“Tournament guide”: from entry to champion
How the weekly poker tournament runs, from the entry list to the name on the board. Chips have no value, and nothing is awarded but honour.
“The tournament, in order”
Put your name on the list
The list is kept by Denise at the door and opens when the doors do. There is nothing to pay and nothing to sign, and putting your name down carries no obligation to stay for the end.
Take dinner first
Soup is served from five and the tournament begins at half past seven, so there is time to dine well before the first hand. I advise the soup and a pudding, since both are quick and sustaining.
Receive your chips
At half past seven, each player is given the same stack of chips at the door of the board room. They have no cash value, they belong to the house and they are counted back at the end of the night.
Draw for your seat
Seats are drawn by the dealer, face down, so that nobody chooses a table or a neighbour. If you are nervous, say so to Rachel, who will gladly explain the order of play before the first hand.
Hear the structure
Rachel explains the form of poker, the size of the blinds and the length of each level, which is twenty minutes. She repeats the explanation for latecomers and invites questions from anyone who needs them.
Play the levels
At the end of each level, the blinds rise. This keeps the game moving and ensures that it reaches a conclusion in a reasonable time, usually about three hours after the first hand.
Take the break
A ten-minute break follows the third level. Tea is brought to the table, and players may stretch their legs in the hall. Chips are left at the seat, watched by the dealer.
Combine the tables
As players are eliminated, the two tables merge into one. The dealer calls the new seat numbers and moves the chips across, and nobody needs to carry anything.
Reach the final table
When six players remain, the last table is set beneath the pendant lamp. Spectators are welcome to stand along the wall, and the dealer changes, so that nobody is dealing to someone they have already beaten.
Name the champion
The last player holding chips is declared Champion of the night. Denise writes the name on the board by the double doors, and a small brass cup stands beside the champion until closing, then returns to its shelf.
“What is asked of every player”
- Every player must be 18 or over, and identification may be requested before play begins.
- Entry is free. No fee, deposit or contribution of any kind is taken, now or later.
- No prize is awarded in any form. The champion receives the title and a name on the board.
- Chips remain in the room and are counted back by the dealer when a player leaves.
- Seats are drawn; no player may choose or swap a table, a seat or a neighbour.
- Phones are silenced at the table, and calls are taken in the hall.
- A player who leaves for more than one level may be dealt out, and the chips are returned to the house.
- The dealer's decision at the table is final, and any complaint is made quietly to the manager afterwards.
“Do I need to know the game?”
Do I need to know the game already?
No. The tournament is the best place to learn poker because the pace is moderate and the dealers explain willingly. Rachel gives a five-minute introduction before the first hand, and players are free to ask for a reminder at any time.
Which form of poker is played?
Texas Hold'em, on most Fridays. Omaha is played occasionally, and the dealer announces the form at the start of the evening. Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw are reserved for special evenings and are announced in advance.
What if I cannot stay until the end?
That is perfectly acceptable. You may leave at any time by telling the dealer, who will count back your chips. Your seat will be filled by the next player on the waiting list, and nobody will think the less of you.
Is there any entry fee or prize?
None whatever. No fee is charged, and no prize of any sort is awarded, whether in money, vouchers or goods. The champion receives the title of Champion of the night and a place on the board by the double doors.
May spectators watch the final?
Yes, with pleasure. Spectators stand along the wall of the board room and are asked to remain quiet while a hand is dealt. Tea is brought to anyone who wishes for it, and the final is usually worth watching.