Here's the DEAL

What's the deal with dealing?


For a LONG time we had no dedicated dealer at Pepper Street, all variations (cash and tournaments) were entirely self dealt.  We've now arrived at a place where dedicated dealers are used for all games EXCEPT for No-Limit Hold-Em Tournaments.

For Cash games, your host will deal the main game.  I don't expect tips, I host because I love hosting.  I won't stop you from throwing chips my way, but it really isn't necessary at all.

We rely on volunteers, entirely uncompensated with payment, to deal at the second table.  

Starting in 2026 I'd like to say it is official PSP policy for players to tip these volunteers as they see fit - meaning any amount or nothing at all - bearing in mind that volunteer dealers are providing a much needed service and any amount, even a small amount is a nice compensation and the right thing to do for their time and attention to this matter.

I realize that our cash games don't have quarters any more, so tipping for every hand won might be asking a bit much.  As an alternative might I suggest a simple $5 to $10 tip at the end of the night, perhaps smaller if you've been felted, perhaps bigger if you've had a substantial winning session.

If you have spent the entire evening with me dealing for you, I'd still suggest tipping the dealer(s) at the other table with whatever extra odd dollars you were planning on giving to me.  

For the occasional tournament that is not No-Limit Hold-Em only - volunteer dealers are used for all three tables.  

Table 3 (the first table to break) has a $10 discount, table 2 a $20 discount and table 1 (also the final table) a $30 discount on initial entry fees.

Tournament dealers are expected to keep dealing at their table even after busting out, until that table breaks.  They can buy out of their obligation by paying the balance of their entry in full and getting someone else at the table to replace them.  (must be a willing and competent replacement.  No discount for the new dealer)

The final table dealer may depart after 11pm if they have busted out.  The host will take over at this point.

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Shuffling:

Every table will have two decks.

In self-dealt NLHE Tournaments, the player behind the button shuffles the deck and passes it to the new dealer who may cut the deck himself or have the player on his left cut it.

With a dedicated dealer, the player behind the button shuffles.  The dealer cuts.  If the player behind the button is the dedicated dealer (and thus it's the dealer's turn to shuffle) the dealer passes the muck to the winner of the previous hand - winners tax!

Shuffling the deck should consist of the minimum of 3 full riffle shuffles + 1 strip (box)+ another riffle.

As an option, the shuffler may wash (scramble) the deck. Then he should riffle three times, strip, riffle once more and then pass the deck to his left for cutting.

Cutting the deck and using a cut card is mandatory.

***

MISDEAL RULES

INITIAL DEAL

1 FLASHED CARD:
DEAL SEQUENCE DOES NOT CHANGE,
REPLACE FLASHED CARD WITH BURN. FLASHED CARD IS NEW BURN.
IN STUD SWITCH WITH DOOR CARD.

2 FLASHED CARDS:
HAND IS DEAD. PERIOD

*****

COMMUNITY CARDS

FLASHED BURN
REMAINS UP UNTIL IT IS MUCKED BEFORE FLOP.

FLASHED FLOP
BURN AND TURN, BURN AND RIVER ARE FIRST DEALT OUT FACE UP, THESE ARE THE FIRST TWO CARDS OF THE FLOP.
THEN - THE BURN CARDS REMAIN BUT HE ENTIRE EXPOSED FLOP IS FLIPPED OVER AND REINSERTED INTO THE STUB. 
DECK IS RESHUFFLED THOROUGHLY, CARE IS TAKEN NOT TO EXPOSE ANY CARDS.
AFTER THOROUGH SHUFFLE, TOP CARD COMES OUT AS THIRD CARD IN THE FLOP.  PLAY PROCEEDS AS NORMAL.

FLASHED TURN
EXPOSED TURN CARD IS SET ASIDE, IT IS GOING BACK IN.

NEW BURN AND TURN (WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN THE RIVER, IT'S NOW THE TURN)

OLD BURN REMAINS BUT OLD TURN IS REINSERTED INTO STUB AND DECK IS RESHUFFLED THOROUGHLY, CARE IS TAKEN NOT TO EXPOSE ANY CARDS.

PLAY PROCEEDS AS NORMAL.

FLASHED RIVER
RIVER IS REINSERTED INTO DECK. BURN CARD REMAINS FACE DOWN.
RESHUFFLE.
NO BURN - DEAL RIVER.

*****

STUD

FLASHED DOWN CARD
DEAL SEQUENCE DOES NOT CHANGE.
PLAYER KEEPS EXPOSED CARD.
DEAL THE NEXT CARD TO HIM DOWN.

FLASHED RIVER
REPLACE FLASHED CARD
AT DEALS END WITH TOP CARD OF DECK
MULTIPLE FLASHED RIVERS CANNOT KILL ANYONES HAND.

*****

DRAW

SAME FLASHED CARD RULES APPLY FOR INITIAL DEAL

FLASHED DISCARDS
ARE REVEALED TO ALL AND MUCKED.

FLASHED DRAW CARDS
SEQUENCE DOES NOT CHANGE
HAND CANNOT BE RULED DEAD AT ANYTIME
REPLACE FLASHED CARD(S)
WITH TOP CARD(S) FROM DECK
AFTER ALL EXCHANGES.

**********

DEAL OUT OF SEQUENCE

HAND IS DEAD.

EXCEPTION ONLY IF:
DEAL CAN BE QUICKLY AND EASILY CORRECTED
WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

ONCE A SECOND PLAYER HAS ACTED
ONLY HANDS
WITH AN INCORRECT NUMBER OF CARDS
CAN BE RULED DEAD.
THE HAND IS LIVE.


**********


IF CARDS RUN OUT

STUD
RIVER IS A SINGLE COMMUNITY CARD

DRAW
MUCK IS RESHUFFLED AND REUSED
PLAYER MAY NOT REDRAW HIS DISCARDS FROM THE SAME DRAWING ROUND