WHO NEEDS DA ROTTEN RULZ?

updated 1/10/09

(Here's how things are done 'round these parts!)

If you have questions about any rules, please contact Lee at:

thedrunk123@yahoo.com

Please Keep in mind that these rules are NOT set in stone!
TOP Hosts reserve the right to be flexable at times to insure an
enjoyable Tournament.

• Format of Play

• Boot Rule 

• Player Advancement

• DQ Rule 

• Leaderboard Points 

• Change in Rank

• Tie Breaker 

FORMAT OF PLAY

• Each singles' tourney is comprised of 3 rounds: the first round (a 200-point game), a semi-final round (100-point game), and the finals (100-point game).
  
  The Game Leader (GL) is the first name posted in the room assignment and sets the room for each game (200 or 100 pts, rated, timeout, anyone, always pass [if tourney host chooses it], cut deck is optional to table host)
  
  After each game: If there are wild cards, the GL will report the diff or the scores to the game host in the TOP Lobby (if there are no wild cards, scores do not need to be reported).
  
  The 2 lowest scores from each table in the first round go on to the semis, along with any wildcards (the host will let the players know in advance if there will be wild cards from each round. In general, the top 3 should always come back to the game room until the wild cards are determined). In the event of rooms exceeding 8 (9-16), ONLY the winner plus wilds as needed will be used until 4 tables are filled. The Format would continue as follows:
  4rooms=Top 2 (2 semi rooms, top 2 to Final)
  5rooms=Top 2 & 2 wilds (3 semi rooms, winners & 1 wild to Final)
  6rooms=Top 2 (3 semi rooms, winners & 1 wilds to Final)
  7rooms=Top 2 & 2 wilds (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)
  8rooms=Top 2 (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)
  9rooms=winners & 7 wilds (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)
  10rooms=winners & 6 wilds (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)
  11rooms=winners & 5 wilds (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)
  12rooms=winners & 4 wilds (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)
  13rooms=winners & 3 wilds (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)
  14rooms=winners & 2 wilds (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)
  15rooms=winners & 1 wild (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)
  16rooms=winners ONLY (4 semi rooms, winners to Final)

• • EOM & EOY formats are basically the same for both EOM & EOY. "FOUR(4) rounds!" will be played with tables set to 100. The final will be determined by the total score after the 4 rounds. The top 4 will go to finals.
  • EOY, EOYs consist of the Final 4 of each monthly EOM
    as well as the 4 finalist of the previous year EOY.
    Subs if needed will be taken from the years Leaderboard Champs.

  Boot Rule: READ, PLEASE!

  1.     When a player is booted or leaves a game, WAIT for them to return (do not allow someone else to take the seat and do NOT play with a bot).

  2.    If they are not back in FIVE MINUTES, ask Host for a sub

  3.     Finish the game with the sub in place of the missing player (sub will get 5 extra points for subbing, plus their highest score, but not to exceed 10 points for the round).

  * If the missing player returns after the five minutes is up, we are sorry but the sub has now taken that spot and continues to play.

  4. If a player is booted 3 times in one tourney, the host will have to DQ that player from the tourney, and provide a substitute, in order to prevent on-going disruption of the game. We hate to do this, but it is not fair to keep the rest of the tourney waiting while one player comes and goes.

  Player Advancement
  
  The Following will apply for 3 to 8 rooms. The Top 2 winners (1st and 2nd will advance from that room). If either the 1st or 2nd place Player leaves, the 3rd place player will advance in their place.
  If both 1st and 2nd leave, 3rd place only will advance and another wild will be needed. At no time was 4th place meant to advance.
  Wilds if needed to make a complete room will be the 3rd place players with the lowest point differance between 2nd and 3rd place.
  
  The Following will apply to 9 or more rooms. The Winner Only and 2nd place wilds will advance to Semi's. If Wilds are still needed to fill a room, a 3rd place player will be determined to advance. Keep in mind that hosts dont normally track 3rd placement in these situations, so it will take time to determine who will go on. If needed, the Host will choose a sub.
  
  SUBS if needed in situations of either a player losing connection, or a Host needing a sub will be taken either from a late arrival or the LUCKY DOG rule, whichever applies 1st.
  LUCKY DOG rule. Lucky Dog is determined by the 1st room finished 3rd place player. If that player leaves or advances, the 2nd room finished etc.
  SUB Points. A Player recieves 5 points for subbing plus their highest score up to, but not exceeding 10 points for the round.

  DISQUALIFICATION
  Players maybe dq'd for any of the following reasons:

  1. Abusive or disruptive behavior toward staff or other players at any time during the tournament. This includes name calling and excesive fooms.
  SWEARING* will not be tolerated at all in TOP!
  Well, of course we know HW prevents you from swearing, however, implied swearing such as using the letters bs, f, fu, c and a few others I can think of! If abuse is reported by any player, the game log should be forwarded to Drunkie for reveiw. Forwarding a game log* This is done by locating the game log number in your /Progroams Files/Hardwood Hearts/GameLogs/ folder. Simply zip and send via e-mail. If you dont have Winzip, just attatch the text file.

