Five WSOP Rules That Will Definitely Surprise You

#1 Protect Your Cards — Not Just Your Blinds

Did you know that you might face an unexpected opponent at the table? And that’s the dealer! This actually happened on Day 5 of the 2009 WSOP Main Event.

J.C. Tran opened for 32K. French journalist Estelle Denis went all-in for 142K. She was in Seat 9. The dealer, acting automatically, mucked her cards.

“It’s a joke,” she said as play continued. “I had two aces!”

Here’s how the situation was resolved: her 32K call remained in the pot, and 110K chips were returned to her stack. Estelle Denis finished in 203rd place for $36.6K.

Make sure to remember WSOP Rule 108: Protect Your Hand. Participants must protect their own hands at all times.

This rule is especially important if you’re in Seat 1 or Seat 9 — on either side of the dealer.

To protect your hand, use a card protector (also called a card cap). According to Rule 112: Card caps can be no larger than two (2) inches in diameter and no more than one-half (1/2) inch in depth. Also, participants may not place any food or beverages on the poker table with the exception of one capped bottle of water.

#2 Don’t Leave the Table If You Go All-In

Imagine this: you go all-in, and suddenly — from nerves, or maybe from the awful food — you need to rush to the bathroom. You think, “It doesn’t matter, I’m all-in anyway,” and leave the table.

Wait. Your hand can be declared dead.

This is due to the “abandoned hand” rule. Check Rule 84:

Once action has begun, a hand may be considered abandoned and mucked if a Participant is not at his seat.

#3 Still Wearing That Lucky Unwashed Shirt? Better Leave It In Your Room!

If you smell bad (or if your cologne is so strong it makes others uncomfortable), that’s a rules violation. According to TDA Rule 70, it’s an etiquette violation.

Etiquette violations are subject to enforcement actions in Rule 71 (warnings, penalties, and disqualification). Examples include but are not limited to: persistent delay of the game, unnecessarily touching another player’s person, cards or chips, repeatedly acting out of turn, maintaining poor card or chip visibility and countability, betting out of reach of the dealer, abusive conduct, offensive hygiene, and excessive chatter.

Offensive hygiene is a tournament director’s worst nightmare. Resolving this kind of situation often requires an uncomfortable conversation. A player may be asked to change clothes or take a shower.

We haven’t heard of disqualifications due to offensive hygiene — but if you have, share your story in the comments!

#4 Everyone Can Enter the Ladies Event — But Guys, Please Don’t Ruin the Vibe

The WSOP features many unique events: the Seniors Event, Tag Team Event, and of course, the Ladies Event.

The first WSOP Ladies Event took place in 1977. According to legend, the event was created specifically for the wives and girlfriends of players who had traveled to the series.

Other WSOP events were expensive and tough to win, but this one was a more accessible way to get involved instead of just waiting in a hotel room. The buy-in was $100, and the event was for women only.

There were 93 participants in the first Ladies Event, and the winner was Jackie McDaniels. She received $5,580 — the smallest champion’s prize in WSOP history.

Over time, the buy-in increased:

• 1978 — $200
• 1981 to 1991 — $400
• 1992 to today — $1,000

Today, the official buy-in is $10,000 — with an important twist: Ladies Discount to $1,000. This is done to stay within legal boundaries. You can’t outright ban men from participating, but you can offer a 90% discount to women.

Still, some men do join the event.

In 2010, Shaun Deeb entered wearing a straw hat and a light pink tank top. His makeup was done by Liv Boeree. The funniest thing is that a caricature of that image of Deeb is now set as his Twitter (X) avatar.

Tom Hammers played the 2021 WSOP Ladies Event. He promised to donate any winnings to charities that support women — but busted long before the money. His exit was met with applause.

No man has ever won the WSOP Ladies Event, but they have won women-only events elsewhere.

In 2009, 22-year-old student Greg Sessler won the Ladies Only Event at WSOP Circuit Lake Tahoe. He claimed it was the only tournament he had time to play.

In 2023, David Hughes won the $250 WPT Ladies Event, beating 83 entries and cashing $5,555 — a victory that caused a Twitter storm.

You can participate in the ladies tournament, but absolutely everyone will be happy if you bust.

#5 Don’t Comment, Don’t Criticize, Don’t Advise

You folded preflop, but would’ve hit a flush — and now you’re telling everyone about it? You think someone played terribly and want to let them know? You’re holding Jacks and ask others for advice during the hand?

All of that is against the rules. These are violations under Rule 116:

Table Talk / Disclosure: Participants are obligated to always protect the other Participants in the Tournament. 

Therefore, whether in a hand or not, Participants may not:

• Disclose contents of live or folded hands.
• Advise or criticize play at any time.
• Read a hand that hasn’t been tabled.
• Discuss strategy with an outside source while involved in a hand.
• The one-Participant-to-a-hand rule mentioned in Rule 113 will be enforced.

There is one exception:
A Participant is allowed to mention the strength or content of his/her hand if no other Participant in the hand will have a decision to make. In heads-up Events or when down to the last two Participants in a Tournament, Participants may speak freely regarding the contents of their hands.