This goes into effect beginning with the February 1st Sunday. Any information on the old Hardtimesbelllflower website is wrong.
This is IMPORTANT. Yes, they are written down. Yes, you should follow these rules when playing Hard Times (Bellflower)Tournaments.
-Don't bother other players.
-Be seated on the side while your opponent is at the table. Sitting across the room doesn't count.
-Don't jibber jabber with your friends on the side while in a match.
-Be ready when your match is called. If the clock is called on you, you get 5 minutes. Not there in 5 minutes? Forfeit.
-Play at a reasonable pace. Excessive slow-play is not acceptable.
-Practice on open tables if still in the tournament.
-Nobody other than myself, practicing players, and matches are allowed in the tournament play area. All bystanders and spectators are restricted.
-Promptly report your victory to the director.
-House rule is rack your own. You can rack for each other if agreed upon.
-When walking through the tournament area, use the walkway where possible and try not to bother other players. I know most people follow this rule, but occasionally I get a straggler who doesn't know.
-Understand that you MAY have to play matches back to back. The length of a break varies between matches, but get your business done then. Do NOT wait until after I called you to go to the bathroom or smoke a cigarette. There is a limit to both the frequency and length of breaks taken.
-During game play, taking a break is allowed, but if you take longer than 5 minutes, it may result in forfeiture of game and/or the match.
-Foul language and serious physical threats towards your opponent or anyone else will not be tolerated.
-Just leaving the table without appropriate gesture or sign to opponent may result in forfeiture of match.
-Lag for the break, unless you both agree to flip a coin.
-No gambling whatsoever on practice tables. This specific violation carries a monetary fine.
Penalty for continuously breaking the rules include, but are not limited to forfeiture of the game and/or the match.
The rules of etiquette listed here are not word for word, actual fliers will be available at Hard Times of both the tourney schedule and code of conduct. Okay. I got the legal stuff out of the way. Now I can get to the Actual changes:
Saturday Before 1st Sunday One Pocket.
-$200 added.
-32 player limit.
-Practice at 12:30, starts at 1pm.
-Race to 2, Finals to 3.
-Alternate Break.
-$20 entry, $20 optional side pot.
-4 Ball in kitchen rule still in effect, aggressively enforced.
1st Sunday of the Month
-$800 added.
-96 player limit.
-Practice at 12pm, starts at 1pm.
-$30 entry fee, $30 optional side pot.
-Race to 5, one-loss to 4
-Pro's go 1 game higher. If 2 pro's play each other, they go to 5 (or 4 on the 1-loss side).
-Finals a single race.
-Up to 32 spots early sign up available. Must see me and ONLY me in person to do so. If you go through somebody else or a different employee, I won't accept it.
3rd Saturday for B and C players ONLY.
-Based on the Handicap on Thursday nights.
-$200 added
-64 player limit
-Practice at 12, starts at 1pm.
-$15 entry, $20 optional side pot.
-Loser breaks, double elimination.
-Up to 32 spots available for for prepay. Phone in's not accepted.
-Handicap is game spots, not ball spots, as follows:
Player's ranked level 7 and 6 go to 4 games.
Ranked level 4 and 5 go to 3 games.
Ranked 3, 2, and 1 go to 2 games.
Provisional 7's not allowed to play still.
Thursday night Handicap.
-32 player limit
-$10 entry fee, $10 optional side pot
-Practice at 7pm, play at 7:30pm.
-Race to 3 and 2 on one loss side.
-Handicap rating system with ball spots. No "A" players.
-As far as handicapping goes, new players start as a 5, and can be raised if deemed appropriate whether you win or not. Player's who straddle between levels will be encouraged upwards. Basically, take the higher number as a challenge for yourself to play better than you used to.
Regular Sunday
-64 player limit
-$20 entry fee, $20 optional side pot.
-Race to 7, and 5 on one loss side.
-Finals a single race to 7.
-Practice at 12:30, starts at 1pm.
-Pro's go 1 game more. If 2 pro's play each other, goes to 7 (or 5 for one-loss side).
*For ALL side pot amounts, Director takes 10%, and the top 2 finishers split the remainder 70/30. If they finish tied (say 5th/6th), they split 50/50.
*Note that during 1st Sunday and Saturday and 3rd Saturday, I will not answer either the Hard Times phone or my Cell Phone. If you ever call me trying to phone in an entry for those days, this is considered an act of abuse, and I will block the number. I do not answer blocked, private, or otherwise unlisted numbers.
The hope is that more top level players will come to the 1st Sunday, and developing players will be more suited to the 3rd Saturday. The rules are now written on paper, although I should stress:
THE HOUSE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES AT ANY TIME.
I know how it feels when you play someone you personally know. But laughing and talking loudly disturbs other players around you. I know everybody wants to go out there and just play their game. Everybody wants to be treated with respect, but many times, a poolroom is where you find the least of it. The hope is that with these rules now written down, players will be treated how they want to be treated when they're at the table. The rules and changes won't please everyone, but I hope most of you will be.
I welcome your thoughts and comments, but please note that my telling me, they will in no way affect the way management operates. If you have a gripe with management, take it up with management. Now, if you have a problem with me, then take it up with me. I'll lend you an ear, but you've got to give it back.