  2. VOLUNTARILY leaving a game (including EOMs) *

  3. Refusing to start the game with the assigned players *

  4. Fooming during a pards' game *
  
  5. Intentionally throwing a game (first offence will be a 10 point deduction from leaderboard point total - second offence* - third offence will be a permanent ban from TOP)

  *If a player is disqualified for any of these reasons, the player's name will be disqualified from playing in any further tournaments for the next seven days (one week). If repeated, that player will be permanently banned from top!
  
  Autoplay
  
  Here in TOP, we consider putting yourself on Autoplay to be in direct violation of two rules concerning TOP policy. One is Bot Play, with exception to play-off games, here in TOP, we DONT play bots. A player putting themself on autoplay is introducing a Bot into the game by default. The other rule is throwing or forfeiting a game. Here again, autoplay would be considered throwing or forfeiting the gameplay.
  
  TRASH TALKING
  
   In game trash talking is a part of the game. However there is a difference between pointing out a bad play and calling a person out or threatening to get even. If you are trying to get even with a player then you are effectively throwing the game. This means that you are not aiming for low but instead you are aiming for the player that has made you mad. Do not make verbal threats in the game and you will not be accused of throwing the game. Statements like "Nice PNP", "Cover Your Passes", and "Go For Low" are all part of the game. Please understand that you cannot see what is in the other players hand and you should give the other player the benefit of the doubt. When a player is short suited sometimes thay have no choice but to dump. No player enters a game with the intent to take another player out. Please remember that all players have an ignore/mute button. If you cannot handle what is being said in the room, use your ignore/mute button. There will be absolutely no TRASH TALKING permitted in the lobby. TRASH TALKING in the lobby will cause you to be silenced. The hosts and players should not and will not put up with the disruption.

IF A PLAYER LEAVES...

If -- before a game starts -- a player leaves or is disconnected and does not make it back in time for the next game, the next player in that room moves up to that spot.  

CUT-OFF TIME FOR FIRST ROUND OF PLAY

In order to be fair to all our players, and not to have them waiting for long periods of time while a few rooms finish play, we will be ending our first round games at 10:30 p.m. (or the last hand played around that time). If we notice that a room is running late, our TOP staff will alert you in advance, so that you know about the cut-off time. Scores will be totaled at the time play is ended, and the games will be considered completed. (Any player refusing to leave the room at the cut-off time will be DQ'd)

DUTIES OF THE GL (GAME LEADER)

• When the host makes the room assignments, the first person listed is the GL (game leader)
  
  
• The GL will make the room and set the options (set to 200/100 pts, rated, timeout, anyone, cut deck is optional, and set to 'always pass' if the host requests)
  
  
• GL will launch the game when he/she has the exact four people who were assigned to that room. If you do not have the exact four that were assigned to your room, page the host to get a sub. (if host is doing open seating, the GL will launch game when all 4 seats are filled.)
  
  
• The GL records & reports differential (if needed for wild cards)
  
  
• The GL also handles any problems that might come up or alerts the game host to the problems so he/she can handle them.

Leaderboard points

Singles' players are awarded points for each game, based on their order of finish:

           First place finisher = 10 points

                                      Second = 7

                                          Third = 4

                                        Fourth = 1

*In cases of ties, there is NO fourth placer, the last place player(s) will recieve 4 points!

Players' points for each round will be totaled together for the evening, and will be added to their leaderboard point total.

Players MUST play the same name throughout the evening – even if they change ranking during the tourney. THEY CONTINUE TO PLAY with the same rank of players with which they started the tourney.

POINTS ARE AWARDED TO THE PLAYERS' NAMES, not to the player himself/herself.

PARDS TEAMS are awarded 10 pts to each player for winning, and 5 points to each player on the losing team.

 

TIEBREAKER FORMAT AND RULES:

If there is a tie during regular tourneys, the following rules will apply to the tie breaker:

• if there are 2 tied players, they will play in one room against 2 bots

• If there are 3 tied players, each player will play in separate rooms against 3 bots

• If there are 4 tied players, they will play in one room against each other

• Bot scores do not count

• Room settings are 100, social (unrated)

• If 2 or 4 humans are playing in one room, the human with the lowest score when one human has at least 50 points is declared the winner.
  
• If 3 players are playing in 3 separate rooms, the game will be played to 100, and the lowest human score of the 3 rooms will move on.

 

If there is a tie during an EOM or EOY, the following rules will apply to the tie breaker:

• if there are 2 tied players, they will play in one room against 2 bots

• If there are 3 tied players, each player will play in separate rooms against 3 bots

• If there are 4 tied players, they will play in one room against each other

• Bot scores do not count

• Room settings are 100, social (unrated)

• If 2 or 4 humans are playing in one room, the human with the lowest score when the game is over (played to 100 pts) is declared the winner.
  
• If 3 players are playing in 3 separate rooms, the games will be played to 100, and the lowest human score of the 3 rooms will move on.

 

TIED GAMES, regulation play:

• Games will be played until there is a clear winner, and scores will be recorded at the end of the game, after playing out the tie