9.01 PLAYER'S MONEY.
A player is always responsible for his own chips and money on the table.

9.02 MINIMUM BUY-IN.
The appropriate minimum buy-in for a game is a matter of house policy and sometimes government regulation. However in no game shall the minimum buy-in be less than ten times the small bet in a fixed-limit game, or twenty times the amount of the Big Blind in a Pot-Limit or No-Limit Game. The minimum buy-in applies to a player's initial buy-in when entering the game, or a re-buy after going all-in in a pot or when returning to the table after leaving during a period that would constitute the same playing session. If a player is transferring from a game of the same type and limits then he does not need to buy additional chips. (Alternate Rule. A player transferring to another game of the same type and limits must enter the game he is transferring to with at least the minimum buy-in, unless he is coming from a broken game. The logic behind this rule is that insofar as the players at the new table are concerned, the transferring player is a new player. This alternate rule induces action and is preferred, but because it is not widely accepted, it is the alternate rather than the main rule.) If a player leaves and returns during the same playing session then he must re-enter the game with whichever is greater: the amount of money he took off the table when he left or the minimum buy-in. Suggested minimum buy-ins for different games are set forth at Appendix A.

9.03 MINIMUM BETTING UNIT.
In each game a minimum betting unit will be established as the smallest chip normally used in the blinds, antes or a forced bet. When going all-in a player must use all money in play in complete increments of the minimum betting unit. Any incidental money not totaling a full unit will not be playable (IE, in a game where a $5 chip is the minimum betting unit, if a player has eight dollars in fifty-cent pieces, then $5 plays and must be put into the pot, three doesn't and may not be put into the pot.) Suggested minimum betting units for different games are set forth at Appendix A.

9.04 APPROPRIATE CHIP DENOMINATION.
Each game shall be played with chips of an appropriate denomination to expedite the game. Too many chips of either a large denomination (requiring constant change-making) or a small denomination (resulting in a lengthy time devoted to counting out chips) is both inefficient and inhibits action. For example in a $2 - $4 game the appropriate chip denomination would be $1 chips, in a $10-$20 or $20-$40 game the appropriate chip denomination would be $5 chips, in a $50-$100 or $75-$150 game the appropriate chip denomination would be $25 chips. Although all chips on the table play as hereinafter set forth, players shall be required to have at least the minimum buy-in in chips of the appropriate denomination, and when buying additional chips shall purchase sufficient chips of the appropriate denomination. Some establishments have special chips for baccarat, sports wagering or other activities that do not play in poker. It is the dealer's responsibility to identify such chips when they are brought to the table and change them to chips that do play. Color changing to chips larger than the appropriate denomination shall only be permitted when a player has so many chips in front of them that they are a nuisance.

9.04 TABLE STAKES.
All games are table stakes. A player can only wager the money in play at the start of the hand. Money in play may only be increased between hands and may only be taken out of play by quitting the game. A player may not remove any of his chips or cash on the table from play until he quits the game. (In home games, players are sometimes permitted to play shy--such games are not table stakes games.) Chips on the table may be used to pay for beverages, food, cigarettes and other minor purchases normally made at the table. Further, chips may be transferred from one player at the table to another player at the table, but only if no active player at the table objects at the time of transfer. (Alternate Rule. Such chip transfer shall be permitted in limit games, but prohibited in pot-limit and no-limit games.) Once the shuffle for a new hand has begun, the right of other players to object to such a transfer of chips is deemed waived. In establishments which offer pari-mutuel wagering, keno, or other games where bet runners are regularly used, chips in play may be used to place bets with such bet-runners, so long as the placing of the bet does not result in the player having an amount of chips in play less than the minimum buy-in. Notwithstanding this, such non-poker bets shall not be made during the play of a hand in which the person making the bet is involved, so that the conditions of contest are not changed in the course of the hand.

9.05 SHORT BUY-INS.
A short-buy-in of at least one half the size of the minimum buy-in will be allowed one time in the course of a playing session. However a player with chips remaining--even a single chip, so long as it is a chip of at least the minimum betting unit--may add additional chips to his stack or money to the table at any time he is not involved in an active hand. It's not a short buy if a player adds money or chips to his stack so long as he has at least one minimum betting unit remaining. Generally the determining factor as to whether the short buy rule applies is whether a player has gone all-in on a previous hand, although this is not necessarily dispositive.

