Frequently Asked Questions

The Sunlit Felt is dedicated to offline poker. Our schedule features No-Limit Texas Hold'em tournaments, Pot-Limit Omaha events, Deep Stack Series, and curated bounty formats. All play takes place on custom-built poker tables with live dealers, premium cards, and tactile chip stacks.

Across the week you’ll find classic evening Texas Hold'em tournaments, midweek Pot-Limit Omaha, and feature Deep Stack events with generous starting stacks and balanced blind structures. Select nights are reserved for invitation-only and high roller style tournaments in our private suites.

Every tournament listing specifies game format, starting chip stacks, blind level times, maximum seats per table, and estimated duration, allowing you to choose the structure that suits your preferred style of social poker.

All poker tournaments at The Sunlit Felt operate strictly using tournament chips and points. Buy-in amounts are set in chips or points only and are associated with a standard starting stack for each event. No real-money wagering or cash payouts are offered on the premises.

When you secure a seat in a tournament, you’ll receive a clearly defined stack of tournament chips at the table. The blind structure, level lengths, and any re-entry rules (also specified in chips or points) are outlined on the event listing and reiterated by the dealer before the first hand is dealt.

Chip leader and final-table achievements may contribute to in-club recognition, leaderboard points, trophies, or hospitality experiences, keeping the focus on premium offline poker, sportsmanship, and social play rather than monetary outcomes.

Yes. Many guests visit Thecin Derroom purely for the culinary experience. Our kitchen serves a modern Australian menu featuring dry-aged steaks, artisanal charcuterie, refined share plates, and light options crafted for relaxed, comfortable dining.

You are welcome to book a table in the main sunlit dining room, enjoy cocktails and small plates in the lounge, or simply savour dessert and a nightcap at the bar. There is no requirement to join a poker table, and our team will always respect whether you are visiting for dining, offline poker, or both.

If you do decide you’d like to experience the card room after dining, our hosts can assist with waitlists and seat availability for upcoming social poker and Texas Hold'em tournaments.

No prior poker experience is required to enjoy The Sunlit Felt. While many of our regulars are seasoned Texas Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha players, we actively welcome beginners and guests who are new to offline poker.

Dealer-guided social poker tables and introductory sessions focus on the basics: hand rankings, turn order, chip handling, blind structure, and card room etiquette. Our dealers and floor team are trained to support new players in a calm, respectful manner without rushing decisions.

If you are new to the game, we recommend starting with a beginner-friendly or slower-structured Texas Hold'em tournament, where there is more time to observe, ask questions, and build confidence in a genuine offline environment.

You can reserve a dedicated poker table or High Roller suite via our reservation form or by contacting our front-of-house team. Advance bookings are highly recommended for peak evenings, private tournaments, and corporate poker events.

When submitting an enquiry, please share your preferred date, time, group size, level of poker experience, and whether you’d like a custom blind structure or a classic Texas Hold'em or Pot-Limit Omaha format. Our team will curate a suitable structure, starting chip stacks, and recommended schedule.

Tailored options may include dealer-only tables, multi-course dining, canapés and charcuterie grazing boards, and leaderboard-style recognition for the chip leader and final table. All experiences remain strictly offline and social, using tournament chips and points only.

Thecin Derroom is strictly an 18+ venue in line with Australian hospitality licencing. Valid photo identification may be requested on arrival or at any point during your visit, and we reserve the right to decline entry where suitable ID cannot be provided.

Our dress code is smart casual. We encourage polished yet relaxed attire that reflects the refined, sunlit nature of the card room and restaurant. Neat footwear, collared shirts or elegant tops, and considered smart denim or tailored pieces are welcomed.

We ask guests to avoid overly casual items such as thongs, activewear, or clothing featuring offensive imagery or language, to preserve the calm, sophisticated atmosphere of The Sunlit Felt.

Yes. The High Roller Lounge and private card suites are ideal for corporate functions, leadership offsites, celebrations, and VIP groups seeking a sophisticated offline poker experience. Each event is tailored to your group’s objectives and level of poker familiarity.

Options include fully hosted Texas Hold'em tournaments, Pot-Limit Omaha showcases, beginner-focused social poker nights, or a blend of dining and short-form card sessions. Dealer teams oversee chip stacks, blind progression, and table etiquette, allowing hosts and guests to relax and enjoy the evening.

Culinary packages range from grazing charcuterie boards and canapés to multi-course menus paired with sommelier-curated Australian wines and craft cocktails, all served within metres of the felt.

Our house rules are designed to create a fair, welcoming, and respectful environment for every guest, regardless of experience level. Dealers oversee chip values, betting order, and pot management, ensuring that play remains clear and consistent across the card room.

Key etiquette includes acting in turn, protecting your hand, handling chip stacks carefully, and speaking respectfully at all times. Slow rolling, collusion, or behaviour that disrupts the offline poker experience for others is not tolerated.

Full house rules, including detailed explanations of chip denominations, standard procedures for showdowns, and tournament-specific blind structures, are available on request from the floor manager or at the reception desk.

Thecin Derroom is committed to responsible, positive engagement in every poker session and hospitality service. Our focus is on the craft of offline poker, thoughtful strategy, and shared social moments around beautifully appointed tables, not on monetary outcomes.

Our team is trained to recognise when a guest may benefit from a break from the felt and to encourage balanced enjoyment of dining, conversation, and card play. We design blind structures and tournament formats that reward patience, sportsmanship, and respect for fellow players.

We also encourage guests to set their own time limits and to treat each tournament as a hosted entertainment experience, supported by attentive service, rather than a financial pursuit.