2026-27 Metro Detroit Poker Series Rules and Regulations
Thank you for interest in the Metro Detroit Poker Series. These are the rules I use to govern our ‘No-Limit’ tournament play. These rules are to ensure the integrity of the tournament. By participating in any tournament you agree to abide by the rules and behave in a courteous manner. A violator may be verbally warned, suspended from play for a specified length of time or disqualified from the tournament. Chips from a disqualified participant will be removed from play and the entry fee will not be refunded.
START TIME & DEMONSTRATION
1. All players are requested to show up before the proposed start time on the designated tournament day.
2. Registration and money will be accepted up until the late registration time as listed in the tournament structure and/or schedule. You may be asked for the correct spelling of your name and an email address. This information will be used to email all players tournament results.
3. Official capacity is 60 players. Late registration is generally available until the end of level 3, however, if at capacity, it will be on an alternate (as seats become available) basis.
4. RSVP is not necessary, however if you are running late and wish to reserve a seat, an email or text message will suffice.
5. Before start time all the important rules will be discussed and a demonstration of how to deal the game will take place if needed. After the demonstration a question and answer period will take place if needed as well
2-DECK SYSTEM
This section describes the 2-deck system process and addresses any irregularities.
1. To start the tournament or a level after the breaks, the button will select a deck, shuffle, and deal normally.
2. The small blind will take the other deck and shuffle it while play is progressing on the current hand.
3. After the hand is complete, the small blind will become the new button. He/she will offer a cut of the deck that he/she previously shuffled and deal the new hand. A cut is REQUIRED. If the player to the left of the dealer passes, the dealer MUST cut the cards. The cut must consist of a minimum of 10 cards from the top or bottom.
4. The new small blind will gather the previously used cards and reshuffle the new deck.
5. Repeat from step 3.
6. If a card with a different color back is found in a player’s hand, it results in a misdeal. However, if the player has already acted on the hand, the player’s hand will be declared dead and the remaining players will play on as if the player folded. Said player will receive his/her chips back from the pot. The player cannot win a pot with mis-matched cards. If this player was in a blind position, his/her blinds must be re-posted for the next hand (button moves as normal and other blinds will be posted as normal).
7. If a card with a different color back is found in the stub, the card will be removed and play will continue on as if the card was not there.
CONDUCT CODE
The house will attempt to maintain a pleasant environment for all players, but is not responsible for the conduct of any player. We have established a code of conduct, and may deny play to anyone who violates it. Any player which has been disqualified will not have the entry fee refunded and may be banned from the Metro Detroit Poker Series. The following is not permitted:
1. Collusion with any other player or any type or form of cheating.
2. Verbally or physically threatening anyone.
3. Overly intoxicated players will be asked to leave (Please moderate alcohol intake and ensure safe travel home).
4. Creating a disturbance by arguing, shouting, or making excessive noise.
5. Throwing, tearing, bending, or crumply playing cards.
6. Destroying or defacing property.
7. Cell phones must not be used during play.
8. Stealing or taking any chips which are not yours.
9. Defacing or in any way damaging/violating the host’s property.
POKER ETIQUETTE
The following actions are improper, and grounds for warning, suspending, or barring a violator:
1. Making statements or taking action that could unfairly influence the course of play. No players should interfere with another players play.
2. Showing cards to non-players or eliminated players.
3. Deliberately acting out of turn.
4. Deliberately splashing chips into the pot. Do not splash the pot, place your bets in front of you.
5. Agreeing to check a hand out when a third player is all-in.
6. Reading a hand for another player at showdown before it has been placed face-up on the table.
7. Revealing the contents of a live hand in a multi-handed pot before the betting is complete.
8. Needlessly stalling the action of a game.
9. Deliberately discarding hands away from the muck.
10. Stacking chips in a manner that interferes with dealing or viewing cards or even hiding the amount of chips you have (example: putting your large denomination chips behind your smaller denomination chips).
11. Any player who has seen an incorrect amount of chips put into the pot, or an error about to be made in awarding a pot, has an ethical obligation to point out the error. Please help us keep mistakes of this nature to a minimum.
