First, I'd just like to reiterate I am not posting these rules in order to penalize players that break them. Our league's social and free nature permits some flexibility, with decisions left to the TD's judgment. All factors will be taken into account, such as fairness, rule ignorance, and accidents. The intention is more about learning the rules that will be in place should you play a tournament at a casino or even at a charity tournament where the rules will be enforced more strictly.
Since everyone at the table is taking turns dealing, it may come in handy to know when to declare a misdeal as covered by rules 35-37. I'll start with rule 36 as it contains a definition used in rule 35.
36: Substantial Action (SA)
Substantial Action is either A) any 2 actions in turn, at least one of which puts chips in the pot (i.e. any 2 actions except 2 checks or 2 folds) or B) any combination of 3 actions in turn (check, bet, raise, call, fold). Posted blinds do not count towards SA.
It is important to understand Substantial Action (SA) as it is used to determine many rulings. Once SA has occurred it may be detrimental to go back and fix an earlier error.
35: Misdeals and Fouled Decks
A: Misdeals include but are not necessarily limited to: 1) 2 or more boxed cards on the initial deal; 2) first card dealt to the wrong seat; 3) cards dealt to a seat not entitled to a hand; 4) a seat entitled to a hand is dealt out; 5) the wrong number of cards is dealt to any player (except Rule 37); 6) Before SA, a non-standard card for the game type is found (example: jokers, 2-3-4-5 in short deck); 7) In flop games, if 1 of the first 2 cards dealt off the deck or any other 2 downcards are exposed by dealer error.
B: Players may be dealt 2 consecutive cards on the button (see also Rule 37).
C: In misdeals, the re-deal is an exact re-play: the button doesn’t move, no new players are seated, limits stay the same. Cards are dealt to players on penalty or not at their seats for the original deal, then their hands are killed. The original deal and re-deal count as 1 hand for a player on penalty, not 2.
D: Once substantial action occurs (see Rule 36) a misdeal cannot be declared; the hand must proceed unless the deck is fouled. Non-standard cards found after SA are treated as scraps of paper (exception: fouled decks).
E: Fouled decks. If 2 or more cards of the same suit and rank are found, the deck is fouled. Other fouled deck conditions may be defined by local gaming regulations and house policy. If a fouled deck is discovered, regardless of SA, play will stop and all bets will be returned. Once a hand concludes, the right to dispute based on a fouled deck ends.
Regarding B: This was new information to me as of yesterday as I used to think that no player could receive two consecutive cards off the deck. It turns out this is not the case for the player on the button and this rule may have been changed in recent years.
Regarding C: Note that if your hand was mucked because you were away from the table and there is subsequently a misdeal, you will not be entitled to play the hand should you return for the re-deal. You will be dealt a hand and it will be mucked immediately whether you are present or not.
37: Button with Too Few Cards
A player on the button dealt too few cards should announce it immediately. Missing button cards may be replaced even after substantial action if permitted for the game type. However, if the button acts on a hand with too few cards (by check or bet), the button’s hand is dead.
I think the rest of these rules are self explanatory, but I encourage discussion of these or any rules with myself or other players. The more we all learn the better players (and TDs) we all become.
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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