denomination still in play will be removed without compensation. 23. Deck changes will be on the dealer push or limit changes or as prescribed by Bluff Street Poker. Participants may not ask for deck changes unless a card is damaged. 24. New Hand and New Limits: When time has elapsed in a round and a new level is announced, the new level applies to the next hand. A new hand begins with the first riffle of the deck. If an automatic shuffler is used, the hand begins when the green button is pushed. If a hand starts at the prior level by mistake, the hand will continue at the prior level if substantial action has occurred. The new level will then be played on the next hand. 25. Calling-for-clock: Once a reasonable amount of time has passed and a clock is called, Floor People may, in their sole discretion, give the Participant an additional 0 up to 25 seconds to make a decision. If action has not been taken when prompted by the Floor Person, there will be a 5-second countdown followed by a declaration or stopwatch alarm. If a Participant has not acted before the declaration or alarm sounds, the hand will be dead. Bluff Street Poker, in its sole and absolute discretion, reserves the right, at any time, to invoke a clock or speed up the amount of time allotted for a clock. Bluff Street Poker, in its sole and absolute discretion, reserves the right at any time to implement an Event-wide “player shot-clock” into any tournament at any point in that tournament’s structure. The player shot-clock is a device used to assign each Participant a pre-determined amount of time to make each decision during a hand. As a Participant makes a decision, the dealer will advance the device to the next Participant who will be given the same pre-determined amount of time for a decision. This process repeats until the conclusion of the hand. Any Participant intentionally stalling the progress of the game or unnecessarily calling the clock will incur a penalty in accordance with Rules 58 and 59. 26. Rabbit Hunting: No rabbit hunting is allowed. Rabbit hunting is revealing any cards “that would have come” if the hand had not ended. 27. At Your Seat: A Participant must be at his or her seat by the time all Participants have been dealt complete initial hands to have a live hand. Participants must be at their seats to call the clock as described in Rule 25. “At your seat” is defined as being within reach or touch of your chair. 28. Action Pending: Participants must remain at the table if they still have action pending on a live hand. If a Participant leaves the table before they have acted on their hand, a penalty, in accordance with Rules 58 and 59, will be enforced when the Participant in violation returns to the table. 29. Non-Standard Folds: Any time before the end of the last betting round of a hand, folding in turn when there’s been no bet to you (ex: facing a check or first to act post-flop) or folding out of turn are both binding folds and may be subject to penalty in accordance with Rule 58. Once action has begun, a hand may be considered abandoned and mucked if a Participant is not at his seat. 30. Button: At the start of an Event or redraw, the button will begin in the seat with the first chip stack to the dealer’s right. Tournament play will use a dead button. Dead Button is defined as a button that cannot be advanced due to elimination of a Participant or the seating of a new Participant into a position between the small blind and the button. At final tables, there will be a redraw for the button. 31. Dodging Blinds: A Participant who intentionally dodges his or her blind(s) when moving from an existing seat must forfeit both blinds and incur a penalty, in accordance with Rules 58 and 59. 32. Button in Heads-Up Play: In heads-up play, the small blind is on the button and acts first pre-flop and last on all other betting rounds. The last card is dealt to the button. When beginning heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure neither Participant has the big blind twice in a row. 33. Misdeals, Fouled Decks, and Substantial Action: a. Misdeals include but are not necessarily limited to: 1. 2 or more boxed cards on the initial deal. 2. First card dealt to the wrong seat. 3. Cards dealt to a seat not entitled to a hand. 4. A seat entitled to a hand is dealt out. 5. In stud, if both Participant’s first 2 down cards are exposed by dealer error. 6. In flop games, if either of the first 2 cards dealt off the deck or any other 2 down cards are exposed by dealer error. i. Participants may be dealt 2 consecutive cards on the button. 1. House standards apply for draw games (ex: lowball). b. If a misdeal is declared, the re-deal is an exact re-play: the button does not move, no new Participants are seated, and limits stay the same. Cards are dealt to Participants on penalty or who were not at their seats for the original deal, and their hands are killed after the re-deal. The original deal and re-deal count as one hand for a Participant on penalty, not two. c. If substantial action occurs, a misdeal cannot be declared and the hand must proceed. Substantial Action is either: 1. Any two actions in turn, where at least one of which puts chips in the pot (i.e. any 2 actions except 2 checks or 2 folds). 