12. Keep your cards on the table at all times. It is confusing if other players do not know you’re even in the hand.
13. Each player is responsible for protecting his/her own hand. If a player is dealt out of a hand by mistake, once the first player plays his/her hand (player to left of big blind) that hand WILL be played and the player dealt out must sit out that hand. If the dealt-out player is in a blind position, his/her blind chips will be saved for the next hand. If a player’s hand is mucked for any reason, it is mucked. Each player is responsible for their hand. Be responsible.
14. In order to receive Player Points, each player MUST report to the tournament director when he/she has been eliminated from the tournament. Failure to report will result in that player being given points as if he/she finished in last place. It is the player’s responsibility to report their position.
15. Verbal declarations are binding.
16. An “overchip” bet is a CALL only, unless RAISE has been declared.
17. A raise must be for at least the amount of the big blind (or the amount of the last raise) unless all in.
18. No string bets. All bets/raises must be either verbally declared or made in one motion. A player is not allowed to go back to his/her stack for more chips unless to CALL a bet or complete a raise that was a verbally-announced amount.
TOBACCO USE, ETC.
1. Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not allowed indoors. All cigarettes and cigar smoking is permitted outside.
2. Please extinguish all cigarettes in the cans provided and do not throw on the property.
3. Illegal drugs of any kind will not be tolerated on the property. Please retreat to your car. This includes recreational marijuana usage.
DECISION MAKING
1. Please use the appropriate time to make a decision on your hand.
2. A max time allotment would be approximately 1 1/2 minutes.
3. Any player may call for a clock on a player after a reasonable amount of time (1-1 1/2 minutes) has passed.
4. Once the clock (60 seconds) has run down the hand is declared dead. There is NO grace period.
IRREGULARITIES AND MISDEALS
1. The proper time to draw attention to error or irregularity is when it occurs or is first noticed.
2. A ruling may be made regarding a pot if it has been requested before the next deal starts. Otherwise, the result of a deal must stand. The cut of the new deck to be used to mark the start of a deal.
3. If a pot has been incorrectly awarded and mingled with chips that were not in the pot, but the time limit for a ruling request given in previous rule has been complied with, the house may determine how much was in the pot by reconstructing the betting, and then transfer that amount to the proper player.
4. The following circumstances cause a misdeal:
• One or more boxed cards (Cards face-up in the stub) are found.
• One or more extra cards have been dealt in the starting hands of a game (unless the extra card(s) can be removed without affecting the rest of the play – for example: a third card dealt to the small blind can be replaced back on the stub if the small blind has not seen the card).
• An incorrect number of cards have been dealt to a player, except the top card may be dealt if it goes to the player in proper sequence.
• Any card that has been dealt out of the proper sequence (except an exposed card may be replaced by the burn card).
• The first card was dealt to the wrong position.
• Cards have been dealt to an empty seat or player not entitled to a hand.
• A player has been dealt out who is entitled to a hand. This player must be present at the table or have posted the ante and/or blind.
• If a blind has been misdealt this constitutes a misdeal.
Please note if a card is exposed (unless dealt to a player in a blind position), this is not a misdeal, that card becomes the first burn card. The players’ card that was exposed will be dealt to him last (what would have been the burn card). A 2nd exposed card on the same deal then constitutes a misdeal. Note, there is no rule against a player (normally the button) receiving 2 cards in a row from the stub (would occur when the last player to receive cards had his/her first card exposed during the deal).
5. If it is discovered that the button was placed incorrectly on the previous hand, the button and blinds will be corrected for the new hand in a manner that gives every player one chance for each position on the round (if possible).
6. If a card with a different color back appears in a hand, it is a misdeal. See #6 & 7 under 2-DECK SYSTEM
7. If two cards of the same rank and suit are found, all action is voided, and all chips in the pot are returned to the players who wagered them and the decks will be reconciled.
8. If you play a hand without looking at all of your cards, you assume the liability of having an irregular card or hand.
