Our mission is to build a social poker community where friendships form, people come together, and players feel like they belong — while supporting the local venues that make it possible.

Chasing isn't just an action at Riverchasers — it's a lifestyle. We offer great opportunities to win, but what we're really chasing is something more valuable than any prize: the community.

House rules vary widely, so the Tournament Host or TAP has final say on any hand dispute. Our rulebook blends Robert's Rules of Poker, casino tournament rules, and our own bar-league adaptations — giving the Host or TAP room to rule in the spirit of fair play, not just the letter of the rule.

The Host has full authority to remove a player's chips if their conduct is illegal, disrespectful, or a detriment to the tournament. Behavior that disrupts the game or other guests' enjoyment may be addressed at the Host's discretion — for example, repeated over-betting or all-ins, exposing cards after a warning, slow play, acting out of turn, or not sitting in your assigned seat.

Questions or feedback? Email HaveFun@Riverchasers.com.

A "Venue" is any bar, restaurant, tavern, or club that hosts our free weekly tournaments. Social poker is free to play — no risk, no entry fee — but the league only works because everyone holds up their end:

• Riverchasers provides quality equipment, a fair league structure, and honest results and promotions.
• The Venue provides a safe, comfortable space, good food/drink service at fair prices, and the advertised nightly prizes.
• Players support the venue with food and drink purchases and fair gratuities (18–20%+, and a bit more with every refill), and treat staff, other players, and other guests with respect — win or lose. Property damage, excessive outbursts, and unsolicited poker lessons for other players aren't welcome.

We hope you'll be the kind of valued customer we love having at our events.

A Tournament Host (TH) is a paid venue representative who runs the event and cannot play. A TAP (Tournament Assistant Player) is a league-nominated volunteer who can play, earn points, and win prizes while helping host — some events use more than one.

TAPs follow a Host Guide and a system of checks and balances — for example, chip color-ups and exchanges always happen at the table, in view of multiple players.

New players get a break: a TH/TAP may give a first-time verbal warning ("a pass") instead of a penalty, then enforce more strictly after that. We're here to teach, not punish — the goal is to have fun.

Interested in hosting or TAPing? Email HaveFun@Riverchasers.com.

Players must be 21 years of age or older and must show proof of age upon request. See the full Code of Conduct for table conduct expectations.

We play a single freezeout (no re-entry) Texas Hold'em tournament weekly at each venue, unless otherwise posted. (South Jersey Region runs a different blind/chip/bonus structure, posted separately.)

• Starting stack: 215 chips
• Blinds: 1/2 to start
• Blind levels: 20 minutes, dropping to 15 as the tournament progresses
• Structure may vary by venue — posted at sign-in or available from the Host
• Typical length: 3–3.5 hours

Note: the league currently has a few structures in play at once. Most venues run our pre-existing standard structure above. A select group of venues is testing a big-blind ante structure. And at a few venues, the Host adjusts the time schedule to fit that venue's closing time. Ask your venue's Host or TAP which structure is running that night.

Early Bird Bonus:

• Sign in 30+ minutes before start → +100 chips
• Sign in before start → +50 chips

Sign in in person and stay on venue property to keep the bonus — leaving early or gaming the sign-in (e.g. signing in someone who isn't there) forfeits it.

Late entry: sign in after start through the end of the 2nd blind level for a full stack, no deduction. Entry closes at the start of the 3rd level. The Host/TAP's clock is official.

Promotional Bonus Chip Card vouchers may require proof on request. Pre-registration isn't required for weekly events (though we recommend you join the league to track your rewards) but may be required for special/championship events — check each event's details.

Venues may adjust seating for space or staffing — dining guests are sometimes seated first.

• First come, first served. You may save one seat for one specific, named person — not anonymous players. Unclaimed saved seats open up 5 minutes before start.
• Waiting list. The Host may start up to 15 minutes early if the venue is full. The first blind level can run up to 15 minutes long to seat everyone; the second level may be shortened to compensate.
• Moving tables "in position." When consolidating tables, we try to keep you in a similar seat relative to the button, since our timed blind structure can be hurt (or helped) by a run of consecutive blinds.
• High-carding. Not needed if everyone moves into a similar position. If 3+ players land out of position, the table high-cards for the deal. Final tables always high-card.
• Posting blinds. Moved players skip the small blind/button unless that was their prior position, but must post every other blind — no skipping the big blind.
• Late players may be seated through the start of the 3rd blind level, with a chip deduction based on entry time. Seating isn't guaranteed.
• Courtesy dealing. If the small blind busts out, the previous dealer deals again — unless a newly-seated player can take over the deal without disrupting blinds.
• Rule of Two. Tables are balanced once the largest and smallest differ by 3+ players; a 2-player gap is fine. A table at 4 players pauses until consolidated (this doesn't apply to the final two tables unless the other one has 6+).

You must check in in person — chips can't be claimed on your behalf.

