Poker's Tournament Directors Association (TDA) has released its updated rules set for the recommended operation of poker tourneys, including new or expanded guidelines for several areas that have beeen problematic for tourney directors and floor staff in recent years.
The 2024 version of the TDA rules, which is available to the public at a TDA dropbox link, includes the group's newly approved recommendations for administration of the big-blind-ante format, the use of smart devices at or near the tables, facial coverings, and rule-enforcement clarification.
Matt Savage releases update
The release of the updated rules set was announced by TDA founder Matt Savage via social media. The TDA rules set is the most widely followed set by poker rooms around the globe and is positioned as a supplement to specific rules that rooms may post. Many rooms use the TDA rules in their entirety, while some other rooms publish specific exceptions for their own tourney play while referring the vast majority of guidelines and rulings to the TDA's preferred outcome on a given topic:
Briefly, here are the basics on each of the four topics recently added to the TDA rules:
Big blind ante
The issue of whether, when a big-blind-ante format is being used and the big-blind player doesn't have enough chips to post both the ante and his own big blind, had already been approved by the TDA in favor of the big-blind-first calculation. This arguably gives the player a greater chance to recover from being an extremely short stack, and the fairness of that approach has been a hot topic since the format itself gained popularity.
The new rule RP-11 now reads: 'If a single-payer ante is used, the big blind ante format (BBA) with big-blind-first calculation is recommended. Antes should not be reduced (including at the final table) as play progresses in the event.'
Smart device use at tables
Increasing concern over the use of solvers and other poker apps demanded attention from the TDA's member directors, especially after the firestorm centered on 2024 WSOP Main Event winner Jonathan Tamayo and the use of a laptop by his friends at the rail during the Main Event's final table.
The TDA has adopted a new and prominent Rule 5 on this topic:
5: Electronic Devices and Communication
A: Players may not talk on a phone at the table. Ring tones, music, images, video etc. should be inaudible and non-disturbing to others. These and other devices, tools, photography, videography, and communication must not create a nuisance, delay the game or create competitive advantage and are subject to house and gaming regulations.
B. Phones and other devices may not rest on the table.
C: Players with live hands may not interact with or operate an electronic or communication device. The definition of such devices may include new technologies and shall be as updated by the TD.
D: Betting apps, charts, and other poker strategy tools may not be used at the table. Nor may players receive or use poker strategy data from another person or source.
The new rule is also included as "improper use of devices or strategy tools" in a related rule governing the administration of penalties for cheating or misbehavior, which can range from warnings and hands or laps away from the table to disqualification from a tournament.
Facial coverings
Masks, excessive clothing, and other attempts to hide one's identity are dealt with in a new rule about "player identity":
4: Player Identity
Players must be clearly identifiable at all times. Tournament staff may request a player to remove any item (sunglasses, hood, or other facial covering) which inhibits their identification or is a distraction to other participants.
Rule-enforcement clarification
The rule referred to in the new language on smart-device use has also been expanded and clarified. This Rule 71, the final rule in the 2024 TDA rules set, now reads as follows:
Rule 71
A: Enforcement options include but are not limited to verbal warnings, one or more “missed hand” or “missed round” penalties, and disqualification. For missed rounds, the offender will miss one hand for every player (including him or her) at the table when the penalty is given multiplied by the number ofpenalty rounds. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties. Players away from the table or on penalty may be anted or blinded out of a tournament.
B: A penalty may be invoked for etiquette violations (Rule 70), card exposure with action pending, throwing cards, violating one-player-to-a-hand, improper use of devices or strategy tools (Rule 5), or similar incidents. Penalties will be given for soft play, abuse, disruptive behavior, dodging blinds or cheating. Checking the exclusive nuts when last to act on the river is not an automatic soft-play violation; TD’s discretion applies based on the situation.
C: Players on penalty must be away from the table. Cards are dealt to their seats, their blinds and antes posted, their hands are killed after the initial deal, and if dealt the stud bring-in they must post the bring-in.
D: Chips of a disqualified player shall be removed from play.
For rooms using them, the 2024 TDA rules take immediate effect.
