What are the house rules?

• There are no special house rules at Youngstown Poker; standard poker rules and etiquette apply.
• No splashing the pot. Bets are placed in front of the player and all bets are pushed into the middle after the round of betting is complete.
• No string bets. Players’ bets are the chips in hand which are pushed forward in one motion; the player cannot go back to the stack to retrieve more chips to bet UNLESS the amount of the bet was made verbally before any chips were pushed in.
• Making change from the pot. Do not take change from the pot for your bet until the round of betting is complete.
• If a player is not at the table and not in sight when the hand is dealt, that player’s cards will be mucked.
• Raises must be at least the amount of the last bet’s increase. For example:
  • A raise pre-flop must be at least 2x the big blind.
  • If Player 1 bets $10 and Player 2 raises to $25, then Player 3’s re-raise must be at least $40, the difference of $25-$10 ($15 + $25).

Can you straddle?

• A straddle is a voluntary blind bet before the cards are dealt essentially acting as a third blind to create a larger pot or to gain position in the hand.
• Players are able to “straddle” from either the button or under-the-gun positions, with the button getting priority. Straddle amounts are a maximum of $10 (for 1-3 NLH), but must be twice the blind at a minimum. There is a maximum of 4 straddles per hand.

When are tournaments played at Youngstown Poker?

• Tournaments start at 11:00am and 7:00pm, Tuesday-Saturday, and 2:00pm on Sundays. We are closed on Mondays.
• Tournaments typically last 3-4 hours.
• Check the schedule on the website for tournament times and sign up to be included on the distribution list to keep updated on upcoming events!

What is the rake and how is it taken?

• Youngstown Poker provides charity fundraising events and rakes 10% of pots, up to a maximum $8 at cash tables. If the pot is won before the flop, no rake is taken (known as “no flop, no drop”).
• For Pot Limit Omaha, the rake is also 10%, up to a maximum of $10.
• 25% of total buy-in money goes to charity.

What games are offered at Youngstown Poker?

• Youngstown Poker offers both tournaments and cash games for charity fundraising.
• Texas Hold’em is played in tournaments with varying starting chip stacks, buy-ins, and times of levels. Check the schedule on the website for tournament times and stakes.
• Cash games are $1-$3 Texas Hold’em at all tables, with a Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) game offered on the first Tuesday of each month. Visit the website for operating times and dates.

Can I call ahead to reserve a cash game seat?

• You can reserve a seat ahead of time.
• Call (234) 600-0976 to hold your place on the list. You must show up within 30 minutes of placing the call.

Is there a way for me to stay updated on the latest Youngstown Poker news?

• You can sign up for emails and texts using the Mailchimp sign-up form found on the home page.

Do you need a membership to play at Youngstown Poker?

• No, you do not need a membership to play at Youngstown Poker. The charity events are open to the public.
• You must be 18 to participate.