• 30+ min early → +100 chips; before start → +50 chips (stay on venue property to keep them)
• After start through end of 2nd blind level → full stack, no bonus
• Entry closes at the start of the 3rd blind level

The Host/TAP's clock is official. Join the league to have your results and rewards tracked automatically. Special/championship events may require pre-registration — check each event's details.

• Split pots: an odd chip that can't be split evenly goes to the active player left of the button.
• One player to a hand: don't expose or discuss your cards mid-hand.
• Mucking an unprotected hand forfeits it — no refund, except an uncalled raise.
• You can't kill (muck) an obvious winning hand that's shown face up.
• Protect other players: no discussing mucked cards or hand possibilities during a hand.
• The best hand wins, whether or not the player realizes it.
• Purposely exposing cards draws a warning, then a mucked hand on repeat; accidental exposure is judged case-by-case.
• Advising another player on their hand, or disclosing your own, can void the hand — repeat offenses risk disqualification.
• We don't use professional dealers, so honest mistakes happen. The Host weighs what a pro dealer or full-size table would have prevented when making a ruling.

• The last aggressor (bettor/raiser) shows first; otherwise showdown starts from whoever had first action.
• Want to see a mucked hand? Ask once per tournament, after the pot's already awarded.
• A hand shown to one player mid-hand must be shown to the whole table on request.

• Minimum opening bet: the big blind.
• Minimum raise: the bigger of the big blind or the previous raise amount.
  Example: Blinds 5/10. Player 1 bets 50. Player 2 raises to 125 total (a raise of 75) — the next minimum raise is also 75, for a total of 200.
• A full raise (≥ the previous raise) re-opens the action for everyone who already acted.
• An incomplete raise (under 50% of the previous raise, all-in only) does not re-open the action.
• A complete raise (50–99% of a full raise, all-in only) does re-open the action.
• String bets: say "raise" to protect your right to raise, but put the chips in with one motion, or state the amount up front.
• Acting out of turn deliberately is an etiquette violation; an accidental out-of-turn action stands unless it changed a skipped player's decision.

Chips and cards stay visible at all times — no pocketing chips (you'll forfeit them). Keep large-denomination chips visible at the front of your stack. Hold onto any Bonus Chip Card voucher; you may be asked to show it.

If you can't continue, your chips are forfeited — never pass chips to another player. Stepping out briefly (20 minutes or less)? Tell the Host. Longer absences may cost you your seat, at the Host's discretion.

Playing it straight as you head out — not going all-in repeatedly, not announcing your exit as a tactic — keeps things fair for the table. See Leaving Early below for the full etiquette breakdown.

Heading out mid-tournament? Avoid big pots as you near your exit, tell the table you're leaving, and turn your chips in to the Host.

Don't:

• Pass chips to another player — that's cheating, for both of you
• Go all-in repeatedly just to bust out
• Announce you're leaving as a table tactic — the Host can pull your chips if you do

• Exposed 1st or 2nd card during the deal → misdeal, reshuffle and re-deal.
• Exposed later card → keep dealing, swap it for the first burn card at the end (two exposed cards = misdeal).
• Premature flop → finish betting, reshuffle the flop back in, cut, deal a fresh flop (no new burn).
• Premature turn → finish betting, burn-and-deal the river as the new turn, reshuffle the set-aside card in, cut, finish betting, deal a fresh river (no extra burn).
• Premature river → finish betting, reshuffle it back in, cut, deal a fresh river.
• Exposed burn card → shown to the table, no replacement needed.
• Cutting the deck: dealer offers a cut to the player on their right (10+ cards per half); any player may request the dealer cut instead. Full walkthrough: How To… Cutting the Cards.

• Nightly cash/gift card prizes: set by each venue, per state law — ask the Host for the list.
• Bar Poker Open Tokens: top 3 finishers earn Tokens for BarPokerOpen.com championship qualifiers (free account required — register here).
• League Championship: the nightly 1st-place finisher during a qualifying period earns an invite to our Seasonal Championship.
• LC & SL Leaderboard points: the top 20% of the field each night earns points toward both our League Championship leaderboard and the Bar Poker Open Super League leaderboard — both offer bonus rewards and additional paths to championship qualification.
• Venue Leaderboard bonus: requires the venue to host 8+ events in a 26-week qualifying period.

Rewards tied to a finishing position (Championship seats, Tokens, etc.) go only to the player who earned that position and aren't transferable — if a top finisher declines their prize or points, it doesn't move up to the next player. Accepting or offering a reward you didn't earn risks forfeiting it and other league rewards.

No profanity, threats, or disturbances at the table — violations can mean immediate ejection, and repeat offenders risk a league ban. Speak up immediately if you spot an error (wrong amount in the pot, a misdirected card, etc.); knowingly using an irregularity to your advantage costs you the pot. Protect fellow players by keeping hand information to yourself until the hand's over. Full etiquette expectations are in our Code of Conduct.

Good-faith rulings and honest errors by tournament staff carry no liability for the venue, Riverchasers, or their staff. By taking a seat, you agree Riverchasers has final say on who plays, how the game runs, and how rules are enforced — and the venue can refuse service to anyone, for any reason.

