About: Chips | Points | Rules | Tournaments | Hands | Prizes |

How the Poker Tournaments Work

Local restaurants hold free Texas Hold'em Poker tournaments.  We setup poker tables within the restaurant.  Each table holds eight people, is covered with green felt, and has padded edges with cup holders.  Depending on the number of people playing, each restaurant will have two to ten tables setup.  The tournaments last about three hours each; there are two tournaments each evening.  Typically the tournaments will begin at 7:00 pm and end at 1:00 am. (Specific times will vary based on location and day of the week.  Hooters tournaments are 2.5 hours in length and end at midnight.)

Each player signs in with his first and last name as well as his ID number if he knows it.  Using your ID number will insure that the correct person gets your points.  If it is a new player, there is a one page registration form to join the league.  An email address is requested to help with accessing the web site and to receive league news.

The poker host gives each player 20 chips of assorted colors with a total value of 4,000.  The players draw for deal and when the poker host says to begin, they begin the tournament.  Players with bonus cards will get extra chips when the poker host has time to come by and redeem the cards.

The blinds begin at 25 (small) and 50 (big), and raise about every 20 minutes.  The poker host will let each table know when the blinds have changed.  After the blinds raise to 100/200 the poker host will color up each player's chips changing the 25 and 50 value chips for higher color values.  Players may take a quick break while the chips are being colored up.  A second color up is done later in the tournament to get rid of the 100 value chips (and sometimes the 500 value chips as well).

As play continues, players will be eliminated from the tables.  If a table only has four players remaining, they must stop playing and inform the poker host who will move players as needed.

Everyone who reaches the final table of eight players wins points for the website.  The first and second place players win a prize provided by the restaurant.  The tournament winner also is guaranteed a place in the regional tournament.  Each player from the final table should check in with the poker host to "sign out" on the winner's sheet to get their share of points.

Decisions of the poker host for the tournament are final. 

Games are for entertainment purposes only.  There is no buy-in.  No gambling is allowed.