TDA Says the Clock Now Triggers Blind-Level Changes
Justin Hammer says dealers can start the new blind level as soon as the timer turns over, without waiting for a floor announcement.
The Tournament Directors Association has changed how blind levels start in live poker: once the clock moves, dealers can immediately begin dealing at the new level, even if the tournament director has not formally announced it.
According to PokerOrg, PokerAtlas Live Events Director Justin Hammer described that as a recent TDA-approved operational change discussed at the 25th annual TDA Summit in Las Vegas. He said the old procedure required the director to officially announce the blind change before play could continue at the new level.
Hammer framed the rule as part of the TDA’s wider job of standardizing tournament rules so players know what to expect wherever they play. He said the organization was co-founded in 2001 by Matt Savage, Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher and David Lamb, and has since grown to more than 2,500 members in 63 countries.
The summit is where the association reviews whether existing rules should change and how they should be interpreted and enforced. Hammer said those discussions also covered other operational topics, including random table breaks and a clarification on how the big blind ante should be handled when two players bust in the same hand.
For the blind-level issue, the practical takeaway is simple. Under the updated approach, the clock is now the trigger for the new level, not the floor announcement.
