POUR HOUSE TRIVIA RULES AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Rules of play:
1. VERY IMPORTANT!! No use of cell phones or other outside reference materials.
2. Please do not call out any answers (even if you are just trying to be funny).
3. No collaborating with other teams.
4. Once an answer sheet has been turned in, teams may NOT change their answer or their wager, unless instructed to do so by the host.
5. The host will have final say in all circumstances during play.
6. In order to earn nightly prizes, teams may not have more than seven players on any given night. Your team may play the game with more than seven players, but in that instance your team will ONLY receive the standard 10 participation points and will be ineligible for nightly prizes given away by the venue. For the purposes of this rule, anyone situated at your table or team area is considered to be a part of your team, regardless of their actual input.
PLEASE NOTE that there is no restriction on team size for California games.
Earning Pour House Trivia standings points:
1. Every team earns ten standings points for participating in a standard PHT game.
2. Finishing in first place at a standard game earns an additional ten points.
3. Finishing in second place at a standard game earns an additional seven points.
4. Finishing in third place at a standard game earns an additional four points.
5. At games with at least 15 teams, finishing in fourth or fifth place earns an additional three points.
6. Theme games do not earn standings points.
PLEASE NOTE that California venues use a different format for season standings.
CLICK HERE for information regarding the current California standings.
Pour House Trivia Postseason:
At the close of each season, the best teams earn an opportunity to compete in the Pour House Trivia World Series. To qualify for the World Series, teams must advance through the playoff round, typically held on a weekend afternoon two weeks before the World Series. There are two methods by which teams can automatically qualify for the PHT playoffs:
1. Win the regular season title at a PHT venue by earning the most standings points.
2. Earn at least 200 standings points at one single venue PLUS at least 200 standings points at all other PHT venues combined.
Pour House Trivia Wild Card games:
PHT teams that don't automatically qualify for the playoffs will have the opportunity to earn a berth through the Wild Card game. Teams must earn at least 200 standings points at their home venue to participate in the Wild Card game. The number of Wild Card berths allotted to each venue is based on the average attendance:
** For venues that start trivia after March 1, the points requirement will be adjusted based on the number of games played during the season.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: If I have a friend or someone who happens to be sitting at the table with us, do they count towards our seven-person limit even if they are NOT participating in the game?
A: Yes, if a person sits at or even lingers around your playing area, they will count towards the number of people on your team. Essentially, being on a team is not based on any verbal declaration by any team member. That declaration is in place when a person sits with a team who is playing trivia. So, if your host sees a person at a table for any extended period of time (more than two minutes), then that person is considered to be part of your team. If the extra people pushes your team size over seven, we may ask that those people sit away from your trivia headquarters during the game. Remember that your team can play with more than seven people, but will be ineligible for nightly prizes or extra standings points for a top three finish.
Q: What if my team disagrees with the answer that the host has given to a particular question?
A: We can assure you that the Pour House staff puts in countless hours of research into writing questions. We make every effort to be 100% correct, and we do not ask "trick" questions or questions that are purposely misleading or ambiguous. Our intent is to provide entertaining and engaging questions that are concise and accurate. However, sometimes we can come up short of this goal. If your team believes that the host has given an incorrect answer, or that your answer is also acceptable, please wait until the end of that round to discuss the matter. Please approach your host politely and let them know your team's concerns. At this point, explain the facts and provide some sort of proof for your argument. The host will take into account your argument and balance it against the facts presented through internet research and render a decision. It is difficult to describe how every possible scenario will play out, but it is always a priority at Pour House Trivia to be fair. Please remember that the host will have final say in all circumstances during play.
Q: I have noticed that teams at other venues have more points than my team. Will this affect my team's chances of getting into the playoffs or World Series?
A: No, your team is ONLY competing with teams at your home venue for a spot in the playoffs or World Series.
Q: If my team qualifies for the playoffs, can I invite my cousin who is a Rhodes scholar and a previous Jeopardy! champion? Or can my team merge with another team at the end of the season if we did NOT qualify for the playoffs?
A: Any player is eligible to compete in the playoffs or World Series as long as that player has played in at least four nightly events at ANY point.
If you have any other questions or comments, please contact us by CLICKING HERE.
