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House Rules

OFFICIAL RULEBOOK

SENTOSA CARD HOUSE

Welcome to Sentosa Card House, a fully legal private home game in Singapore.
By taking a seat in any game, you agree to abide by these rules and procedures.
The Host is the final authority on all matters relating to play.

These rules are based on Robert’s Rules of Poker, with clearly defined house-specific modifications noted at the end of this document.

SECTION 1 — PROPER BEHAVIOR

1.1 Conduct Code

The Host will attempt to maintain a pleasant environment but is not responsible for individual conduct. Access to the cardroom may be denied at the Host’s discretion.

The following are strictly prohibited:

  • Collusion or any form of cheating
  • Verbal or physical threats toward players, guests, or staff
  • Profanity or obscene language directed at others
  • Creating disturbances (arguing, shouting, excessive noise)
  • Damaging cards or property
  • Use or possession of illegal substances
  • Carrying weapons

1.2 Poker Etiquette

The following actions are improper and may result in warnings, suspension, or permanent exclusion:

  • Deliberate action out of turn
  • Splashing the pot
  • Checking down a pot when a third player is all-in
  • Soft play or favoritism
  • Reading another player’s hand before it is tabled
  • Instructing another player to table a hand
  • Revealing live or folded hands before betting concludes
  • Stalling the game
  • Improper discarding technique
  • Chip stacking that interferes with play
  • Statements or actions influencing the outcome of a hand
  • Use of real-time assistance (RTA) software

1.3 Tobacco Use

  • Smoking is permitted outdoors on the patio only
  • Patio door must remain closed

SECTION 2 — HOUSE POLICIES

2.1 Decision-Making Authority

  • The Host may rule in the spirit of fairness, even if strict rules suggest otherwise
  • All Host decisions are final
  • Errors must be called out immediately
  • Pots may be reconstructed if challenged before the next deal
  • Portions of pots may be impounded pending decisions
  • Player intent and experience may be considered
  • Players may request clarification on live/dead hands or reopening action

2.2 Procedures

  • One player per hand
  • No playing another player’s chips
  • Cash is prohibited on the table
  • Table stakes enforced
  • “Playing behind” allowed only for announced purchased chips
  • No pushing bets, posting for others, or insurance propositions
  • Dealing twice (or more) allowed when all-in
  • Chips must remain visible
  • Extended absences may result in chip removal
  • Foreign language use during a deal is prohibited

2.3 Seating

  • Host may restrict certain players from playing together
  • Button position determined by high/low card by suit
  • Initial seating randomized
  • Host designates Seat 1 to optimize dealing geometry

SECTION 3 — GENERAL POKER RULES

(Misdeals, dead hands, irregularities, betting, raising, showdown, ties)
All rules in this section follow Robert’s Rules of Poker unless explicitly overridden elsewhere.

SECTIONS 4–15 — GAME-SPECIFIC RULES

The following sections are adopted substantially from Robert’s Rules of Poker, with house clarifications:

  • Section 4 — Button and Blind Use
  • Section 5 — Hold’em
  • Section 6 — Omaha
  • Section 7 — Omaha High-Low
  • Section 8 — Seven-Card Stud
  • Section 9 — Razz
  • Section 10 — Seven-Card Stud High-Low
  • Section 11 — Lowball
  • Section 12 — Draw High
  • Section 13 — Kill Pots
  • Section 14 — No-Limit and Pot-Limit
  • Section 15 — Tournaments

These sections govern dealing errors, betting structures, showdown rules, kill mechanics, and tournament conduct without material deviation unless noted below.

SECTION 16 — EXPLANATIONS

This section preserves the explanatory notes from Robert’s Rules, including:

  • Button movement vs. dead button
  • Stud hand card-count discretion
  • Lowball exposed-card handling
  • Draw limitations to prevent cheating
  • Raise cap rationale in limit games

CHANGES MADE BY SENTOSA CARD HOUSE

(Compared to Robert’s Rules of Poker)

The following are intentional house-specific modifications:

1. Host as Final Authority
- All rulings are final with no appeal structure.

2. No Insurance or Proposition Bets
- Explicitly disallowed without exception.

3. Cash Prohibited at Table
- All play must be conducted using house chips only.

4. Real-Time Assistance (RTA) Software Ban
- Explicitly prohibited, including passive or advisory tools.

5. Guest Seating Policy
- Guests may sit behind a player only with Host approval and unanimous table consent.

6. Show-Card-for-$5 Rule
- After a hand concludes, a dealer may reveal the next undealt card only if the requesting player contributes $5 to the upcoming pot.

7. No Pot Chopping Except Blinds
- Splitting pots by agreement is prohibited.
- Blind chopping is allowed when folded to blinds.

8. Expanded Absence Enforcement
- Chips may be removed after 30 minutes without notice.
- Repeated absences may result in removal regardless of duration.

9. Foreign Language Restriction
- Speaking a foreign language during a live deal is prohibited to prevent information asymmetry.

10. Dealing Geometry Adjustment
- Seat numbering and dealer position optimized for a four-seat straight-edge dealing surface.

11. Enhanced Conduct Enforcement
- Immediate suspension or expulsion for abusive or disruptive behavior without warning if warranted.

GLOSSARY

(Glossary terms are adopted verbatim from Robert’s Rules of Poker and apply without modification.)

Sentosa Card House reserves the right to amend these rules at any time in the interest of fairness, legality, and game integrity.