1.0 Club Goals
1.1 The Northern Cincinnati Poker Club will have these goals:
To send as many members as possible to a World Series of Poker (WSOP) event with a buy in of $1500, with up to $700 in expenses paid.
1.12 To have a lot of fun playing no-limit Texas hold ‘em poker tournaments each month.
1.13 To further each member’s hold’em poker skills.
1.2 The club fiscal year will be from Aug – July. The club is a not-for-profit organization.
2.0 Membership
2.1 Player must be 21 years of age.
2.2 Player must be invited by a current member of the club.
2.3 The club will be made up of no more than 20 members.
2.4 No professional gamblers will be invited to join the club
2.4.1 Club guidelines define a professional gambler as one whose primary vocation is that of a professional poker player.
2.4.2 Players who are existing members of the club in good standing prior to a decision to turn pro may retain their membership and are exempt from rule 2.4.1. Potential new club members that have exercised the right to turn pro prior to being accepted as a club member continue to be excluded based upon rule 2.4.1.
2.3 Player must be approved by a majority of the existing members of the club.
2.4 Player must sign the club rules document prior to the first event each year.
2.5 Waiting List: Existing members may sell or cede their membership at any time. If the existing member leaves during the course of the season, no accumulated points may be transferred to the new member. A “First Alternate” will be maintained in case a member withdraws during the year and does not sell or cede his/her membership. New members from the waiting list beginning before the third tournament will qualify in full for the WSOP but must play in 7 of 8 months. If not, they may not qualify for WSOP, but pay no annual administrative fee and qualify for the 1%-of-winnings benefit.
2.5.1 Should a NCPC member choose to exercise the right to sell their membership, the sales process will be initiated by the current Vice President.
2.6 Each club member will pay $50 per event for a total of $500 for the season.
2.7 Each club member will pay a $10 annual administrative fee, which will be for the purchase of supplies for each season, including cards.
2.8 The fees are due based on the following schedule:
August Event $110
September Event $100
October Event $100
November Event $100
December Event $100
2.9 Members cannot participate in an event that has not been paid for.
2.10 Members not paid in full at the December event will pay a $25 per month late fee.
2.11 Members not paid in full by the first January event are subject to being removed from the club by majority vote of the club members.
2.12 Members removed from the club due to unpaid fees will forfeit any fees paid to date.
2.13 The club dues will support the WSOP Trip, the monthly tournament payouts and any special events. The club is not allowed to make a profit.
2.14 The club will meet monthly to play Tournament Style Texas Hold’em. All members are to bring their own drinks.
2.15 Members unable to attend a tournament are still responsible for the $50 monthly dues.
2.16 A member is in “GOOD STANDING” with the club if all dues, fees, and penalties are paid in full. Also the member must not be under any club suspension.
2.17 If membership dues are not paid in full by the start of any tournament, the member is considered “NOT IN GOOD STANDING” by the club, may not participate, and will receive the score of zero. All outstanding dues must be paid in full to be reinstated.
3.0 Executive Committee
3.1 Each member of the executive committee is elected for a 1 year term.
3.1.1 Term is from June till May each year.
3.2 Nominations for the executive committee members will take place at the March event each year.
3.3 Voting for members of the executive committee will take place at the April event each year.
3.4 President Responsibilities
3.4.1 Accept rule change suggestions during the year.
3.4.2 Prepare rule change ballot for review by all members at the March event each year.
3.4.3 Distribute and collect rule change ballot to all members at the April event each year.
3.4.4 In presence of all members tabulate votes and announce results.
3.4.5 Issue rulings on disputes not involving the President during tournaments.
3.5 Vice President Responsibilities
3.5.1 Accept rule change suggestions during the year.
3.5.2 Issue rulings on disputes involving the President during tournaments.
3.5.3 Issue rulings on disputes not involving the Vice President in the absence of the President during tournaments.
3.5.4 Maintain the club rules document.
3.5.5 Obtain a signed copy of the club rules document from each club member.
3.5.6 Track event points earned.
3.5.7 Provide monthly report of points totals for each member of the club.
3.6 Treasurer Responsibilities
3.6.1 Maintain a bank account solely for the purpose of holding club funds.
3.6.2 Collect funds from each member of the club.
3.6.3 Provide a monthly report of account balance and any outstanding member fees.
3.6.4 Provide cash funds for monthly event pay-outs.
3.6.5 Provide cash funds for annual club winner.
3.6.6 Maintain bank statements and make them available to club members upon request.
3.6.7 Issue rulings on disputes involving the President and Vice President but not the Treasurer during tournaments.
3.6.8 Issue rulings on disputes not involving the Treasurer in the absence of the President and the Vice President during tournaments.
