Misdeals

It has been brought up that I have not been following the TDA rules when it comes to misdeals. In part that is true. I received an email from the TDA talking about misdeals and that they were changing and I must have misinterpreted it.

The actually TDA rule is

#27 In stud-type games, if any of the players’ two down cards are exposed due to dealer error it is a misdeal. In flop games, exposure of one of the first two cards dealt is a misdeal. Players may be dealt two consecutive cards on the button.

I believe that it is less complicated for the average bar poker game to just call any exposed card not a misdeal. It saves time when blinds go up quickly and it saves arguments about if it should be a misdeal or not. The TDA does state

#1 Floor people are to consider the best interest of the game and fairness as the top priority in the decision-making process. Unusual circumstances can on occasion dictate that decisions in the interest of fairness take priority over the technical rules. The floor person’s decision is final.

I have sent an e-mail to the TDA board asking for clarification on why the rule is written the way it is. Roberts rules of poker also states the same but goes much farther about what must be declared a misdeal.

1. The following circumstances cause a misdeal, provided attention is called to the error before two players have acted on their hands. (If two players have acted in turn, the deal must be played to conclusion, as explained in rule #2)
a.The first or second card of the hand has been dealt face up or exposed through dealer error.
b.Two or more cards have been exposed by the dealer.
c.Two or more boxed cards (improperly faced cards) are found.
d.Two or more extra cards have been dealt in the starting hands of a game.
e.An incorrect number of cards has been dealt to a player, except the top card may be dealt if it goes to the player in proper sequence.
f.Any card has been dealt out of the proper sequence (except an exposed card may be replaced by the burn card).
g.The button was out of position.
h.The first card was dealt to the wrong position.
i.Cards have been dealt to an empty seat or a player not entitled to a hand.
j.A player has been dealt out who is entitled to a hand. This player must be present at the table or have posted a blind or ante.

2. Once action begins, a misdeal cannot be called. The deal will be played, and no money will be returned to any player whose hand is fouled. In button games, action is considered to occur when two players after the blinds have acted on their hands. In stud games, action is considered to occur when two players after the forced bet have acted on their hands.

In a bar game if we followed all these rules about every 3rd or 4th would be a misdeal and those of you that play bar poker know we get very few hands per blind level as it is.

So the question is. Should all TDA rules be followed to the letter in a bar game?
It's tough to answer. I try and follow the TDA rules but also have made exceptions for a bar poker games such as chips races and people calling the big blind when the pot was actually raised and they weren't paying attention.

Maybe what we need is BPTDA? (bar poker tournament directors association)