9. One or more cards missing from the deck does not invalidate the result of a hand. All decks are verified prior to the tournament. All tables should count the deck before beginning and after breaks.
10. Before the first round of betting, if a dealer deals one additional card, it is returned to the deck and used as the burn card.
11. If you drop a card on the floor out of your hand, you must still play that card.
12. If the dealer prematurely deal any cards before the betting is complete, those cards will not play, even if a player who has not acted decides to fold. In this case, the procedure is as follows:
• If the premature card is the turn card, the river card is dealt as the turn (burning the appropriate card). The premature turn card is placed back into the stub and the stub is reshuffled and recut. The new river card will then be the top card (no burn card).
• If the premature card is the river card, that card will be replaced into the stub, the stub then reshuffled and recut, and a new river card dealt off the top (no burn card).
SEATING AND MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS
1. All players’ seats will randomly selected by a computer via “The Tournament Director”.
2. The computer software will be in charge of all seating and movements of a player. As players are eliminated the software will remove you out of the tournament and post your tournament finish. The software may then move other player(s) randomly to maintain table balance. This process will continue until a selected number of players are remaining to fulfill the final table. Table breaking order is always 6,5,4,3,2.
3. If the software selects a player to be moved, the tournament director will let you know that you are to be moved. If you are in the middle of a current hand, you continue play until you fold your hand or the showdown has concluded. Then the tournament director will supply you with a chip tray to move your chips.
4. To align these rules more with Robert’s Rules and TDA Rules, players moving to new seats assume responsibility of the seat they acquire. Players may come into the BB, SB, or button and assume the rights/responsibility of that position. The only position a new player to a table cannot receive a hand is between the SB and the Button.
5. The house reserves the right to require that any two players not to play at the same table.
6. Once the final table has been reached all players will be reseated via “The Tournament Director”.
7. We will no longer shuffle seating after each break. Players must leave their chips at the table during breaks for color ups.
BUY-IN AND SIDE GAMES
1. The buy-in for all but the bounty ($80), deep stack ($100), and shootout events ($80) is $70 for 6,000 tournament chips (15,000 chips for Deep Stack events), disbursed as follows:
• $5 from the buy in is for food, drink, and expenses (cups, plates, etc). At the end of the season, the food and beverage fund is reconciled and any remaining funds are placed into the ToC prize fund (host makes no profits, other than as a player).
• $10 dollars goes towards the Tournament of Champions prize fund.
• $2 dollars goes towards the high hand of the night fund. $3 dollars goes towards the mystery bounty fund.
• $50 ($80 for deep stack, bounty see below) remaining into the prize fund.
1a. The buy-in for the “bounty” event is $80 for 6,000 tournament chips, disbursed as follows:
• $5 from the buy in is for food, drink, and expenses (cups, plates, etc). At the end of the season, the food and beverage fund is reconciled and any remaining funds are placed into the ToC prize fund (host makes no profits, other than as a player).
• $10 dollars goes towards the Tournament of Champions prize fund.
• $20 dollars goes towards the Bounty fund.
• $45 remaining into the prize fund.
2. Players eliminated from the main tournament are free to start a side game. Chips and cards will be provided. The house does NOT run this game. Buy-in, starting chips, blinds, etc., are all to be determined by the players before beginning the side game.
3. All events are freezeouts (no rebuys) unless otherwise specified.
4. For rebuy events, rebuys and addons are $50 for T$6,000. $5 from each rebuy is reserved for the Tournament of Champions prize fund, and the remaining $45 goes into the event prize fund.
5. For rebuy events, rebuys are unlimited during the three rounds of play. Players must be completely out of chips to rebuy. Players must communicate their intent to rebuy immediately. Skipping hands is not allowed. After the rebuy period, players may take 1 add on. Add on funds are divided same as rebuy funds.
6. The deep stack event allows for 1 re-entry per player through level 4.
7. Approximately 15% (1 in 6) players will cash.
BOUNTY (non-“bounty” events)
1. There will be a “mystery bounty” for each event. The mystery bounty will be randomly assigned by the Tournament Director software and will be revealed when the bounty player is eliminated. In the case of a rebuy or re-entry event, the first time the mystery bounty player is eliminated will be the qualifying event for the bounty to be won.