2. Any combination of three actions in turn (check, bet, raise, call, or fold). d. Fouled decks: 1. If a card with a different color back appears during a hand, all action is void and all chips in the pot are returned to the respective bettors. If a card with a different color back is discovered in the stub, but will not appear in any hand or on the board and substantial action has taken place, all action stands. 2. If two cards of the same rank and suit are found, all action is void, and all chips in the pot are returned to the participants who wagered them. 3. A participant who knows the deck is defective has an obligation to point this out. If such a participant instead tries to win a pot by taking aggressive action, the participant may lose the right to a refund, and the chips may be required to stay in the pot for the next deal. 34. Four-Card Flop: If the flop contains four (rather than three) cards, whether exposed or not, the dealer shall scramble the four cards face down. A Tournament official will be called to randomly select one card to be used as the next burn card and the remaining three cards will become the flop. 35. Methods of Betting: Verbal and Chips a. Bets are by verbal declaration and/or pushing out chips. If a player does both, whichever is first defines the bet. If simultaneous, a clear and reasonable verbal declaration takes precedence, otherwise the chips play. In unclear situations or where verbal and chips are contradictory, the TD will determine the bet based on the circumstances and Rule 56. b. Verbal declarations may be general (“call”, “raise”), a specific amount only (“one thousand”) or both (“raise, one thousand”). 1. Invalid Bet Declarations If a player faces no bet and: A) declares “call”, it is a check; B) declares “raise”, the player must make at least a minimum bet. A player declaring “check” when facing a bet may call or fold, but cannot raise. c. For all betting rules, declaring a specific amount only is the same as silently pushing out an equal amount. Ex: Declaring “two hundred” is the same as silently pushing out 200 in chips. d. Verbal Declarations / Action in Turn: Verbal declarations in turn regarding wagers are binding. Participants must act in turn at all times. Action out of turn will be binding if the action to that Participant has not changed. A check, call or fold is not considered action changing. If a Participant acts out of turn and the action changes, the person who acted out of turn may change their action by calling, raising or folding and may have their chips returned. Participants may not intentionally act out of turn to influence play before them and may incur a penalty in accordance with Rules 58 and 59. A Participant skipped by out of turn action must defend his right to act. If the skipped Participant has not spoken up by the time substantial action occurs to his left, the out of turn action is binding. The Floor Person will be called to render a decision on how to treat the skipped hand. e. Incorrect Bets, Under-bets & Under-raises 1. In limit and no-limit, opening or raising less than the minimum legal amount is corrected anywhere on the current street (if on the river any time before showdown starts). Ex: NLHE 100-200, post-flop A opens for 600 and B raises to 1000 (a 200 underraise). C and D call, E folds then the error is noticed. Increase the bet to 1200 total for all bettors any time before the turn is dealt. After the turn the error stands. For under-calls, see Rule 38.f.2. 2. In pot limit, if a player under-bets the pot based on an inaccurate count, if the pot count is too high (an illegal bet), it will be corrected for all players anywhere on the current street; if too low, corrected until substantial action occurs after the bet. 36. All chips put into the pot in turn stay in the pot. If a Participant has raised and his or her hand is killed before the raise is called, the Participant may be entitled to the raise back, but will forfeit the amount of the call. Any chips put into the pot out of turn are governed by Rule 35. 37. When facing a bet, unless raise is declared first, a multiple-chip bet is a call if every chip is needed to make the call; i.e. removal of just one of the smallest chips leaves less than the call amount. Example: preflop, 200-400 blinds: A raises to 1200 total (an 800 raise), B puts out two 1000 chips without declaring raise. This is just a call because removing one 1000 chip leaves less than the amount to call (1200). If the single removal of just one of the smallest chips leaves the call amount or more, the bet is governed by the 50% standard in Rule 40. 