Section 1: GOPT Golden Rules

  1. The game is Texas Holdem. Standard rules apply.
  2. Four GOPT members must be present for any event to count towards the official GOPT record books.
  3. A decision to amend the rules can be made by majority vote of attendees at any official GOPT event. The keeper of the rules (currently Junior) is given the power to amend the rules without a vote as long as the amendments are made in good faith.
  4. In uncertain or contentious scenarios, the determination as to whether any rule has been broken (and appropriate punishment) will be made by majority vote.
  5. There exist unwritten rules.
  6. What happens/is said at poker stays at poker.

Section 2: Cash Payouts, Points, and Bracelets

  1. Cash payouts and points toward season ranking are distributed according to formulas defined in the GOPT Payout Schedule Technical Memo. Common scenarios are listed below for clarity.
    • A player’s cash payout for a standard (2 tournament, $20 buy-in) non-major night is equal to 20*(2n-P1-P2)/(n–1), where P1 and P2 are the individual places in each tournament, and n is the number of players. This is equal to the number of points awarded toward season ranking.
    • Majors are worth twice as many points toward season ranking as standard non-major nights, and points are distributed similarly to non-major events. A player’s point reward from a standard (1 tournament) major is equal to 80*(n-P)/(n–1), where n is the number of players and P is the place in the event. Point payout in a two-tournament major (e.g. ESSOP) is equal to 40*(2n-P1-P2)/(n–1).
  2. Rank in an event is determined by first, the number of points earned according to §2.1, and second, by finishing order in the last tournament.
  3. The Monthly GOPT Champion’s Bracelet is awarded to the player of highest rank according to §2.2. This includes majors where the ranking by cash payout may be different than the rank according to §2.2.
  4. At any point after you are knocked out of an event, you can take the cash you are owed. Other penalties may be incurred for doing so (e.g. for consulting the formula/matrix before event completion per §3.1.4, for leaving before 11:00PM per §3.5.3, or for deferring these shots per §4). If you leave without taking your money, you are a fool; your winnings will be distributed as deemed appropriate by those present.

Section 3: Penalties

Section 3.1: Core GOPT Infractions

  1. Failure to wear the monthly championship bracelet in public while still the reigning champion = 1 shot
  2. The monthly champion takes cards home and is responsible for bringing them the next poker night. Failure to do so = 1 shot
  3. Failing to pay your entry fee on a given night prior to cards being dealt = 1 shot
  4. Consulting the matrix/payout calculator prior to the completion of a tournament = 1 shot

Section 3.2: Gameplay-related Penalties

  1. Win 4 hands in a row = 1 shot (split pots count as a win)
  2. Sloppy cards (on floor) = 1 shot
  3. Taking cards to the loo = 1 shot
  4. Missed deal = 1 shot
  5. Taking a card out of turn = 1 shot
  6. Failure to reveal your entire hand when called = 1 shot
  7. Slow rolling less than a dollar pot = 1 shot

Section 3.3: Chip Drop Penalties

  1. Chip hits floor (including dealer chip, not including the banker when he is setting up the game or chipping up) = 1 shot
  2. Blockading any door with a potentially falling chip to force a shot = 1 shot
  3. Any grey area regarding a chip that hits the floor goes to the last person that touched the chip = 1 shot

Section 3.4: Refreshment-related Penalties

  1. Spill beer/spill drink = 1 shot
  2. Sloppy pour = 1 shot
  3. Sloppy food (food is dropped on floor) = 1 shot
  4. Splashes off bottles/bombs are not a shot
  5. No food instigation
  6. If you are the host and you run out of alcohol = 2 shots. If you supply a 12-pack the next poker night you only owe 1 shot.
  7. The host must provide peanut M&M’s (a reasonable amount as determined by those in attendance) and a reasonable ratio of peanut M&M’s to other flavors of M&M’s(if others are provided). Different flavors must be served in separate bowls.

Section 3.5: Planning and Attendance

  1. The host will send out possible dates for the upcoming poker night with a reasonable amount of notice (up to the discretion of the group).
  2. Each player will respond (for each proposed date) with an official poker attendance probability designation in a reasonable amount of time (up to the discretion of the host). These designations are borrowed from the NFL injury designations, and are as follows: OUT (will not play), DOUBTFUL (have approximately a 25% chance of playing), QUESTIONABLE (have approximately a 50% chance of playing), PROBABLE (very likely to play).
  3. Missing poker/canceling on game day (less than 24 hours notice) = 1 shot. Not notifying the host = +1 shot
  4. More than 1 hour late (even if you say you will be late) = 1 shot
  5. Leaving poker before everyone is finished or it is before 11:00 PM = 2 shots

Section 3.6: Grab Bag

  1. Watching TV (when not specifically allowed by the host) = 1 shot
  2. Sleeping at poker = 2 shots
  3. Premature drop in guts = add a nickel to the pot
  4. Bringing your underage child (< 18 years old) to poker = 2 deferred shots
  5. If your wife/significant other calls/texts and you answer it = 1 shot. If you call her = 1 shot
  6. Carrying a purse at poker = 1 shot
  7. Three consecutive bracelet wins = 1 shot

Section 4: Deferred Penalties

  1. Shots deferred to the next month/gathering = 2x the number of shots deferred. A maximum of 4 shots are allowed to be deferred (doubling to 8 at the next gathering) before the option of deferring is no longer allowed.
  2. Penalty shots must be drank before the first deal (those earned the previous month) or the next deal (those earned on a given night)
  3. Shots don’t start accruing on a given night until the first deal.

Updated: September 29, 2015