BOUNTY Event
1. All players have a bounty.
2. In the case a player is eliminated by more than one player, the bounty will go to the player who won the pot that the eliminated player had the last of his chips in. For example: Player 1 is all-in in the main pot (player 1 should put his/her bounty chip into the main pot). Player 2 is all-in in the main pot and side pot 1 (player 2 should put his/her bounty chip in side pot 1). Player 3 raised players 1&2 and was called by Player 4, creating side pot 2 (neither player is all-in). Player 1 wins the main pot (getting his/her bounty back), player 4 wins side pots 1 & 2 (getting player 2’s bounty in side pot 1). Player 2 is eliminated by player 4 who gets his/her bounty. Player 1 cannot win player 2’s bounty because player 2 had more chips than player 1 and would still be in the hand if not for player’s 3 & 4.
3. In the case a player is eliminated by more than one player splitting the applicable pot, the bounty will be split between the players chopping the pot.
4. Players keep all bounties they earned prior to elimination (only that player’s individual bounty is lost to the player eliminating them, not any accumulated until then).
5. For each bounty collected, a player will be paid $20. The tournament winner will collect the bounty for his/her own bounty.
HIGH HAND OF THE NIGHT POT (No High Hand jackpot in the “Bounty” event)
1. All players are eligible for this jackpot, it is included in the buy in.
2. It is the player’s responsibility to report to the tournament director that they have a qualifying high-hand. The current high-hand will be announced and written on the chalkboard at the podium.
3. In case of a 5-card tie, the pot will be split between the winners (suits are not taken into account, ranks only).
4. If the winner is not present at the end of the tournament, the winnings will be held for pickup at a later time.
5. To qualify for the high hand jackpot, at least 1 card from the player’s hand must play.
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
1. $10 from each buy-in is reserved to fund the prize fund for the Tournament of Champions.
2. The Tournament of Champions is an invitation-only freeroll event (no entry fee).
3. Every player who has cashed in a regular season event for that season earns an invite to the Tournament of Champions.
4. The 1 player who has the most players points among those players who did not cash during a regular season event also earns an invitation (wild card).
5. The winner of the previous year’s ToC also received an automatic entry into the current year ToC.
6. The Host gets an automatic entry into the ToC. If the host earns an entry through item 3 above, then there will be a second wild-card invitation to the ToC – the 2nd highest total points player who hasn’t cashed in an event.
7. All players playing in the Tournament of Champions must have paid the $10 into the prize fund for each of the 9 regular season events. If you did not play in every event, you will be required to pay an entry fee into the Tournament of Champions equal to $90 minus $10 times the number of events you played in during the year ($10 entry fee for each tournament missed during the season).
BUTTON MOVEMENT
1. If a player is eliminated, causing someone to skip the BB or SB, we WILL have a dead button.
2. The same person who dealt the previous hand will deal again as a “dead button”. This ensures all players post all blinds per orbit.
3. A new player coming onto a table assumes the responsibility of the position. This means that they CAN come in as the SB or dealer. The only position a player will not receive a hand is between the SB and the Button. This is to be consistent with Robert’s Rules and TDA Rules.
PLAYERS POINTS
1. Players earn Players Points for playing in Metro Detroit Poker Series tournaments.
2. Points are earned for buy in (6), eliminating a player (hitman points) (2) and placement in the tournament.
3. The hitman points are awarded to the player with the most total chips to start the hand if 2 or more players are in a pot and chop the pot which eliminates a player
4. Points are subtracted for each rebuy (3) and add-on (1).
5. Points earned for placing in the tournament is based upon the following formula:
N=number of players in tournament, X=your position, P=Points earned
7. It is the responsibility of the eliminated player to report to the host when they are eliminated from the tournament to receive points. Failure to report results in forfieture of earned points. It is the responsibility of the hitman to report to the host when they eliminate a player in order to receive hitman points. Between these two responsibilities, we should not have anyone forfieting points.