38. It is the Participant’s responsibility to make his/her intentions clear. Standard and acceptable forms of calling include: a. Verbally declaring “call”. b. Pushing out chips equal to a call. c. Silently pushing out an oversized chip. d. Silently pushing out multiple chips equal to a call under Rule 37. e. Silently betting a chip amount that is tiny relative to the bet faced is non-standard, strongly discouraged, subject to penalty, and will be interpreted at the Event Tournament Director’s discretion. This may include being ruled a full call. (i.e. NLHE blinds 2k-4k. Participant A bets 50k, Participant B then silently puts out a single 1k chip) f. Binding Declarations / Undercalls in Turn 1. General verbal declarations in turn (such as “call” or raise) commit a player to the full current action. 2. A player undercalls by declaring or pushing out less than the call amount without first declaring “call”. An undercall is a mandatory full call if made in turn facing 1) any bet heads-up or 2) the opening bet on any round multi-way. In other situations, TD’s discretion applies. The opening bet is the first chip bet of each betting round (not a check). In blind games the posted BB is the pre-flop opener. All-in buttons reduce undercall frequency. This rule governs when players must make a full call and when, at TDs discretion they may forfeit the amount of the intended undercall and fold. For underbets and underraises, see Rule 52. 3. If two or more undercalls occur in sequence, play backs up to the first undercaller who must correct his or her bet per Rule 51-B. The TD will determine how to treat hands of the remaining bettors based on the circumstances. 39. As in Rule 38, it is the Participant’s responsibility to make his/her intentions clear. Standard and acceptable forms of raising include: a. Placing the full amount in the pot in one continuous motion without going back toward the Participant’s stack. b. Verbally declaring the full amount prior to the initial placement of chips into the pot. 40. If a Participant puts in a raise of 50% or more of the previous bet but less than the minimum raise, he or she will be required to make a full raise. The raise will be exactly the minimum raise allowed. If a Participant puts in a raise of less than 50% of the previous be, he or she will be forced to call instead. 41. In no-limit and pot-limit, all raises must be equal to or greater than the size of the previous bet or raise on that betting round. An all-in wager of less than a full raise does not reopen the betting to a Participant who has already acted. a. Exception – two or more consecutive all-in wagers that exceed the minimum allowable bet or raise. By way of example, Participant A - bets 500, Participant B - raises to 1,000, Participant C - calls 1,000, Participant D - moves all-in for 1,300, Participant E - moves all-in for 1,700. If Participant A calls or folds, then Participants B & C will have an option to raise. The minimum allowable raise will be equal to the last complete raise. In this example, the last complete raise was 500; therefore, Participants B or C would be allowed to call 1,700 and raise 500 for a total wager of 2,200. Also, Participants B or C could raise more than 500. (The half-the-size rule for reopening the betting is for limit poker only.) 42. Oversized Chip Betting: Putting a single oversized chip into the pot will be considered a call if the Participant doesn’t announce a raise. To make a raise with a single oversized chip, a verbal declaration must be made before the chip hits the table surface. If a Participant says "Raise" as an oversized chip is placed into the pot (with the word Raise being announced prior to the chip landing on the table surface), but doesn’t state the amount, the raise will be the maximum allowable up to the denomination of that chip. After the flop, an initial bet of a single oversized chip without comment will signify a bet equal to the size of the chip. 43. Prior Bet Chips Not Pulled In: If a player with prior-bet chips not yet pulled in faces a raise and bets silently, the bet is ruled as follows: a. If prior-bet chips don’t cover the call: 1. if the prior chips are not disturbed: i. merely dropping a new overchip onto the prior chip(s) is a call. ii. dropping multiple new chips is a call only if all new chips are needed to call. 2. If all prior chips are pulled back: an overchip is a call; multiple chips constitute a multi-chip bet. 3. If some but not all prior chips are pulled back, adding any new chip(s) is a multi-chip bet (see Rule 37). b. If all prior-bet chips cover the call: 1. Adding any new chip(s) is a multi-chip bet (see Rule 37). 