1. VERY IMPORTANT!! No use of cell phones or other outside reference materials.
2. Please do not call out any answers (even if you are just trying to be funny).
3. No collaborating with other teams.
4. Once an answer sheet has been turned in, teams may NOT change their answer or their wager, unless instructed to do so by the host.
5. The host will have final say in all circumstances during play.
6. In order to earn nightly prizes, teams may not have more than seven players on any given night. Your team may play the game with more than seven players, but in that instance your team will ONLY receive the standard 10 participation points and will be ineligible for nightly prizes given away by the venue. For the purposes of this rule, anyone situated at your table or team area is considered to be a part of your team, regardless of their actual input.
PLEASE NOTE that there is no restriction on team size for California games.
Earning Pour House Trivia standings points:
1. Every team earns ten standings points for participating in a standard PHT game.
2. Finishing in first place at a standard game earns an additional ten points.
3. Finishing in second place at a standard game earns an additional seven points.
4. Finishing in third place at a standard game earns an additional four points.
5. At games with at least 15 teams, finishing in fourth or fifth place earns an additional three points.
6. Theme games do not earn standings points.
PLEASE NOTE that California venues use a different format for season standings.
CLICK HERE for information regarding the current California standings.
Pour House Trivia Postseason:
At the close of each season, the best teams earn an opportunity to compete in the Pour House Trivia World Series. To qualify for the World Series, teams must advance through the playoff round, typically held on a weekend afternoon two weeks before the World Series. There are two methods by which teams can automatically qualify for the PHT playoffs:
1. Win the regular season title at a PHT venue by earning the most standings points.
2. Earn at least 200 standings points at one single venue PLUS at least 200 standings points at all other PHT venues combined.
Pour House Trivia Wild Card games:
PHT teams that don't automatically qualify for the playoffs will have the opportunity to earn a berth through the Wild Card game. Teams must earn at least 200 standings points at their home venue to participate in the Wild Card game. The number of Wild Card berths allotted to each venue is based on the average attendance:
- Fewer than ten teams = ONE Wild Card berth
- Ten to 20 teams = TWO Wild Card berths
- 20 or more teams = THREE Wild Card berths
** For venues that start trivia after March 1, the points requirement will be adjusted based on the number of games played during the season.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: If I have a friend or someone who happens to be sitting at the table with us, do they count towards our seven-person limit even if they are NOT participating in the game?
A: Yes, if a person sits at or even lingers around your playing area, they will count towards the number of people on your team. Essentially, being on a team is not based on any verbal declaration by any team member. That declaration is in place when a person sits with a team who is playing trivia. So, if your host sees a person at a table for any extended period of time (more than two minutes), then that person is considered to be part of your team. If the extra people pushes your team size over seven, we may ask that those people sit away from your trivia headquarters during the game. Remember that your team can play with more than seven people, but will be ineligible for nightly prizes or extra standings points for a top three finish.
Q: What if my team disagrees with the answer that the host has given to a particular question?
A: We can assure you that the Pour House staff puts in countless hours of research into writing questions. We make every effort to be 100% correct, and we do not ask "trick" questions or questions that are purposely misleading or ambiguous. Our intent is to provide entertaining and engaging questions that are concise and accurate. However, sometimes we can come up short of this goal. If your team believes that the host has given an incorrect answer, or that your answer is also acceptable, please wait until the end of that round to discuss the matter. Please approach your host politely and let them know your team's concerns. At this point, explain the facts and provide some sort of proof for your argument. The host will take into account your argument and balance it against the facts presented through internet research and render a decision. It is difficult to describe how every possible scenario will play out, but it is always a priority at Pour House Trivia to be fair. Please remember that the host will have final say in all circumstances during play.
Q: I have noticed that teams at other venues have more points than my team. Will this affect my team's chances of getting into the playoffs or World Series?
A: No, your team is ONLY competing with teams at your home venue for a spot in the playoffs or World Series.
Q: If my team qualifies for the playoffs, can I invite my cousin who is a Rhodes scholar and a previous Jeopardy! champion? Or can my team merge with another team at the end of the season if we did NOT qualify for the playoffs?
A: Any player is eligible to compete in the playoffs or World Series as long as that player has played in at least four nightly events at ANY point.
If you have any other questions or comments, please contact us by CLICKING HERE.