Tournament Rules

Note: Rules 3, 6 and 7 apply only to Hold Em and Omaha tournaments.

1. Tournaments will begin promptly as per the scheduled time listed in the tournament lobby.

2. Seats are randomly assigned and no seat changes are permitted.

3. The button will be positioned at Seat 1 when play begins.

4. Tournaments will end when one player has accumulated all of the chips in play, unless the tournament is a satellite which is giving away multiple seats of the same value. In this instance, the tournament will end when all remaining players have qualified for the larger event.

5. If two or more players are eliminated on the same hand, the player who began the hand with the most chips will be awarded the higher prize money, if applicable. If two players are eliminated during the same hand during hand-for-hand play then they will be considered to have been eliminated on the same hand, even if they are seated at different tables.

6. PokerStars uses a "forward moving button" rule in all of its tournaments. No player can receive the button twice in a row and the button will be moved clockwise at the completion of every hand. There will be times when due to eliminations some players will not have to post one or both blinds. This is common practice in online poker due to the technicalities involved in moving the blinds after players are eliminated. Although this can create an advantage for some players during a tournament, that advantage is random. Since no player will receive a long-term advantage, this procedure is fair for all players.

7. During heads up play, PokerStars uses a "Small Blind Button" rule. This simply means that the small blind will be the player on the button when only two players are left in a tournament.

8. Disconnects:

All players participating in a tournament have accepted the risk of Internet disconnection. There are many problems that could cause a player to be disconnected from a tournament, such as problems with their ISP provider, their own broadband modem and/or router configuration or simply some problem on the user's computer. PokerStars accepts no responsibility for a player disconnect that is not related to a server crash.
While each user is responsible for their own Internet protection, PokerStars does try to protect players who are in the final stages of a real money tournament. See Disconnect Extra Time (DET) for more information.
If a player fails to act on their hand within the given time period their hand will be folded the first time they face any action, regardless of whether or not they are connected to the internet. If they are not required to call a bet then their hand will be checked.
If a player is not connected, or is sitting out at the start of a hand then their blinds and/or antes will be posted and they will be dealt cards. Their hand will be folded immediately the first time they face action. There is no rule against sitting out and players are welcome to do so if they are so inclined.

9. Poker is an individual game and any action or chat that intentionally benefits another player is prohibited. Any soft playing, chip dumping, or other unethical play may result in penalties, including the seizure of funds from the offending players account, as well as closure of the players account.

10. In all fixed limit tournaments the maximum allowable number of bets and raises allowed are a bet and three raises. There are an unlimited number of raises allowed in a no-limit or pot-limit tournament.

11. Time Bank:

Each player will be given a time bank, which may be used when a player needs extra time to make a decision. As players use their time banks throughout the tournament this time bank will be depleted.
When a player chooses to use their time bank the other players at the table are notified.
If a player fails to act on his hand within the allowed time the time bank will be activated if:
The player is connected to the system
The player has an active interest in the pot and has voluntarily invested money in the pot

12. As players are eliminated from the tournament the software will automatically balance the remaining tables to ensure that each table has as close as possible to the same number of players. Although it is unlikely it is possible for a player to be forced to post blinds on back-to-back hands. When nine players are remaining in a Hold 'em or Omaha tournament, and eight are remaining in a Stud tournament all players will be at the same table, the "Final Table".

13. Prizes will be awarded as stated in the tournament lobby. When the registration period is finished, and there is no longer the possibility of re-buys or add-ons, the payouts will be listed in the tournament lobby.

14. If the server crashes during a tournament the hands in progress at each table will be "rolled back". Each player's chip count will be re-set to the amount of chips they had at the beginning of the hand. If, because of the crash, or for any other reason, the tournament needs to be canceled before its conclusion players will be paid out according to PokerStars' tournament cancellation policy.

15. Players as well as spectators are expected to use the chat in a respectful manner. Those who abuse the chat feature will have their chat privileges revoked.

16. When there are more than two players in a pot, no player is allowed to discuss the hand in progress. Speculation of what players may have, or what action they should take, along with any indication on what cards may have been folded is unethical. Please visit our Prohibited Tournament Chat for further examples. If there are only two players involved in a pot then those two active players, and only those two, may discuss the hand.

17. Deals:

PokerStars will accept deals if all remaining players agree to split the prize money according to a formula that they choose. Upon completion of the event PokerStars will transfer the funds to the players account, and send transfer receipts to all parties involved in the agreement.
If you wish to make a deal, please email support with the subject: "Urgent Tournament # (insert tournament info) chop" and a representative will come to the table to facilitate a smooth deal making process.
PokerStars will not participate in the deal making process but will ensure that all remaining players are in agreement to the terms of the deal.
PokerStars reserves the right to require that any deal leave some money "on the table" as the first place prize. This money required to be left in play will usually not be more than 5% of the total tournament prize pool, and ensures the integrity of the tournament's finish. The amount of money required to be left in play, if any, will usually be specified in the tournament lobby message.
It is player's responsibility to come to an agreement. Chat records will not necessarily validate an agreement, however PokerStars will enforce a deal if it is clear that all players agreed to the deal.
Deals may only be made by players at the final table. Deals must include all remaining players.
Deals are only available for real money tournaments.
Deals may not include Tournament Leader Board Points. Any deal that includes Tournament Leader Board Points may result in the complete revocation of all awarded points for the tournament.

18. Late Registration: Late registration is usually available for 10 minutes after the tournament start. However, registration will terminate if all tables allocated at the time of seating are full. In most tournaments, registration closes when the first elimination takes place. In selected events registration remains open beyond the first elimination, up to the maximum time allowed (usually for the duration of Level 1) or until there are no seats remaining.

19. A player may unregister for a tournament up to 10 minutes before the start of a tournament. Players who have won their seats through a satellite can unregister, although they will receive Tournament $'s in lieu of a credit to their real money account. Players can use these Tournament $'s to buy-in to any other PokerStars tournament but not for cash games.

20. At certain stages of the tournament play will be "hand for hand". When a tournament is being played "hand for hand" a new deal will not start until the hand has been completed on all tables. If two players are eliminated on the same deal, prize money will be distributed as outlined in rule # 5, the player with the largest stack at the beginning of the hand being awarded the larger payout when applicable.

21. With trivial exceptions, a player may play on only one account during a tournament and may not "hand off" his seat in mid-event to a different player. Violation of this rule may result in penalties ranging from a warning, to disqualification from the tournament (with partial or full forfeiture of winnings), to barring from PokerStars.

Examples:

You get a phone call during a PokerStars tournament. You ask your husband, who has already busted out of that tournament, to play your hands for you. You are on the phone for ten minutes and then resume play. This is permitted.
You and a friend are playing in the same tournament. You agree that if he busts out before you do, he will take over playing your account. This is prohibited.
You are playing in a tournament and lose power in your home due to a failure of your power station. You call a friend and he takes over until your power is returned. This is permitted.
Your husband is out of town for the weekend, but gives you his password. You log into both his account and yours and play both accounts in the same tournament. This is prohibited.
You have progressed to the final few tables of a tournament and somebody offers you cash equity for your seat. You allow the other player to sign into your account, or you continue to finish the tournament following the explicit instructions given by him. This is prohibited.

22. PokerStars management decisions are final when it comes to any disputed case.

See Also: