What the fire circle always expected
A short guide to getting seated, staying seated, and calling it a night.
Getting in the door
Photo ID is checked every time, no matter how many times a face is already known.
A flat fee covers a chip stack for the evening; nothing further gets added on top.
Bridge is the one table worth booking ahead; the rest run on a first-come basis most nights.
The house dealer explains the rules gladly, before anyone's first hand is dealt.
How the room runs
A chip is worth its face value in points and nothing else — none of it converts to cash, ever.
Betting, side wagers and any kind of cash prize are all off the table, literally.
Whoever is dealing that table settles disagreements on the spot, and that ruling holds.
Keep calls away from the felt; step over to the fire circle if a phone rings.
A seat belongs to whoever is in it — nobody can reserve one for the rest of the night.
Winding up
Chips go back at the door on the way out; they are worth nothing anywhere else.
Last orders at the counter come half an hour before the room shuts, so tables have time to finish.
Anything left behind sits at the front counter for two weeks before it is given away.
Monday and Tuesday are set aside to reset the felt, so the shed stays dark those nights.