Note: Rules 3, 6 and 7 only apply with Hold'em and Omaha tournaments.

1. All tournaments will begin promptly at the scheduled time stated in the Tournament Lobby.
2. Seats are assigned at random. Seat changes are not permitted.
3. The button will be positioned randomly to start play.
4. The tournament ends when one player accumulates all the chips in play. If the tournament is a satellite event, the tournament will end when all players have qualified for the target event (ie, if the tournament awards 5 seats, the tournament will end when there are 5 players left).
5. If two or more players are eliminated on the same hand, the player with more chips at the beginning of the hand is placed higher. If players started the hands with an identical amount of chips, both players tie for that rank, and any prizes due to those players will be equally distributed between them. During hand-for-hand play (as described in rule #20 below), two players eliminated during a single "synchronized" hand are treated as having been eliminated on the same hand, even if they are at different tables.
6. FlandersPoker uses a "forward moving button" rule in its tournaments. According to this rule, no player ever receives the button twice in a row; at the completion of every hand, the button is moved clockwise to the small blind. The implication of this rule is that when player(s) are eliminated, there may be players who get a reprieve from one or both blinds. The forward moving button is common practice in online poker due to the technicalities involved in adjusting the blinds after players are eliminated. Since these are basically random occurrences, no player will receive any long-term advantage, and the rule is necessarily fair for all players.
7. When two players remain, the button will post the small blind, and act first on the opening round.
8. Disconnects:
   
   
   • By participating in a tournament, a player accepts the risk of Internet disconnection, due to the problems with the connection between their computer and the servers, lag or freeze or some other problem in the player's computer. FlandersPoker does not accept any responsibility for a player disconnect except in the case of a server crash.
   • If a player times out during a hand, whether connected or disconnected, his or her hand will be folded if facing action, or may be checked if facing no action.
   • If a player is not connected before a hand starts, he or she will be dealt cards, and a blind and/or antes will be posted. There is no rule against choosing to sit out; a player doing so will continue to have blinds and antes posted and cards dealt.
9. Poker is an individual (not a team) game. Any action or chat intended to help another player is unethical and is prohibited. Unethical play, such as soft-play and chip dumping, may result in penalties, including seizure of funds from the offender's account or termination of the account.
10. A bet and three raises are permitted in fixed limit tournaments. There is no raise cap in pot-limit and no-limit tournaments.
11. Time Bank:
    
    
    • Each player will be allocated a time bank which allows the player extra time to make a decision. The time bank depletes as it is used throughout the tournament. If a player elects to use his or her time bank, other players at the table will be notified.
12. As players are eliminated from the tournament, the software may balance tables to ensure all tables have an equal number (or as close as possible) number of active players. The balancing of tables is done randomly and, although rare, may result in a player having to post several big blinds in a row. When 10 players remain in a Hold'em or Omaha tournament or eight players remain in a Seven Card Stud tournament, all players are brought together at the "final table".
13. Prizes will be awarded as stated on the Tournament Lobby.
14. In the event of a server crash, the hands in progress at every table will become invalid. Each player's chip count will be reset to the amount at the beginning of the hand. In special circumstances, when a tournament needs to be cancelled because of a crash or some other reason, players will be compensated according to Conditions of FlandersPoker.
15. Players and "railbirds" are expected to use the chat feature in a courteous manner.
16. Players, whether in the hand or not, may not discuss the hands until the action is complete. Players are obligated to protect the other players in the tournament at all times. Discussing cards discarded or hand possibilities is not allowed. A penalty may be given for discussion of hands during the play. Note: the purpose of this rule is to protect the interests of players who are still in the tournament but not in the current hand. Please see our Prohibited Tournament Chat examples for further information. More specifically, this rule does not apply to situations where only two players remain in a tournament, or the tournament began as a heads-up match.
17. Unregistration. In most tournaments a player cannot unregister during the last 3 minutes before the start of a tournament. The same refers to players who have won their seats through a satellite.
18. At critical stages of the tournament (e.g. where the prize money jumps significantly with the next few players eliminated) and when there is more than one table remaining, the tournament may be played "hand-for-hand". This means that if one table finishes its hand before the other table(s), that table waits for the other table(s) to finish before the next hand is dealt. During this hand-for-hand period, all bustouts during a "synchronized" hand (even at different tables) are treated as having happened on the same hand. Finishing order is then based on comparing stack sizes per rule #5, and not on who lost his chips earlier.
19. With trivial exceptions, a player may play on only one account during a tournament and may not "hand off" his seat in mid-event to a different player. Violation of this rule may result in penalties ranging from a warning, to disqualification from the tournament (with partial or full forfeiture of winnings), to barring from FlandersPoker.

Examples:

1. You get a phone call during a FlandersPoker tournament. You ask your spouse, who has already busted out of that tournament, to play your hands for you. You are on the phone for ten minutes and then resume play. This is permitted.
2. You and a friend are playing in the same tournament. You agree that if he busts out before you do, he will take over playing your account. This is prohibited.
3. You are playing in a tournament and lose power in your home due to a failure of your power station. You call a friend and he takes over until your power is restored. This is permitted.
4. Your spouse is out of town for the weekend, but gives you their password. You log into both this account and yours and play both accounts in the same tournament. This is prohibited.
5. You have progressed to the final few tables of a tournament and somebody offers you cash equity for your seat. You allow the other player to sign into your account, or you continue to finish the tournament following the explicit instructions given by him. This is prohibited.

20. In cases of disputes, FlandersPoker management decision will be final.

Top