Showdown League Rules

These rules apply to all players participating in Showdown League events.

• Players must agree to and follow all Showdown League rules and TDA Rules (with modifications listed below).
• Before participating, players must complete a Player Agreement. Visit the Tournament Director or use the Sign-in kiosk at the venue to register.
• All events are FREE to enter. Chips are for gameplay only and have no monetary value.. Ask Servers or Staff for details on obtaining additional chips.
• Players earn League Points based on their final event placements.
• Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Players violating rules will receive a verbal warning, followed by penalties or removal from the event for continued infractions.
• Weapons of any type are strictly prohibited at Showdown venues.
• Gambling, cheating, theft, or placing currency on the poker table is strictly forbidden. Violators will be banned from future events.
• Excessive profanity, obscene language, disruptive behavior, arguing, shouting, or making excessive noise will result in penalties or event removal.
• Throwing, tearing, bending, or damaging cards or chips will result in penalties or event removal.
• All decisions made by the Tournament Director are final.
• Seating is randomized using the Tournament Director App or seating cards provided by the Tournament Director.
• The Dealer button starts at Seat 1 if randomization is used. If randomization fails, the dealer button is determined by dealing for the high card at one table, and this seat will become the dealer at all tables.
• Alternates must register and arrive by the end of the 6th blind level. Entry into the tournament after points are reached is not permitted.
• Alternates may join as soon as seats become available.
• Players from a broken table or late arrivals may receive cards in any position, including button, small blind, or big blind.
• Chips must remain on the table at all times, with high-value chips clearly visible.
• Bonus tokens must be placed on the table before a hand starts to be valid. Tokens received mid-hand are void if the player is eliminated during that hand.
• The dealer may fold a player's cards if they are absent when action reaches them.
• Bets and raises must be announced clearly. String bets and pot splashing are not allowed.
• Oversized chip bets count as a call unless a raise is verbally declared beforehand.
• Raises must at least match the previous bet or raise amount unless a player is all-in.
• Both cards must be shown to claim a contested pot.
• Side pots will be created when required.
• Checking the nuts (an indisputable winning hand) when last to act may lead to a warning.
• Showing live cards to an active player requires showing them to all players, subject to penalty.
• Showing cards to a folded player allows any other player to request viewing those cards after the hand concludes.
• Blinds will increase according to the posted Blind Schedule. Players must pay blinds when due.
• Dead Button rule: If the small blind player is eliminated, the button moves to the empty seat, and blinds proceed normally.
• Dead Small Blind rule: If the big blind player is eliminated, the small blind is skipped, and only the big blind is posted.
• If two players are eliminated simultaneously, the player with more chips at the start of the hand achieves the higher position.
• At the final table, players will be reseated, and the button position will be redealt.
• In heads-up play, the player due the big blind posts it. The small blind player receives the button, acting first pre-flop and second post-flop.

Please always treat Showdown staff, fellow players, and the game respectfully.

These rules are not exhaustive; players may be disqualified or suspended for inappropriate behavior not explicitly covered above.