9.06 PLAYING BEHIND.
A player who has chips in transit or who is in the process of putting cash on the table shall announce to the dealer that he is playing behind, and how much, and the dealer shall announce this to the rest of the table. Once the deal has started no additional chips or money may be brought into play until the end of the hand. The dealer should place a Playing Behind button in front of any player who is playing behind. If chips are in transit the amount should be verified by a chiprunner or floorperson. A player with no chips who requests a hand without specifying the amount he is playing behind must for the duration of that hand play exactly the amount of the minimum buy-in for that game at those stakes. When one who is playing behind is involved in a hand, the number of chips he wagers in the course of the hand shall be pulled from the pot and placed in front of him each time he makes action, so there is no dispute how much he owes the winner of the pot.

9.07 MONEY IN VIEW.
At the start of each hand every player at the table has the right to know how much money every other player at the table has in play, so that he knows how much he stands to win relative to what he has at risk. All money in play shall be in full view at all times. Money hidden from view, such as under racks or ashtrays does not play. (Alternate Rule: Money hidden from view may or may not play, depending on the extent to which it is visible, as determined by the dealer.) Every player has the right to an unimpeded view of another player's chips and cash, and should there be any doubt as to how much money is in play, any player may ask the dealer to determine how much money another player has in play. In most California cardrooms racks are not permitted on the table, to avoid the problem of money hidden under racks.

9.08 ALL-IN BETS.
A player shall never be obliged to forfeit his interest in a pot because he has insufficient chips or money in play to match or make a bet. Such a player may put the last of his chips (in increments of the minimum betting unit for that game) into the pot, either to make a bet or raise or to call a bet or raise, whereupon he is declared all-in. However such a player may only contest for that portion of the pot to which he has contributed. Further, a player who is going all-in must announce that he is all-in; failure to announce he is all-in may in the floorperson's discretion result in a forfeiture of the player's interest in the pot. Any action after a player is all-in shall go into a side pot that the all-in player is not eligible to win. If more than one player goes all-in during the course of a hand, there may be more than one side pot.

9.08.01 RAISING AN ALL-IN BET OF LESS THAN ONE-HALF A BET.
A bet of less than one half a bet in limit games shall not be considered a full bet. A player may go all in with a bet, call or raise, or any part thereof in increments of the minimum betting unit. If he goes all-in with a bet or raise, and the bet or raise is less than one half the amount of the bet for that street in limit poker, then players acting after that player may complete the bet by increasing it to the full amount of the bet. (IE if it is a flop bet for $20 in a $20-$40 game, and the all-in player has only five dollars, then subsequent players have the option of calling the $5 or completing the bet to $20.) An all-in bet of less than half a bet does not re-open the betting for any player who has already acted and has committed to the pot for all previous bets. A player facing less than half a bet may fold, call, or complete the all-in bet. However, if another player or players have checked to a person who makes an all-in wager of less than half of the bet then the player or players who have checked can only call and not complete the bet as this would be checkraising a wager that does not constitute a bet. Completing an all-in wager of less than half a bet does not constitute a raise for purposes of determining how many raises remain open. Such a wager for less then half a bet does not constitute a wager to be responded to, and is known as action only.

9.08.02 RAISING AN ALL-IN BET OF ONE-HALF A BET OR MORE.
An all-in wager of half a bet or more shall be treated as a full bet, and a player facing such an all-in bet, may fold, call, or make a full raise. If the amount of the all-in bet or raise is equal to one half the amount of the bet for that street or more, then a player has the option of calling the all-in action or calling and raising one complete bet. For example, if the player going all-in makes a flop bet in a $20-$40 game and has ten dollars, then subsequent players have the option of calling the $10 or raising an additional $20 for a total of $30.) (Alternate Rule. A player responding to such an all-in bet shall have the option of calling the bet, or calling and raising by completing the bet and raising an additional bet. IE In a $20-$40 game, a player raising a $10 all-in bet on the flop does so by completing the bet to $20 and then raising it to $40. A player raising a $20 all-in bet on the turn would complete the bet and raise it a full bet, for a total of $80. Note that application of this alternate rule may create an inconsistency with the rule above.)