LAS VEGAS/WSOP TRIP OPTION
1. Entry fee is $25 per event, which must be paid at the time of the player’s buy-in to each season event.
2. Each player chosing to participate in this optional add-on must have at least 6 entries to participate. For players who do not attend 6 events, they can buy up (see #6 below), or their fees will be refunded. Refunds will only be permitted for players who missed events and therefore did not attend at least 6 events. If a player attended at least 6 events but did not buy the option for all of them, their entry fees will be non-refundable. This is intended to prevent players from backing out should they not have an acceptable average finish in their first few events. Management reserves the right to make exceptions to the refund policy (in either direction) on a case-by-case basis.
3. All players participating in this option will compete in a special WSOP qualifier tournament using the standard freezeout blind structure.
4. Starting chip stacks will be determined by the average placement of each player for the 6 regular season tournaments for which the option was purchased.
5. Players can purchase the option for tournaments 7 and 8 during the season to try and improve their average placement. The average placement will be calculated on the top 6 finishes only, so purchasing the 7th and 8th option cannot hurt their average.
6. Players who do not participate in 6 events during the season can “buy up” to six. “Buy ups” will count as next-to-last finishes in the least-attended events in which the player missed. Players may “buy up” to events they attended but did not initially pay the option for, however, they will be “placed” next-to-last in any such events for purposes of the WSOP option.
7. Starting chip stacks begin at T$6,000. Players get an addtional T$250 chips for every 5 place improvement in the average finish better than 51st. Maximum starting stack is T$8,500 for an average placement of 1-5.
8. The special tournament will pay out a $2,000 prize to as many places as possible based on the amounts collected. The remaining prize fund will go to the runner up. The $2,000 prize will consist of $500 for airfare and $1,500 to play in the upcoming World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. The goal is to buy the winners in to any $1,500 buy-in event at the WSOP as representatives of MDPS, however, you can select from any major tournament series such as the Venetian Deep Stacks Extravaganza or the Golden Nugget Grand Poker Series. Remember, the goal is to play in the WSOP or other poker tournament in Las Vegas, preferably as a group of winners. But if the winner really cannot go, local or semi-local major tournament events also qualify (MidState Poker Tour, Heartland Poker Tour, etc).
9. A prize-sharing agreement must be signed by all participating players before the start of the tournament. The share is for after-tax winnings of $5000 or greater, the player shall share 10% of the winnings with the group.
10. Management reserves all right to modify the rules as needed to accomplish the goal of the option or to refund the fees if participation does not allow for a grand prize to be awarded.
11. Entries into the WSOP qualification tournament ARE transferrable. Should a player who purchased the option and otherwise qualifies to play in the event be unable to attend, he/she may transfer their entry to another player who is not already entered upon notice to the tournament director.
Shootout
1. Players will not be reseated during the event.
2. Each table will play down to the final two players.
3. The final two players from each table will combine into the final table.
4. All final table participants will be “in the money”.
5. The tournament clock will not be stopped or reset during the time when one or more tables have established their final 2 and the time the final table is established.
6. Players will bring their chip stack from the initial table to the final table (the chip stacks will not be reset for the final table).
7. The tournament director reserves the right to make minor modifications to the set up of this tournament based on attendance to preserve the intent and schedule of the tournament.
BB Ante
1. Beginning in 2022-23 season, we will have a BB Ante in all our structures.
2. In the event that a player cannot post the full amount of the BB and the BB Ante, the BIG BLIND will be posted first with any remaining chips posted as the BB Ante. Other players will still need to post the full BB as a call (if the BB was unable to post a complete blind). The short stack player will only be eligible to win the chips he/she put into the pot plus the matching chips from any callers (for example, if the BB has only enough chips to post some of the BB, then he/she can win his/her posted BB amount and the calls of that BB amount).
Rules not specified here are covered by Robert’s Rules of Poker.
The Tournament Director/Host reserves the right to make a ruling in conflict with posted rules to maintain the integrity of the game.