Poker Run Game Rules
Gentlemen, since there are prizes for the event, we’re going to need some rules here for who wins. There are 3 prizes available so best hand gets first choice, second best hand gets second choice and third best gets third choice.
- Best 5 card poker hand wins. The dealer will give out and record cards.
- *NEW* For this year's Poker Run we are introducing a new Wild Card rule. The last card drawn during the event will become a wild card for ALL players, so keep flying even if you have a poor hand started, thing can change at the end!
- Given the number of players, one deck per starting airport will be used. That deck will 'follow' those pilots throughout the event. In the event of a ‘tie’, the winner will be determined by one of the following methods:
- The 'winner' with 5 cards (if the other winners had less at the end of the event)
- If only one of the 'winners' signed up in advance, they get the prize. Advantage of signing up!
- War. Dealer will draw a card for each 'winner', highest card wins.
- This is intended as a VFR event! Don’t ask for or file IFR clearances if we're VMC. IF any airport is IMC and requires an IFR clearance, then all players will file IFR for that airport and be processed first-come first-served. Be patient if we have to go IFR for any of the airports.
- In the interest of time (a C172 should be able to complete the circuit in about 2 hours with ground time, dealer call, etc if VFR), you will PICK UP YOUR FIRST CARD ON THE GROUND AT YOUR ORIGINATING AIRPORT, BEFORE CALLING FOR CLEARANCE (At an uncontrolled field, contact the appropriate CTR or APP controller for flight following AFTER you get your card, but before departing). This is important, this is how you check in for the game and get your first card. You will not need to return to your originating field for the 5th card, although you may still return to your originating airport if you wish.
- Up to 10 planes will be allowed to start from any 1 airport. Players who signed up in advance will get priority. If you show up late and there are already 10 pilots leaving that field, pick another field. If all fields have 10 (50 total players), you don't get to play, sorry. You are still welcome to fly the event route or in the area and enjoy the ATC.
- Clearances can be taken before 1pm PDT but there will be no departures released or takeoff clearances for players before 1pm.
VFR TIME LIMIT (1 or less fields IFR during the game)
If only one airfield or less are IFR during the event, VFR time limit rules apply. You must be on the ground at the 4th airport and get your 5th card by 4pm PDT, period. Dealer stops at 4pm.
IFR TIME LIMIT (more than 1 field IFR during the game)
Since it may take much longer to run the game IFR given the proximity of the airports and number of planes involved, there will be a slightly longer deadline. You must call for* your clearance prior to 4pm PDT to qualify for the card at your destination. Even though you may land and taxi after 4pm, you can still call the dealer for your card if you called for* your clearance from the departure field before 4pm PDT. The dealer will know when you got your clearance from the controllers at that airport, no cheating :P (* you have to be at the airport to call for clearance, no calling en route to try and sneak another clearance in, yeah yeah, you never would have tried that, right?)
You may still win with less than 5 cards if the cards you do have make a good enough hand to win. If all 5 event airports are IFR on Sunday, there is a chance no one will get all 5 cards, so just keep flying and get as many as you can.
The ZSE ATM will determine the winner based on fair interpretation of the rules above. Be friendly and have fun out there. If something happens that isn't covered by the rules, the ATM will make the fairest decision on the winner possible.