Blinds and Ante
Build the opening pot first.
Before each hand, designated positions post the blinds, and an event may also use an ante. These create the opening pot and drive action. They are not service fees and cannot be exchanged for cash.
Tournament Guide
Understand the procedures and essential rules before taking part
Learn the hand flow, table actions and venue requirements you need before joining an APA tournament experience.
Each hand begins with forced bets.
The example below uses Texas Hold'em. Card use and action rules for other formats are subject to the event announcement and briefing on the day.
Community Cards
Community cards are dealt in a fixed sequence.
- Flop3 community cards
- Turn4th community card
- River5th community card
Best Five
Seven cards are available, but only the best five count.
Each participant has 2 hole cards and the table can show up to 5 community cards. Make the highest-ranking 5-card hand from all available cards. You do not have to use both hole cards.
2 hole cards + 5 community cards > best 5-card handWhen it is your turn, speak clearly before moving chips.
Check whether there has been a bet before choosing your action. A clear verbal declaration made in turn may be binding.
No Bet Has Been Made
You may choose not to commit chips or become the first person to bet in the round.
- Check
- When no one has bet in the round, keep your hand without betting and pass the action to the next participant.
- Bet
- When no one has bet in the round, commit chips to establish the first bet.
Common Table Actions
Use clear, standard terms when facing a bet or making your next decision.
- Call
- Match the current amount required to continue in the hand.
- Raise
- Increase the bet to an amount that meets the minimum raise requirement.
- Fold
- Give up the hand and take no further part in the pot.
- All-in
- Commit all tournament chips available to you at that time.
Protect your cards, chips and decisions.
Participants are responsible for following the action, protecting their hand, keeping chips clearly visible and making every decision themselves.
- 01
Protect Your Hand
Keep your cards clearly visible and under your control. Do not push them into the muck before the outcome is confirmed.
- 02
Keep Chips Visible and Countable
Keep chips neatly on the table with higher denominations clearly visible. Do not cover them with your hands or other objects.
- 03
One Player to a Hand
While holding a live hand, do not show your cards to others, seek strategic advice or discuss the hand in progress.
- 04
No Devices During a Live Hand
While still holding cards, do not use a phone, communication device, strategy chart or external analysis tool.
- 05
Follow Event Procedure After Losing All Chips
Losing all chips means you are eliminated from the tournament. Return the tournament equipment to the dealer and leave the table. In exceptional circumstances, follow the tournament official's instructions. You may not borrow or exchange chips with another participant.
APA Participant Standards
At APA, chips represent tournament progress only.
Take part only within the designated area, follow venue rules and comply with instructions from dealers, tournament officials and venue staff.
- 01
Educational and Competitive Purpose
APA tournament experiences are for learning, practice and competitive exchange. They are not intended for gambling, betting or obtaining financial benefit.
- 02
No Returns of Value
Events offer no cash, cash equivalents, prizes, prize pools or other returns of value. If an official announcement provides for a winner's photograph or commemorative trophy, it is solely for event records or commemoration. The trophy has no cash value and cannot be exchanged.
- 03
Chips Are Scoring Tools Only
Tournament chips and scoring tokens have no cash, exchange or other value. They may not be bought, sold, lent, transferred, removed from the designated area or exchanged for any benefit after the event.
- 04
No Side Bets or Benefit Arrangements
Do not make or accept private bets on a hand, tournament progress or results, and do not use money, gifts or other benefits to influence a participant.
- 05
Report Suspicious Conduct Immediately
Do not take part, assist or attempt to handle the matter privately. Notify the dealer, tournament official or venue manager immediately and follow staff instructions.
If you are unsure, pause and ask.
Ask before moving chips, folding or leaving your seat. Clarifying first is usually easier than correcting an action afterwards.
What should I do if I am unsure whether I can check, call or raise?
Do not put chips forward. Ask the dealer or floor staff immediately. A clear verbal declaration made when it is your turn may be binding, so decide first and use standard terminology when you act.
If I face a bet and put forward one oversized chip, does that count as a raise?
Without a prior verbal declaration, putting forward a single oversized chip is generally treated as a call. If you intend to raise, clearly declare raise and the amount before the chip touches the table.
Can I borrow or buy chips to continue after I lose all my tournament chips?
No. Losing all the chips in your stack means you are out of the tournament. Return the tournament equipment to the dealer and leave the table. In exceptional circumstances, follow the floor staff's direction. You may not borrow or exchange chips with another participant.
Which instruction takes priority if this guide differs from a direction given at the event?
This page is a general participant guide. Any ruling at an event is governed by that event's announcements, APA Rules, venue rules and the decision of the floor staff on duty.
This page is a general participant guide and draws primarily on Poker TDA 2026 Rules V1.1. Actual rulings are subject to the event announcement, APA Rules, venue rules and the decision of the tournament official on duty.
Ready for your first event?
View the current tournament experiences and Structures, then confirm the format, time and participation requirements in the official announcement.
View Tournament Experiences