Royal Flush
A♠
K♠
Q♠
J♠
10♠
The unbeatable poker hand. An Ace-high straight of the exact same suit.
The Official Club Handbook
Poker Guide & House Rules
Whether you are sitting at our felt tables for the first time or preparing for a championship tournament, our comprehensive guide outlines everything you need for confident, courteous, and competitive play.
Hierarchy of Hands
Official Poker Hand Rankings
In standard Texas Hold'em and Omaha poker, hands are ranked from highest to lowest. The player with the strongest 5-card combination takes down the pot.
Straight Flush
9♥
8♥
7♥
6♥
5♥
Five consecutive cards of the exact same suit. Highest card breaks ties.
Four of a Kind
K♠
K♥
K♦
K♣
4♠
Four cards of identical numerical rank accompanied by one side card (kicker).
Full House
J♥
J♠
J♦
8♣
8♥
Three cards of one rank matched with two cards of another rank.
Flush
A♦
J♦
9♦
6♦
2♦
Any five cards sharing the same suit, not in numerical sequence.
Straight
8♠
7♥
6♣
5♦
4♠
Five cards in sequential order across mixed suits. Aces can rank high or low.
Three of a Kind
Q♥
Q♠
Q♣
9♠
4♦
Three cards of identical rank with two unrelated side cards (kickers).
Two Pair
10♠
10♥
6♣
6♦
A♠
Two distinct pairs of matching cards plus one individual side card.
One Pair
A♥
A♣
K♠
7♦
3♠
Two cards of equal rank and three independent kickers.
High Card
A♠
J♦
8♣
5♥
2♠
When no player holds a pair or better, the hand with the highest single card wins.
How to Play
Tournament Game Formats
At Shuffle & Hearth, our dealers govern play in strict accordance with international tournament standards adapted for our social points circuit.
♠ No-Limit Texas Hold'em
The world's premier poker discipline. Each player receives two private cards ('hole cards'), followed by five shared community cards dealt across three betting stages.
- The Blinds: Two players to the dealer button's left post mandatory forced bets (Small Blind and Big Blind).
- Pre-Flop: Each player is dealt two hole cards face down. Betting begins with the player to the left of the Big Blind.
- The Flop: The dealer burns a card and turns three community cards face up. Second round of betting occurs.
- The Turn: A fourth community card is dealt face up, followed by a third round of betting.
- The River & Showdown: A fifth and final board card is revealed. Final betting round, followed by players showing hands to determine the winning points pot.
♣ Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO)
An action-oriented game similar in structure to Texas Hold'em, but featuring four personal hole cards and strict combination requirements.
- Four Hole Cards: Every player receives four private down cards instead of two.
- Mandatory 2+3 Rule: At showdown, every player must construct their hand using exactly two cards from their hand and exactly three from the community board.
- Pot-Limit Betting: A player cannot wager or raise more than the total size of the current pot at any given time.
- Deep Strategic Nuance: The extra hole cards generate numerous flush and wrap-straight possibilities on every turn.
Club Standards & Ethics
Official House Poker Rules
To preserve integrity, fairness, and camaraderie, all players, spectators, and staff are subject to the Shuffle & Hearth Card Room Rules.
Strict Social Gaming Standard: All poker events at Shuffle & Hearth are 100% points-based tournament games played for leaderboard ranking, trophies, and restaurant packages. No real money betting or cash buy-ins occur at our tables.
Table Mechanics & Betting Integrity
- Acting in Turn: Players must wait until the previous player has acted before calling, raising, or folding. Deliberate action out of turn is penalized.
- Verbal Declarations are Binding: Clearly stating "Call", "Raise", or "Fold" is legally binding on your turn.
- No String Betting: When raising chips, a player must either state the exact raise amount beforehand or move all intended chips past the betting line in a single forward motion.
- Chip Stacking & Visibility: All tournament chips must remain visible on the table at all times. Higher denomination chips must be positioned at the front or top of chip stacks.
- Show One, Show All: If a player reveals hole cards to any one active or seated participant at the table, all players are entitled to view those cards.
- Floor Rulings are Final: In any disputed scenario or dealer interpretation, the Tournament Floor Manager reserves the absolute final decision in the interest of tournament equity.
Tournament Clock & Re-entry Policies
- Blind Progression: Blind levels increase strictly according to the published tournament structure clock.
- Late Registration & Re-entry: Permitted until the conclusion of Level 4 (unless stated otherwise for turbo/specialty events).
- Chip Race: When lower denomination chips are phased out, odd chips are raced off according to standard TDA procedures.
Guest Wellbeing & Respect
Responsible Social Play Policy
Our card room is built on social enjoyment, good food, and competitive sportsmanship. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy against any behaviour that detracts from a welcoming atmosphere.
Club Etiquette & Player Conduct
- Strict 18+ Age Requirement: In compliance with Australian regulations and our venue licensing, all patrons entering the card room and dining lounge must be 18 years or older with valid government photo ID.
- Respect for Dealers & Staff: Dealers facilitate fair and neutral games. Abusive language, table slamming, or criticizing dealers or other players will result in immediate disqualification and removal.
- Responsible Alcohol Consumption: Shuffle & Hearth strictly enforces New South Wales Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) guidelines. Intoxicated guests will be refused service and withdrawn from tournament tables.
- Sportsmanship: Celebrate victories with grace and accept eliminations with good humour. "Slow rolling" and angle shooting are contrary to club values.
- Device Usage: Phones and electronic devices must be silenced and cannot be handled while involved in an active hand.
Card Room Customs
Card Room Etiquette & Traditions
Social poker at Shuffle & Hearth is as much about the shared experience and mutual respect as it is about the cards on the felt. Here are traditional practices that keep our room running smoothly:
- Protect Your Hand: Place a card protector or chip on your cards to signify an active hand.
- Keep the Pace Crisp: Pay attention to the action so the table flows effortlessly.
- Order with Consideration: When ordering table-side drinks or dining, place orders through our floor servers quietly between deals.
Download Tournament Rulebook (PDF)
Get instant access to our complete tournament schedule, blind structure matrices, points leaderboard scoring, and house rule definitions in a convenient document.