Texas Hold'em has more regional variations than we can print here. Anything not covered above is the Tournament Host's call, in the moment.

Hosts and TAPs work to keep events pleasant but aren't responsible for other players' conduct. By playing in a Riverchasers event, you agree to this Code of Conduct and our poker etiquette. Violations can mean a warning, suspension, or permanent ban, at Riverchasers' discretion. Events are open to the public, though some club venues require membership under their liquor license.

Not permitted — this is a general list of examples, not a complete one:

• Collusion or any other form of cheating
• Threatening or assaulting any patron, host, or venue employee — verbally or physically
• Profanity or obscene language
• Arguing, shouting, or other disturbances
• Throwing, tearing, or damaging cards, chips, or event equipment
• Destroying or defacing property
• Bringing outside food or beverage to an event (unless otherwise noted)
• Violating any local or state law

Any action — poker-related or not — that the group or the venue considers detrimental to the overall enjoyment of the event can lead to a warning, suspension, or permanent ban, at Riverchasers' discretion.

Expected of every player:

• Be at the table to post blinds and deal on your turn
• Watch for an absent player who may be nearby before mucking their hand
• Be patient while a player orders from a server or bartender
• Clearly announce your betting actions
• Keep large-denomination chips visible at the front of your stack

Players should be helpful coaches to other players, not the poker police. There's a right way and a wrong way to point out an error or a rules violation — choose the right way.

Grounds for a warning, removal, or suspension:

• Deliberately acting out of turn or splashing chips into the pot
• Agreeing to check a hand down when a third player is all-in (a form of collusion)
• Revealing a folded hand's contents before betting is complete, to anyone
• Needlessly stalling the action
• Stacking chips so they interfere with dealing or viewing cards
• Statements or actions that could unfairly influence play, whether or not you're in the pot
• Cell phone use that delays the action
• Rabbit hunting more than once per event (and only with the hand-winner's OK)
• Berating or harassing a player over their play or the luck of the cards

Players involved in an improper table action will be offered the opportunity to learn the proper way to handle it before any level of reprimand is enforced.

Expected of every player:

• Report suspicious activity or suspected cheating to the Host
• Announce irregularities in the action
• Make new players feel welcome
• Help educate new players, politely

We appreciate our players. Please stay professional and courteous with everyone at the table — win or lose.

1. Dealer shuffles, then offers a cut to the player on their right.
2. That player cuts anywhere with 10+ cards in the smaller pile — or passes, in which case any player (including the dealer) may request a cut instead.
3. Set the cut card down, stack the cut portion on top of it, then place the remaining cards on top of that.
4. Deal from the freshly cut deck, with the cut card on the bottom.

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Our biggest event of the year, hosted at a casino poker room and open only to qualified Riverchasers players — not the general public like our weekly venue events.

You can qualify one of three ways:

• Finish among the top-ranked players in our overall season standings
• Win 1st place at a live league event or an online Bar Poker Open PRO event
• Finish 1st in your venue's own season rankings (the venue must have hosted a minimum number of qualifying events)

Qualifying through more than one path earns a higher qualifying status, which affects your entry fee. Registration is handled online at Riverchasers.com, during a set window announced each season.

At check-in, players receive bonus chip tickets that can be used as a rebuy or add-on early in the tournament. Prizes include a guaranteed top payout plus a broader cash prize pool paid out to the top finishers.

Watch our News Blog for the current season's dates, registration window, and entry fees.

Bar Poker Open is America's largest bar poker championship — players competing nightly at bars across the country for a shot at seats and vacation packages to the Bar Poker Open World Championship, held annually in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Florida.

Qualifying is an easy two-step process:

• Earn a Token. Finish in the top 3 at a live Riverchasers event.
• Redeem your Token. Trade it in online for a shot at Championship seats and vacation packages.

Free account required — register here.

An annual invitational tournament hosted at a casino poker room in Atlantic City, NJ, benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Format: no-limit Texas Hold'em with a starting stack of 10,000 tournament chips, played under TDA rules with the host casino's tournament staff holding final authority on rulings. Entry includes two bonus rebuy/add-on tickets usable early in the tournament.

Entry requires online pre-registration (seats are limited), a valid government-issued photo ID, a casino players card, and that you're 21+ and in good standing with a poker league. Prizes include cash payouts, player souvenirs, and Bar Poker Open seats and travel packages to the Bar Poker Open World Championship.

Watch our News Blog for this year's dates, registration window, and entry fee.

An annual invitational tournament hosted at a casino poker room in Atlantic City, NJ — a no-limit Texas Hold'em social poker event.

Format: starting stack of 10,000 tournament chips, with blind levels that lengthen later in the day and scheduled breaks throughout. Entry includes two bonus chip cards usable as a rebuy or add-on early in the tournament.

Entry requires online pre-registration, a valid government-issued photo ID, and a casino players card at check-in. Prizes include cash payouts, souvenirs, bonus hand prizes, and Bar Poker Open seats and travel packages.

Watch our News Blog for this year's date, registration deadline, and entry fee.