9.08.03 CHECK-RAISING AN ALL-IN BET.
(Do we need to clarify this, or is it clear from the above?)

9.09 POT SPLITTING.
Pot Splitting, except chopping the blinds in button games, shall be prohibited. (Alternate Rule. As chopping blinds inhibits action, it shall be prohibited.) Except when the rules dictate a split pot, the dealer shall always push the pot to the player who shows down the best hand, or who makes an unmatched wager. (Alternate Rule: Players may agree to split pots prior to the winning hand being determined, so long as there is no objection to such agreements by another player in the game. Once an objection has been lodged, pot splitting will no longer be allowed on subsequent hands until the objection is rescinded. In houses which permit pot splitting, if an objection has been raised and pot splitting is therefore prohibited, a Table Sign shall be posted so advising all persons in the game.) Pot splitting shall always be permitted in pot-limit and no-limit games.

9.10 INSURANCE.
Insurance is a private agreement between the players involved and is not considered an integral part of the game. It is prohibited in limit games, permitted in pot-limit and no-limit games. (Alternate Rule. Insurance shall be permitted in all games.) Even where insurance is permitted, the house cannot guarantee either the opportunity to negotiate insurance or compliance of private agreements. However notwithstanding this any person who negotiates insurance in the course of play of a hand and refuses to honor it is subject to disciplinary action including but not limited to ejection from the game.

9.11 SIDE BETS.
Side bets, potting, kitties, pushing bets, saving, potting out, horsing, and other such arrangements are a violation of table stakes rules and are expressly prohibited. Pushing an ante is only allowed in time collection games.

9.12 PLAYING CASH.
Cash does not play and is not permitted on the table in games smaller than $10-$20. In games $10-$20 and higher hundred dollar bills play and may be kept on the table. (Alternate Rule. Hundred dollar bills play in all games. Second Alternate Rule. In games smaller than $10-$20 all cash plays.) No other cash may be kept on the table except for the purchase of chips from a chip-runner, and only then when announced by the dealer. If players were allowed to keep bills of different denominations on the table, then opposing players would have no idea how much money a player has in play, as a hundred dollar bill, for example, could be wrapped around a wad of ones.

9.13 WRONG AMOUNT IN POT.
If a player mistakenly bets the lower limit on a street which calls for an upper limit bet, and it is discovered before the betting round is completed, then all bets put into the pot shall be increased to the proper amount. The opposite however is not true--if a player puts more chips in the pot than called for by the limit on that street, whether or not in error, then it shall be deemed a raise in accordance with the rules. (Alternate Rule. If the player puts less than half a bet too much in the pot it shall be deemed a call. If a player puts a half bet or more in the pot, then it shall be deemed a raise.)

9.14 PLAYERS NOTICING ERRORS.
Any player who sees an incorrect amount of chips put into the pot, or an error about to be made in awarding the pot, shall point out the error to the dealer at the earliest possible opportunity.

9.15 BETTING CAPS.
In limit poker, all games allow a maximum of a bet and four raises in pots involving three or more players who are not all in. (Alternate Rule. A bet and three raises shall be allowed.) In head's up situations there is no limit on the number of raises. (Alternate rule. In head's up situations if the betting has been capped while the street was three handed or more, it cannot be uncapped when a player folding results in a head's up situation. This alternate rule is disfavored because it inhibits action.) In games with only two betting rounds (such as Draw and Lowball) betting is capped after a bet and six raises. (Alternate Rule. The same betting limits shall apply to draw and lowball as to other games. One reason to favor the alternate rule here is that permitting so many raises promotes collusion and partnerships.) In pot-limit and no-limit, there is no cap on raises.

9.16 OVERSIZED CHIP OR BILL.
If when responding to action a player puts a single chip or bill in the pot that is larger than the bet, but does not announce a raise, he shall be deemed to have only called. Putting a single chip or bill in the pot with a denomination larger than the bet itself is only a call unless a raise is announced. The oversized chip or bill rule also applies when more than one chip is necessary to call a bet but the last chip might be construed as a raise. In stud games a single oversized chip or bill will not automatically complete a forced bring-in bet unless it is verbally declared to do so.

9.17 ODD CHIP.
In all games where dividing the pot results in an odd-chip when the pot is split the odd chip--in increments of the minimum betting unit-will go to the player with the least advantageous position in button games for high (the player closest to the left of the dealer button) to the high card by suit in stud games for high and to the low card by suit in stud games for low and to the winner of the high hand in high-low split games. (Alternate Rule: The odd chip will be broken down to units of one dollar, which shall be divided proportionately, with the odd dollar or dollars allocated as set forth in the main rule.)

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