3.6.9 Purchase cards to provide 4 new decks of cards for each club event.
4.0 Tournament Events
4.1 Each event will be No Limit Texas Hold’em.
4.2 The Official Club Rules will be based upon the developed club rules in 9.0 and “Robert’s Rules of Poker.” A copy of the Rules shall be kept with the chips. The basic Robert’s Rules are available on-line as a WSOP site link but the full rules will be maintained as a copy with the chips and are available at other sites online for free.
4.2.1 Any exceptions will be defined in Club Rules section
4.3 Starting chip count for each player will be $10,000.
4.4 There will be 1 event held each month from August through January, then 2 events in February, and 1 event in March and April for a total of 10 events.
4.4.1 The executive committee may propose 2 events in 1 month if an event cannot be held in a single month due to scheduling conflicts.
4.4.2 2 events may be held in 1 month if an event cannot be held in a single month due to scheduling conflicts if approved by majority vote of the club members.
4.5 Events will take place at 7:00 PM on the 4th Saturday of each month, except the November and December tourneys, which will be held on the 2nd Saturday to allow for the Holidays.
4.6 The tournament events will take place at one of three locations and will be announced at least 2 weeks in advance.
4.7 All club disbursements, except monthly tournament winnings, will be made by check. All club checks and escrow disbursements will require approval of a quorum (at least three) of the club officers. All three of the Executive Committee members: the President, the Vice-President and Treasurer will be signers on the WSOP escrow account and the club checking account. All checks will require two officer signatures.
4.8 Any tournament playing disputes should first be resolved, if possible, by the players in the hand by referring to the Official NCPC Rules (“The Rules” see 5.0 and 4.2). If a dispute remains, it should be resolved by a majority vote of the officer(s) present using the Rules with the clock stopped. If the dispute must involve an officer decision, then any officer involved in the dispute may not be a part of the deliberations or the vote upon the final decision. In the event an officer vote is required but none are present, the players in the hand shall choose an independent player to make a ruling after review of the Rules.
5.0 Club Rules
5.1 Host Location
5.1.1 The host may provide specific rules and requests for their home such as smoking restrictions.
5.1.2 Host may not alter rules or play of the game.
5.1.3 Host will provide tables, chips and level time tracking.
5.1.4 Host will NOT provide food or drinks. However, the host MAY ask for a $5 donation and provide food.
5.2 Late Arrival
5.2.1 Players that have not arrived by the scheduled starting time will have their seat assigned.
5.2.2 Players not present at the event but are expected to attend will be blinded until they arrive.
5.2.3 Players that have not arrived within the first hour will have the remainder of their chips removed from the game.
5.2.4 Player can call to inform host or executive of later arrival to delay removal of chips.
5.2.5 Players that have chips removed will not be awarded any points or prize money for that event.
5.3 Substitute Players
5.3.1 A club member that is unable to attend an event is able to send a non-professional gambler to play in their place up to 3 events per year.
5.3.2 Substitute player may not be banned from the club.
5.3.3 Points will be awarded to the club member based on the finish of the substitute player.
5.3.4 Prize money will be awarded based on the finish of the substitute player to either the club member or the substitute, at the discretion of the club member.
5.4 Disputes
5.4.1 Any tournament playing disputes should first be resolved, if possible, by the players in the hand by referring to the Official NCPC Rules (“The Rules” see 5.0 and 4.2). If a dispute remains, it should be resolved by a majority vote of the officer(s) present using the Rules with the clock stopped. If the dispute must involve an officer decision, then any officer involved in the dispute may not be a part of the deliberations or the vote upon the final decision. In the event an officer vote is required but none are present, the players in the hand shall choose an independent player to make a ruling after review of the Rules.
