Official Rules

Section 1: GOPT Golden Rules

  1. The game is Texas Holdem. Standard rules apply. This includes Rule 86, which states: “Button in Heads Play: In heads-up play, the small blind is on the button and acts first pre-flop and last on all other betting rounds. The last card is dealt to the button. When beginning heads-up play, the button may need to be adjusted to ensure neither player has the big blind twice in a row.”
  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).
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Player rankings in a season are determined first by the total number of points earned in that season, then by total number of bracelets won in the season so far, then by finishing order in the most recent event. Whoever is ranked first by this definition at the conclusion of the season’s last event (typically in July) is the Season Champion, and will receive a double-special bracelet.
  7. Buyins and payouts will be handled using Venmo. Not having Venmo accessible for any event results in a one shot penalty. Any payouts owed to an individual who bought in with cash due to a lack of Venmo access (including any pending payouts) can and will be delayed until they eventually join Venmo.
  8. Starting in 2022, seasons will be aligned with calendar years.
  9. The person who wins a season is responsible for purchasing bracelets for the next year.

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. In the case of a series of wins, all consecutively won bracelets must be worn.
  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
  5. Winning four bracelets in a row = 4 shots.

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
  8. Waxcuses is required to deal the cards over the table’s crease. Failure to do so = 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. Monthly games are BYOB, but the host must provide liquor for shots.
  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 10:30 PM = 2 shots
  6. Setting an alarm for 10:30PM to leave immediately thereafter = 1 shot

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
  8. If anyones ends up in the money at a GOPT major event, they are required to spend half of that money (up to a maximum of $300) on the group — on drinks, food, etc.

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: October 29, 2021. Added 2.8 and 2.9.