2. If all prior chips are pulled back, an overchip is a bet of the full chip value c. In any situation above, the gesture of combining new and prior-bet chips and pushing or tossing them forward is a multi-chip bet. d. Example scenario: The level is 25-50, the BB posts two 25’s. The button raises to 600 total (550 more to the BB) 1. Prior chips are not disturbed and do not cover the call. i. Merely dropping an overchip is a call (drop a 1k chip onto the two 25’s). ii. Adding multiple new chips is a call under Rule 37 if all new chips are needed to call 1. Drop two 500’s onto the two 25’s 2. Drop a 100 and 500 chip onto the two 25’s. iii. Adding multiple new chips is a Rule 37 multi-chip bet if one of the new chips is not needed to call (drop a 1k and 500 chip onto the two 25’s is a total bet of 1550). Per Rule 37, a silent multi-chip bet is a raise if it hits the 50% raise threshold. 2. If prior chips do not cover the call and are disturbed: i. Removing all prior chips & adding an overchip is a call (pull back the two 25’s, add a 1k chip). ii. Removing all prior chips and adding new multiple chips is governed by Rule 37 (pull back both 25’s, add two or more new chips). iii. Partial removal of prior chips (pull back one 25, leave the other 25 out): adding any new chip(s), is governed by Rule 37. e. Example scenario: The level is 50-100, BB posts one 1k chip. Pre-flop raise to 700 (600 more to BB). 1. If prior chip(s) cover the call amount, adding any new chip(s) is governed by Rule 37. The 1k prior chip covers the raise, thus adding any new chip(s) is a Rule 50 bet of all chips. 2. The gesture of combining prior-bet and new chips and pushing them forward is a bet of all chips under Rule 37. i.e. participant mixes two new 500’s with the two prior-bet 25’s and pushes or tosses them all forward this is a total bet of 1050. 44. Over-Betting Expecting Change. Betting action should not be used to obtain change. Example: The opening bet is 325 to A and he silently puts out 525 (one 500 and one 25), expecting 200 change. This is a raise to 650 under rule 37. Putting out more than the intended bet can confuse everyone at the table. All chips pushed out silently are at risk of being counted as part of the bet. 45. Number of Raises: a. There is no cap on the number of raises in no-limit and pot-limit games. b. In limit Events there will be a maximum of one bet and four raises, even if there are only two Participants remaining in the hand. Once the Tournament becomes heads-up (that is, only two Participants remain in the entire Tournament), this rule does not apply. There may be unlimited raises at the heads-up level. 46. Pot Size and Pot Limit Bets: Participants are entitled to be informed of the pot size in pot-limit games only. Dealers will not count the pot in limit and no-limit games. If requested, dealers may spread the pot so that a Participant can count it. 47. Declaring, “I bet the pot” is not a valid bet in limit or no-limit poker but it does bind a Participant to make at least the minimum bet. If the Participant is facing a bet and makes this declaration, the Participant will be required to make at least a minimum raise. 48. String Bets and Raises: Dealers will be responsible for calling string bets/raises. All Participants at the table are encouraged to assist in calling a string bet/raise if a dealer fails to identify it. A floor person must verify string bets/raises called by a Participant. A string bet/raise is defined as attempting a bet or raise in multiple movements that include a return to a Participant’s stack without a prior verbal declaration of intent or visual deception intended to induce action out of turn before a Participant’s action is complete. 49. Accepted Action: Poker is a game of alert, continuous observation. It is the caller’s responsibility to determine the correct amount of an opponent’s bet before calling, regardless of what is stated by the dealer or Participants. If a caller requests a count but receives incorrect information from the dealer or Participants, then places that amount in the pot, the caller is assumed to accept the full correct action & is subject to the correct wager or all-in amount. 50. All-In with Chips Found Behind Later: If A bets all-in and a hidden chip is found behind after a Participant has called, the Event Tournament Director will determine if the chip behind is part of accepted action or not. If not part of the action, A will not be paid off for the chip(s) if he wins. If A loses he is not saved by the chip(s) and the Event Tournament Director may award the chip(s) to the winning caller. 51. Cards and Chip Stacks Kept Visible, Countable, and Manageable. Discretionary Color-Ups: Participants, dealers, and staff are entitled to a reasonable estimation of a participant’s chip count; thus chips should be kept in countable stacks. Clean stacks in multiples of 20 are recommended as a standard. Participants must keep their higher denomination chips visible and identifiable at all times. Floor People will control the number & denomination of chips in play and may color up at their discretion. Discretionary color ups are to be announced. Participants with live hands must keep their cards in plain view at all times. 