5.4.2 Once action has begun on the next hand (a bet or raise) a dispute can no longer be claimed.
5.4.3 The decision of the appropriate executive committee member is final.
5.5 Abusive Players
5.5.1 Direct attacks on other club members or substitute players will not be tolerated.
5.5.2 A majority of the executive committee can remove a club member from an event due to player abuse.
5.5.2.1 Player will be awarded the points and prize money for the place they were in when removed from the event.
5.5.2.2 Remaining player chips will be removed from the game.
5.5.3 Upon nomination by a club member and then majority vote by the club members a person can be removed from the club for player abuse.
5.5.3.1 A person removed from the club will forfeit all remaining funds and be replaced by the first alternate according to the rules outlined in 2.5
5.6 No one will be allowed to buy more chips during the tournament.
5.7 No one will be allowed to loan or give another player any chips during the tournament. If a player leaves after the event has begun, their chips will remain in play with blinds deducted until the chips are gone. If the player returns, they may assume the remaining chip stack.
5.8 Table seating is determined by random draw.
5.9 Non-members (guests) are not to be involved in the play of any hand (one player to a hand rule).
5.10 All chips and cards must stay on the table at all times!
5.11 Do not SPLASH the pot! If this occurs the dealer must stop further betting and review the pot. All bets and raises are made in between the player’s hand and the middle of the table (the pot). Chips are then pushed to the middle AFTER the betting round is completed and before the next card is turned.
5.12 The DEALER must ensure that blinds are posted before dealing. The SMALL BLIND is responsible to ensure that all antes are made. The DEALER enforces all rules related to cards, chips and acting in turn during his/her deal. Call for an OFFICER to settle disputes.
5.13 Cards must be visible at all times. You may use a card cap, and do not hide the cards after you have looked at them. The dealer and other players must be able to clearly see if you are still in the hand.
5.14 When dealing, only burn a card just prior to the flop, turn or river.
5.15 If you are not present during play and it is your turn to place a Blind, it will be placed for you. Your hand will be folded if you are not present to act on it.
5.16 If two or more players have equal winning high hands, they will split the pot.
5.17 Your best five cards will make up your hand.
5.18 Hands will call themselves. A MUCK (dead hand) occurs when cards are tossed face down in the direction of the pot or discarded cards. Your hand should be turned up in front of you and not near the board cards.
5.19 If a player does not have enough chips to call a made bet, they can declare “all in” and a separate pot will be created for the amount over their chip count and the continuation of betting in that hand.
5.20 HAVE FUN
5.21 No kibitzing (this means members not in a hand may not make comments or provide unsolicited advice)
5.22 No cheating.
5.33 Two different decks of cards will be used to keep the games moving. The Big Blind will be the person shuffling the next deck to be used.
6.0 Club Monthly Tournament
6.1 Blind and ante structure is as follows:
Level Blinds Ante Minutes
1 25/50 30
2 50/100 30
3 100/200 30
10 Minute Break
4 150/300 30
5 200/400 50 20
6 300/600 75 20
Remove $25 Chips
10 Minute Break
7 400/800 100 20
8 600/1200 200 15
9 800/1600 200 15
10 1000/2000 300 15
11 1200/2400 300 15
12 1500/3000 400 15
Remove $100 Chips
10 Minute Break
13 2000/4000 500 15
14 2500/5000 500 15
15 3000/6000 1000 15
16 4000/8000 1000 15
5 Minute Break
17 5000/10000 1000 15
18 6000/12000 2000 15
19 8000/16000 2000 15
20 10000/20000 3000
6.2 Event payout based on number of club members.
Club Members 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 4th
Place
10 $140 $85 $55 Not Paid
11 $165 $100 $65 Not Paid
12 $190 $115 $75 Not Paid
13 $175 $105 $85 $65
14 $195 $120 $95 $70
15 $155 $90 $65 Not Paid
16 $145 $95 $70 $50
17 $165 $105 $80 $60
18 $120 $70 $50 Not Paid
19 $145 $85 $60 Not Paid
20 $135 $85 $70 $50
6.3 If a member is not present at the start of the tournament, someone will pick his/her seat position for him/her and his/her blinds and antes will be placed and his/her cards folded (post and fold) each hand until the member is present to act on their hand. AFTER the second blind change (one hour) the member’s chips will be picked up and taken out of play. Each player has a possible one-time annual exemption. In this event, the delayed player must call within the first hour, and may be allowed to enter play during the second hour with a chip stack depleted by the appropriate blinds.
