Tournaments, step by step
How a Friday tournament runs from the entry list to the final table, played on chips of no value and decided for honour alone.
The order of the evening
Enter at the door
Entry opens at the door at half past five. A member of staff records the names of those taking part. There is no entry fee of any kind, and entering carries no obligation to remain until the end.
Take supper
Players are encouraged to dine before the tournament begins. The kitchen serves until eight o'clock, and the tournament starts at a quarter to eight, so there is ample time for a full meal.
Collect your chips
Each player is issued the same stack of chips at the archway. The chips have no cash value, belong to the house and are returned when the player leaves the table for the last time.
Draw for seats
Seats are drawn at random by the dealer, so that no player chooses a table or a neighbour. Players are asked to take the seat they are given and to wait for the dealer's signal.
Hear the rules
Before the first hand, the dealer explains the form of poker being played, the order of play, the size of the blinds and the time allowed for each level. Questions are welcomed at this stage.
Play the levels
The tournament is divided into timed levels of twenty minutes each. At the end of every level, the blinds increase, which keeps the game moving and ensures a decisive end.
Take the breaks
A break of ten minutes follows every third level. Players may stretch, take tea on the verandah or watch the other table. Chips remain at the seat, guarded by the dealer.
Combine the tables
As players are eliminated, tables are combined and chips moved by the dealers. Each player is told the new seat number and shown to it, and play resumes without delay.
Reach the final table
When six players remain, the final table is formed under the brightest lamp. The room gathers to watch, and the dealer changes. Spectators are asked to remain quiet while a hand is played.
Name the champion
The last player with chips is declared Champion of the night. The name is written on the board by the archway, and a small brass cup stands beside the champion until the house closes. It never leaves the room.
If you are knocked out
A player who is eliminated leaves the table with the thanks of the dealer. The kitchen serves tea and puddings until the house closes, and many eliminated players take a seat at the rail to follow the final.
Return to your seat
A player who has stepped away for a break must be back at the table when the dealer calls the level. A seat left empty is dealt in as usual, so it is wise to leave only at the breaks.
Why we hold a tournament at all
A poker tournament is among the oldest forms of friendly competition at a card table. Every player begins with an equal stack, nobody can lose more than their opening chips, and the evening ends with a single person standing. We have kept all of that and removed the element that most people associate with poker: money.
No fee is charged to enter, and no prize is given to the winner, whether in cash, vouchers, gifts or any special privilege. The champion receives recognition, the title of Champion of the night and a place on the board. That arrangement is deliberate, since it ensures that every player at the table is there for the pleasure of the game.
Many of our regulars discovered poker through the Friday tournament. The pace is moderate, the dealers explain without condescension and the structure rewards patience. New players are seated alongside experienced ones, which has proved the most reliable way of learning the game.
The tournament is held in person, in the casino room, and nowhere else. It cannot be entered online, there are no side events, and the chips have no value outside the room. Guests must be 18 or over, and the dealer's decisions on the night are final.
Anyone wishing to take part for the first time is encouraged to arrive early and speak to the dealer on duty. A few minutes of explanation before the first hand makes the evening considerably more enjoyable.
Newcomers often ask whether it is possible to arrive late. It is not, since a tournament begins with equal stacks for all, but the house will gladly seat a latecomer at one of the other tables for the evening. A friendly game on the side, played on chips with no value, is never refused.