52. Chips in Plain View while in Transit: All chips must be visible at all times. Participants may not hold or transport Tournament chips in any manner that takes them out of view or out of the Tournament area. A Participant who does so will forfeit the chips and face disqualification. The forfeited chips will be taken out of play. It is never acceptable to conceal chips in any manner, whether in pockets, under clothing or in closed hands, etc. Chips must remain visible to floor staff, dealers and other Participants at all times. a. Lost and Found Chips Lost and found chips for which ownership cannot be determined will be taken out of play and returned to tournament inventory. 53. Protect Your Hand: Participants must protect their own hands at all times. A protected hand is defined as a hand sitting on the table surface with a card cap (see Rule 57) placed on top of the hand. If a dealer or Participant kills or fouls an unprotected hand, the Participant will have no redress and will not be entitled to his or her chips back that were wagered in the hand. If the Participant initiated a bet or raise and hasn’t been called, the uncalled bet or raise will be returned to the Participant. Your hand is declared dead if: You fold or announce that you are folding when facing a bet or a raise. ■ You throw your hand away in a forward motion causing another Participant to act behind you even if not facing a bet. Discarding non-tabled cards face down does not automatically kill them; a Participant may still table the cards if they remain 100% identifiable. Cards are killed by the dealer when pushed into the muck. ■ In stud, when facing a bet, you pick your up-cards off the table, turn your up-cards facedown, or mix your up-cards and down-cards together. ■ The hand does not contain the proper number of cards for that particular game, except at stud a hand missing the final card may be ruled live, and at lowball and draw high a hand with too few cards before the draw is live. In button games, the button may receive his or her final card, even if substantial action has occurred, unless he or she acts on the hand prior to receiving the final card. In the event that he or she acts before receiving the final card, the hand is dead. ■ You act on a hand with a joker as a hole-card in a game not using a joker. A Participant who acts on a hand without looking at a card assumes the liability of finding an improper card. ■ You have the clock on you when facing a bet or raise and exceed the specified time limit. ■ Due to the unique game play in Open-Face Chinese, dead hands for that game type are described in the rules governing that game. 54. Cards thrown into the muck may be ruled dead. However, a hand that is clearly identifiable may be retrieved and ruled live at management’s discretion if doing so is in the best interest of the game. 55. An extra effort will be made to rule a hand retrievable if it was folded as a result of dealer error or incorrect information given to/by a Participant. 56. Cards thrown into another Participant’s hand are dead, whether they are face-up or facedown. A Participant throwing hole cards into the hole-cards of a blind may cause a re-deal. The offending Participant will receive a hand, but it will be dealt dead. 57. Foreign Objects: There will be no foreign objects on the table except for a maximum of one card cap (also known as a card protector). Card caps can be no larger than two (2) inches in diameter and no more than one-half (1/2) inch in depth. Participants may not place any food or beverages on the poker table with the exception of one (1) capped bottle of water. 58. Penalties: In its sole and absolute discretion, Bluff Street Poker may impose penalties ranging from a verbal warning, one missed hand away from the table up to disqualification and expulsion from the Bluff Street Poker Host Location. Penalties will be invoked in cases of soft- play, abuse or disruptive behavior, and cheating or collusion. A penalty will also be imposed if a Participant throws a card off the table, forcefully mucks their cards causing one or all cards to turn over, violates the one-participant-to-a-hand rule or engages in similar behavior. One-participant-to-a-hand means a Participant may not receive advice from anyone while in a hand and may not provide advice to any Participant while that Participant is in a hand. a. Tournament officials can assess a verbal warning, a missed hand, or one-round, two-round, three-round or four- round penalties and disqualification. b. A missed-hand penalty will be assessed as follows: The offender can miss one hand or one to four rounds of hands away from the table. The offender’s missed hand is counted as part of the round when a penalty is given. c. Participants who receive a missed-hand penalty must remain outside the designated Tournament areas for the length of their penalty. d. The Participant must notify the Tournament staff prior to returning to their seat. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties up to disqualification. e. Bluff Street Poker will log all penalties issued throughout the duration of the Bluff Street Poker under Participants Bravo account. f. It should be noted that penalties may not always be imposed in successive manner. Tournament staff in their sole discretion, for example, can disqualify a person for a first offense if action of Participant is deemed worthy. Or a Participant, for example, may forego a warning and be assessed a three round penalty. Participants should know any conduct deemed penalty-worthy could result in a wide range of discipline for a first offense. 59. Disqualification: A Participant who is disqualified for any reason, including for reasons set forth in Rule 60, shall have his or her chips removed from play and no refund will be provided to that disqualified Participant. Any Participant who forfeits play for health or other personal reasons after the start of a Tournament will have his or her chips blinded off accordingly. 60. In accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Centers for Disease Control, [Bluff Street Poker] reserves the right to remove any Participant from any Bluff Street Poker Event at any time prior to or during the Bluff Street Poker Event, in its sole and absolute discretion, for any health or safety related reasons, including but not limited to, if Participant is determined by [Bluff Street Poker] in its sole discretion, to have received a positive test result for COVID-19 or come into close proximity (within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes) of any person who has tested positive for COVID-19, or if Participant refuses to undergo any health and safety screening required by [Bluff Street Poker] to participate in a Bluff Street Poker Event. If Participant is removed from a Bluff Street Poker Event pursuant to this paragraph, and for no other reason, Participant shall not be entitled to any compensation or remuneration of any type other than what Participant had already been awarded prior to being removed from the Bluff Street Poker Event. However, for the avoidance of doubt, should Participant be disqualified for any additional reason or reasons that subject Participant to penalties pursuant to the Official Rules, those penalties shall apply. Further, in the situation where one or more Participants is disqualified pursuant to this Paragraph, [Bluff Street Poker] reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to determine whether to proceed with any Bluff Street Poker Event as scheduled or to postpone or reschedule a Bluff Street Poker Event, or any portion of a Bluff Street Poker Event, to a later date.” 61. Table Talk / Disclosure: Participants are obligated to protect the other Participants in the Tournament at all times. Therefore, whether in a hand or not, Participants may not: a. Disclose contents of live or folded hands. b. Advise or criticize play at any time. c. Read a hand that hasn't been tabled. d. Discuss strategy with an outside source while involved in a hand. e. The one-Participant-to-a-hand rule mentioned in Rule 58 will be enforced. Special Exceptions: 1. A Participant is allowed to mention the strength or content of his/her hand if no other Participant in the hand will have a decision to make. 2. In heads-up Events or when down to the last two Participants in a Tournament, Participants may speak freely regarding the contents of their hands. 3. The Floor Person reserves the right use his/her judgment to determine if one Participant intentionally helped another Participant. Participants who violate this rule are subject to penalty in accordance with Rules 58 and 59. 62. Exposing Cards and Proper Folding: A Participant exposing his or her cards with action pending will incur a penalty, but will not have a dead hand. The penalty will begin at the end of the hand. All Participants at the table are entitled to see the exposed card(s). When folding, cards should be pushed forward low to the table, not deliberately exposed or tossed high (“helicoptered”). 63. Ethical Play: Poker is an individual game. Soft play will result in penalties that may include forfeiture of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping and other forms of collusion will result in disqualification. 64. Etiquette Violations: Repeated etiquette violations will result in the imposition of penalties assessed by the Tournament Staff. Examples include, but are not limited to, unnecessarily touching other Participants’ cards or chips, body, or clothing, delay of the game, repeatedly acting out of turn, betting out of reach of the dealer, or excessive chatter. Excessive chatter includes, but is not limited to, talking or conversation that causes a disruption of Participants who are in a hand.