This is IMPORTANT. Yes, they are written down. Yes, you should follow these rules when playing Hard Times (Bellflower)Tournaments.
-Don't bother other players.
-Be seated on the side while your opponent is at the table. Sitting across the room doesn't count.
-Don't jibber jabber with your friends on the side while in a match.
-Be ready when your match is called. If the clock is called on you, you get 5 minutes. Not there in 5 minutes? Forfeit.
-Play at a reasonable pace. Excessive slow-play is not acceptable.
-Practice on open tables if still in the tournament.
-Nobody other than myself, practicing players, and matches are allowed in the tournament play area. All bystanders and spectators are restricted.
-Promptly report your victory to the director.
-House rule is rack your own. You can rack for each other if agreed upon.
-When walking through the tournament area, use the walkway where possible and try not to bother other players. I know most people follow this rule, but occasionally I get a straggler who doesn't know.
-Understand that you MAY have to play matches back to back. The length of a break varies between matches, but get your business done then. Do NOT wait until after I called you to go to the bathroom or smoke a cigarette. There is a limit to both the frequency and length of breaks taken.
-During game play, taking a break is allowed, but if you take longer than 5 minutes, it may result in forfeiture of game and/or the match.
-Foul language and serious physical threats towards your opponent or anyone else will not be tolerated.
-Just leaving the table without appropriate gesture or sign to opponent may result in forfeiture of match.
-Lag for the break, unless you both agree to flip a coin.
-No gambling whatsoever on practice tables. This specific violation carries a monetary fine.
Penalty for continuously breaking the rules include, but are not limited to forfeiture of the game and/or the match.
The rules of etiquette listed here are not word for word, actual fliers will be available at Hard Times of both the tourney schedule and code of conduct. Okay. I got the legal stuff out of the way. Now I can get to the Actual changes:
Saturday Before 1st Sunday One Pocket.
-$200 added.
-32 player limit.
-Practice at 12:30, starts at 1pm.
-Race to 2, Finals to 3.
-Alternate Break.
-$20 entry, $20 optional side pot.
-4 Ball in kitchen rule still in effect, aggressively enforced.
1st Sunday of the Month
-$800 added.
-96 player limit.
-Practice at 12pm, starts at 1pm.
-$30 entry fee, $30 optional side pot.
-Race to 5, one-loss to 4
-Pro's go 1 game higher. If 2 pro's play each other, they go to 5 (or 4 on the 1-loss side).
-Finals a single race.
-Up to 32 spots early sign up available. Must see me and ONLY me in person to do so. If you go through somebody else or a different employee, I won't accept it.
3rd Saturday for B and C players ONLY.
-Based on the Handicap on Thursday nights.
-$200 added
-64 player limit
-Practice at 12, starts at 1pm.
-$15 entry, $20 optional side pot.
-Loser breaks, double elimination.
-Up to 32 spots available for for prepay. Phone in's not accepted.
-Handicap is game spots, not ball spots, as follows:
Player's ranked level 7 and 6 go to 4 games.
Ranked level 4 and 5 go to 3 games.
Ranked 3, 2, and 1 go to 2 games.
Provisional 7's not allowed to play still.
Thursday night Handicap.
-32 player limit
-$10 entry fee, $10 optional side pot
-Practice at 7pm, play at 7:30pm.
-Race to 3 and 2 on one loss side.
-Handicap rating system with ball spots. No "A" players.
-As far as handicapping goes, new players start as a 5, and can be raised if deemed appropriate whether you win or not. Player's who straddle between levels will be encouraged upwards. Basically, take the higher number as a challenge for yourself to play better than you used to.
Regular Sunday
-64 player limit
-$20 entry fee, $20 optional side pot.
-Race to 7, and 5 on one loss side.
-Finals a single race to 7.
-Practice at 12:30, starts at 1pm.
-Pro's go 1 game more. If 2 pro's play each other, goes to 7 (or 5 for one-loss side).
*For ALL side pot amounts, Director takes 10%, and the top 2 finishers split the remainder 70/30. If they finish tied (say 5th/6th), they split 50/50.
*Note that during 1st Sunday and Saturday and 3rd Saturday, I will not answer either the Hard Times phone or my Cell Phone. If you ever call me trying to phone in an entry for those days, this is considered an act of abuse, and I will block the number. I do not answer blocked, private, or otherwise unlisted numbers.
The hope is that more top level players will come to the 1st Sunday, and developing players will be more suited to the 3rd Saturday. The rules are now written on paper, although I should stress:
THE HOUSE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES AT ANY TIME.
I know how it feels when you play someone you personally know. But laughing and talking loudly disturbs other players around you. I know everybody wants to go out there and just play their game. Everybody wants to be treated with respect, but many times, a poolroom is where you find the least of it. The hope is that with these rules now written down, players will be treated how they want to be treated when they're at the table. The rules and changes won't please everyone, but I hope most of you will be.
I welcome your thoughts and comments, but please note that my telling me, they will in no way affect the way management operates. If you have a gripe with management, take it up with management. Now, if you have a problem with me, then take it up with me. I'll lend you an ear, but you've got to give it back.
Last edited:
. The only downfall is having to wake up a lil earlier to get in
.