6.4 Should the initial seating of absent club members result in unbalanced tables with an excessive amount of absent players seated at one table, the NCPC officers will balance the tables by distributing absent players’ chip stacks as evenly as possible across all tables. This may result in the movement of currently seated players to accomplish the required balance.
6.5 If more than one player is eliminated on the same hand, chip count at the start of that hand will determine their place at finish (i.e., the player with the highest chip count at the beginning of the hand, will receive the highest place finish.)
6.6 Any time that one table has 2 or more players than the other due to eliminations, the tables will be balanced as quickly as possible at the Vice President’s discretion (or his designee). Members leaving tables will be selected by a random draw. New members at each table will be seated according to the position(s) of the eliminated player(s). A player may get the big or small blind, or the button, but may not be seated between the small blind and the button. A dead button situation may occur. Standard tables of 9 members will always be maintained when possible.
6.7 The final table will consist of 10 members. There will be random draw with seating assignments for seating position and the one seat will be the button/dealer. Tournament will end when one member has all the chips.
6.8 When removing smaller denomination chips from the table, we will round up to the next denomination.
8.0 Club WSOP prize
8.1 WSOP prize payouts based on number of club members
Club Members Total Fees WSOP Prizes Awarded WSOP Entries WSOP Expenses Monthly Event Funds Per Monthly Event
10 $5,000 1 $1,500 $700 $2,800 $280
11 $5,500 1 $1,500 $700 $3,300 $330
12 $6,000 1 $1,500 $700 $3,800 $380
13 $6,500 1 $1,500 $700 $4,300 $430
14 $7,000 1 $1,500 $700 $4,800 $480
15 $7,500 2 $3,000 $1,400 $3,100 $310
16 $8,000 2 $3,000 $1,400 $3,600 $360
17 $8,500 2 $3,000 $1,400 $4,100 $410
18 $9,000 3 $4,500 $2,100 $2,400 $240
19 $9,500 3 $4,500 $2,100 $2,900 $290
20 $10,000 3 $4,500 $2,100 $3,400 $340
8.2 It is the winner’s responsibility to arrange their own travel, accommodations and WSOP Event registration.
8.3 Winner may play in any $1500 buy-in WSOP event.
8.4 If the winner is unable to attend a WSOP event the prize will be awarded to the next non-prize winning finisher, and the winner who was unable to attend will retain 3% of the prize winnings. The remaining 37% will then be divided amongst the club members as outlined in 9.2
9.0 WSOP Winnings
9.1 The club member(s) participating in the WSOP event are a representative of the club.
9.2 Any WSOP event gross winnings in excess of $2,200 will be divided as outlined in 9.2.1. The club Treasurer will verify the pay-out to the club and be responsible for collecting and ensuring distribution of same. Tips will be deducted from the prize pool awarded back to the club members. (For example: Member wins $3600 in a WSOP event and tips $50, the payouts would then be $3600-50 = $3550 * .60 = 2130 to the representative and the remaining $1420 would be divided evenly amongst the other club members). The event winner will be responsible for issuing checks and any required Form W-2G’s required by the IRS. The club Treasurer will supply any required member information needed (e.g. Names, Addresses and Social Security Numbers) to the event winner.
9.2.1 60% of winnings will be retained by the club member playing in the event.
9.2.2 40% of the winnings will be divided equally amongst the remaining members of the club.
10.0 Points System
10.1 Points are issued based on finishing position in each tournament event.
1st Place – 10 Points
2nd Place – 9 Points
3rd Place – 8 Points
4th Place – 7 Points
5th Place – 6 Points
6th Place – 5 Points
7th Place – 4 Points
8th Place – 3 Points
9th Place – 2 Points
10th Place – 1 Point
10.2 Chop pots will not be allowed. All tournaments will be played to the conclusion.
10.3 If multiple players are eliminated on the same hand the player with the higher amount in chips at the start of the hand will be awarded the higher point total.
10.4 Points are accumulated for each event during the year.
10.5 Final club standings will be based on season point totals.
10.6 If a tie breaker is needed, the resolution will be by a heads-up playoff tournament of by agreement between the tied players.
