There are rules on how your cards and chips should be presented to other players. Let's check out Rule 25:
25: Cards and Chips Kept Visible, Countable, and Manageable. Discretionary Color-Ups
A: Players, dealers, and the floor are entitled to a reasonable estimation of chip counts; thus, chips should be kept in countable stacks. The TDA recommends clean vertical stacks of 20 same denomination chips each as a standard. Higher denomination chips must be visible and identifiable at all times. If a floor person can’t look at a chip stack and quickly estimate its value, players likely can’t either.
B: TDs control the number and denominations of chips in play and may color up one or more players at their discretion at any time. Discretionary color ups are to be announced.
C: Players must keep live hands in plain view at all times.
Regarding A: As recently as yesterday I saw a player with their stacks of 5K and 10K chips behind a wall of 1K chips. Please keep the higher denomination chips in front so others can easily estimate your chip count. The stacks of 20 suggestion is also great because not only does it make it easier to total, but 20 chips fit in a rack perfectly should you be moved or coloured up.
Regarding B: Your massive intimidating chip stack is of no concern to me. When I colour you up to higher denominations it is intended to simplify several aspects of the tournament including the ability of others to assess your chip count and the ease of moving tables or managing pots.
Regarding C: Many players, especially new ones, like to keep their cards in their hand, which sometimes ends up on their lap, under the table and out of view. This is a no-no. Keep your cards in view to all players at all times, ideally on the table in front of your chips, only lifting them briefly to look at them (I suggest a card protector or a poker chip on top of them, like you see many players using). When your cards are hidden, not only is it against the rules, but players cannot see that you're still in the hand and it may disrupt play. Also, God only knows what kind of shifty things are going on when your cards and hands are below the table. This also goes for the deck stub. If you are the dealer, keep the deck stub in view at all times.
Dead Man's Hand Poker uses the rules set forth by the Poker Tournament Directors Association. The Poker TDA is a voluntary poker industry association founded in 2001. The TDA mission is to increase global uniformity of poker tournament rules. The Poker TDA rules can be found here.
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