Kokomo Charity Poker

2013 House Rules

Name of the Game:  No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em

When time and interest permits, other “brands” of poker may be played after the Hold ‘Em game is finished.

Number of Players:  One Table, At Least Five Players

The game will not be official without at least five players, and it will be limited to a single-table game. 

Choice of Players:  Invitation Only

Since seats are limited, the game will be by invitation only.  Once a player has committed to participate in the game, he will have a spot reserved every month, until he chooses to give it up.  If a player chooses to give up his reserved seat permanently, the remaining players will decide what to do with the open seat.   

Table Positions:  First Come, First Served

Players will select seats on a “first come, first served” basis.

Chips Distribution:  Five Denominations   

All players will begin with an equal number of chips.  Although the players may agree to increase or decrease the starting number of chips, the following five values will be used: White (5), Red (10), Blue (20), Green (50), and Black (100).

Blind Bets:  Increasing Throughout

Blinds will begin at 5 and 10.  They will increase 5 and 10, respectively, with the first increase at 8:00 pm and increases every half-hour thereafter.  Blinds will be capped at 50 and 100, unless all remaining players agree upon raising the blinds further.  If a player arrives late, he will be forced to pay a penalty blind equivalent to the price of the “big blind” on every hand.  All other aspects to the game (the deal and other blinds) will proceed as if the missing player were not present.  If a player leaves early or does not arrive by the first blind increase, his chips will be removed from table.

Title:  Monthly & Annually

A traveling trophy will be given to the winner of each monthly game.  Players will be awarded points based on their finish in each monthly tournament: 1^st = 9 points, 2^nd = 7 points, 3^rd = 6 points, 4^th = 5 points, 5^th = 4 points, 6^th = 3 points, 7^th = 2 points, 8^th = 1 point, and 9^th = 0 points.  A Headhunter Bonus of 1 point will be awarded each month to the player with the most “knock-outs."  All points, including the Headhunter Bonus, will be doubled in December.

Note: As of 2012, ties will not be permitted.  If two or more players are eliminated on the same hand, the finishing order will be based on the chip count at the time of their final hand.  The player with the most chips will be awarded the higher finishing position.    

After the November tournament, each player's average score will be multiplied by 11 to produce an 11-month projected total.  Each player's December score will be added to his 11-month projected total to determine a final total for the year.  The player with the highest score will be recognized as Player of the Year.  This player will be given the traveling trophy to keep.  Players must play in at least eight monthly games to be eligible for Player of the Year. 

Payoffs:  None

The poker will be played on a “just for fun” basis; however, money will be collected at each game.  Each player will make a small donation ($5 January through November and $10 in December) at the beginning of each night of play.  This money will be held until the Player of the Year standings are finalized in December.  Throughout the year, each player will be playing for a charitable organization of his choosing. 

At the end of the year, the winner of each monthly tournament will receive money to be donated to his designated charity ($10 for the first 11 tournaments and $20 for the final game).  The remaining money collected throughout the year will be distributed to the players finishing in the top four positions of the Player of the Year standings using the following percentages: 1^st = 50%; 2^nd = 25%; 3^rd = 15%; and 4^th = 10%.  Each player earning charity money will be responsible for donating his share to his designated organization.

Note: If any tournament is won by a player who cannot or clearly will not qualify for the Player of the Year race, the charity pay-out for that tournament win may be awarded immediately instead of at the end of the year.   

Poker Etiquette:  Don’t Be A Jerk

• After a fold, players should refrain from discussing their hand out loud until the hand is completely over.
• "String betting" is not permitted and flagrant "slow rolling" is strongly discouraged.
• “Rabbit hunting” will be permitted at the discretion of the player in the dealer position.