Tournament Poker Rules

General Tournament rules for players actively participating in any PokerStars live tournament who test positive for COVID-19.

For Covid related issues players can reach out to us via ‘PokerStars Live Ask The Team’ Facebook Page, email at covid@pokerstarslive.com or via the casino.

If the tournament has not started a full refund will be given.
If the tournament has started, before we are in the money and the player has a full starting stack or more, they will have their full buy in refunded and their chips removed from play.
If the tournament has started, before we are in the money, and the player has less than the starting stack, the player will be given a refund proportionate to the stacks size. g. Buy-in of €1,100 (€1,000 + €100) starting stack of 10,000.
- Player has 5,000 in chips. Player will receive a refund of €600 (€500 for the value of the chips and €100 registration fee).
- Player has 2,000 in chips. Player will receive a refund of €300 (€200 for the value of the chips and €100 registration fee).
In all refund cases the full registration fee will be refunded regardless of the % of stack remaining.
If the tournament has started and we are in the money, the players stack will remain in play and will be blinded out until eliminated, the player will receive the prize amount and position at the point of elimination. Tournament staff will endeavour to move the stack around where possible minimalizing any advantages/disadvantages to any one table or player. Please note this is a courtesy rule and may not be possible in all situations.
Once the tournament reaches the final table, if desired, the remaining players may approach the TD to reach out to the missing player to see if a different an agreement can be made. PokerStars will honour any agreement as long as all the players agree. We encourage any talks of this nature to take place with the Tournament Director and the Tournament Director will assist where possible.
These rules are a guideline, some local gaming regulations may mean we have to deviate from these rules. Please contact PokerStars if you have any questions on any specific region.
We reserve the right to ask for proof of a positive rapid antigen test result if you request to be refunded.

PokerStars Live tournaments are run in accordance with the Poker Tournament Directors Association Rules (TDA) and guidelines. Click here to read the full TDA rules.

The TDA rules shall be the prevailing version in the event of any discrepancy between the versions published on this web site regardless of language.

Please Note: deviation from or addition to the current TDA rules has been highlighted below (in bold). Please read carefully.

Section: Seating, Breaking & Balancing Tables

Rule: Random Correct Seating

Tournament and satellite seats will be randomly assigned. A player starting in the wrong seat with a correct chip stack will move to the correct seat with his or her current total chip stack.

Rule: Number of Players at Final Table

10-handed events seat 10, 9-handed and 8-handed events seat 9 and 7-handed and 6-handed events seat 7 at the final table. No final table should seat more than 10. This rule does not apply to heads-up events.

Please Note: The following rules are unique to PokerStars Live events. Please read carefully.

Section: Warnings, Penalties, & Disqualification

A: Enforcement options include verbal warnings, one or more “missed hand” or “missed round” penalties, elimination, disqualification and exclusion from all PokerStars Live Events. 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 of penalty rounds. Repeat infractions are subject to escalating penalties but may not always be imposed in a sequential order of severity. Players should know any actions worthy of a penalty may result in a wide range of discipline even for a first offense. 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, or similar incidents. Penalties will be given for soft play, abuse, disruptive behavior, 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 are posted, their hands are killed after the initial deal, and if dealt the stud bring-in card they must post the bring-in.

D: Chips of an eliminated player shall be removed from play and they will be eligible to receive prizemoney. Chips of a disqualified player shall be removed from play and they will be ineligible to receive prizemoney.

E: Tournament Property – PokerStars Live Tournament chips have no cash value and are the exclusive property of PokerStars Live and may not be removed from the Tournament area(s) or the assigned event. Players found to be transferring chips from one event to another or from one player to another will be subject to penalties up to and including disqualification and exclusion from all PokerStars Live Events.

F: Any individual who encounters inappropriate behaviour on the part of another individual should immediately contact the Tournament Staff. This shall include, but is not limited to, any player whose personal hygiene or health has become disruptive to the other players seated at their table. The determination as to whether an individual’s personal hygiene or health is disruptive to other players shall be determined by the Tournament Staff which may, in its discretion, implement sanctions upon any such player who refuses to remedy the situation in a manner satisfactory to PokerStars Live.

G: Televised Feature Tables and Hole Cards – Players who enter a tournament that is a webcast or televised tournament, are required to cooperate with the filming personnel. This includes showing your hole cards to the card camera on the table. Failure to do so may result in a penalty.

PokerStars Live: Additional Information

1: Electronic Devices and Communication – Further Guidance

For the avoidance of doubt, the term Electronic Device includes, but is not limited to, the following devices, both known and unknown. Electronic Devices are not permitted to be placed on the playing surface, which includes any part of the poker table, at any time. Players are allowed to place items on the rail.

Phones, tablets and laptops - Players may use these devices (aside from taking calls) at the table, however not while in a hand.
Periscope, Twitch, etc. - The use of Apps or any other type of broadcast capability to broadcast the tournament while in play is not allowed.
There will be no electronic devices permitted on any Featured Televised Tables or Main Event Final Tables.

2: Chopping Prizes (Deal Making)

Deals will be allowed in all venues where it does not conflict with local gaming regulations. All deals will be reported to media.

3: Right to Cancel any Event or Tournament

PokerStars Live, together with the organising casino in which the Event will be held, reserve the right to cancel or alter any Event or Tournament at our sole and absolute discretion.

4: Right to Cancel Tournament (Minimum Players)

PokerStars Live, together with the organising casino in which the Event will be held, reserve the right to cancel any Tournament which does not have a minimum of 10 players entered by the start of said Tournament.

5: Right to Cancel Guarantee

PokerStars Live, together with the organising casino in which the Event will be held, reserve the right to cancel any Guaranteed Prize Pool where player attendance at the tournament is affected as a result of acts, events, omissions or accidents beyond the reasonable control of PokerStars Live such as acts of God, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, windstorm or other natural disaster; war, threat of or preparation for war, terrorist attack, civil war, civil commotion or riots; voluntary or mandatory compliance with any law (including a failure to grant any license or consent needed or any change in the law or interpretation of the law); fire, explosion or accidental damage; adverse weather conditions (e.g. Typhoon Warning of 8 or higher).

6: Deals on TV Final Tables

When players ask to pause the clock to discuss a deal during the final table of an event, TV coverage will cut from live play to a short break, during which time the Tournament Director will ensure that all relevant information – player names, advertised pay outs, current chip counts, and so forth - are tallied and independent chip model (ICM) and chip chop (CC) numbers are calculated. A printed sheet will then be prepared clearly showing these details.

Upon presentation of this information:

Any deal must be done at the final table and may be filmed.
Players are unable to leave the final table area but may invite one person to the table to assist them OR have phone contact with one person to assist them.
10% of the remaining prize pool, prior to a deal being agreed, must be left to play for.
Media – including those present at the event and those reporting on it subsequently - will report full details of any deal made.
Players will be given a maximum of 10 minutes to discuss a deal and come to a decision. If, at the end of the 10-minute period, players have yet to come to an agreement, the tournament clock will be re-started, and players will resume play.

7: Pace of Play

Players are required to always maintain a reasonable pace of play. Slowing down the game may result in penalties. TD decision will be final.

8: The Right to a Peaceful Game

All players are entitled to play the game in a peaceful environment without being badgered by other players.

9: GTO Solvers

Players are not permitted to use at the table at any time game theory optimal (GTO) solver software, GTO charts (whether used on an Electronic Device or otherwise) or any AI tool or similar algorithmic software that is capable of affording the user a competitive advantage in the Tournament. This prohibition includes players receiving assistance from spectators using such GTO charts, tools and software anywhere within the areas of play of the tournament venue.