DEPARTMENT OF ALGORITHMIC PLAY
2800 SAND HILL ROAD
MENLO PARK, CA 94025
NO LIMIT: OFFICIAL RULES
Every participant accepts these rules when they register for No Limit: A Bot Building Tournament. Teammates register from the link in their email.
OFFICIAL RULES FOR NO LIMIT: A BOT BUILDING TOURNAMENT ORGANIZED BY SEQUOIA CAPITAL OPERATIONS, LLC AND HOSTED BY OPENAI AND CITADEL SECURITIES
Sequoia Capital Operations, LLC (the "Organizer") organizes and administers the bot building competition described in these rules (the "Competition"). OpenAI OpCo, LLC ("OpenAI") and Citadel Securities are hosts (together, the "Hosts"). The Organizer is solely responsible for Competition administration, the competition platform, eligibility verification, scoring, winner selection, prize payment, tax reporting and withholding, and compliance with laws applicable to the events. The Hosts are not responsible for the Organizer's acts or omissions in performing those functions. By registering, each participant agrees to these rules as a binding agreement with the Organizer. The Hosts and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents are express third-party beneficiaries of the licenses, releases, indemnities, disclaimers, and limitations of liability that protect them under these rules. The Organizer, Hosts, and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents are collectively the "Competition Entities".
1. ELIGIBILITY
1.1Participation is open to currently enrolled students at any university in the United States and graduates of U.S. universities from the class of 2025 or 2026.
1.2All participants must be at least 18 years old.
1.3Gamemasters, judges, employees, officers, directors, and contractors of the Organizer, the Hosts, and their respective affiliates, and their immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members may not compete.
1.4Teams may consist of one or two people. Each participant may compete in only one regional event. Teammates do not have to attend the same school.
1.5Participation is free. Participants contribute nothing toward the prize pool. No purchase of OpenAI services or any other product or service is necessary to enter or win.
1.6Participants must be legally eligible to participate and receive prizes under applicable law and must not be subject to sanctions or export restrictions that prohibit participation or receipt of a prize. Any use of OpenAI services must occur from a country or territory supported for the applicable service as set forth here. The Organizer may require proof of age, university affiliation, identity, and eligibility. Participants acting for an employer, university, or other entity must have all necessary permissions to participate, submit their code, grant the rights in these rules, and receive prizes. Void where prohibited by law.
2. REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULE
2.1Each participant must register online by each deadline, including both members of a two-person team. Before completing registration, each participant must be given access to and affirmatively accept these rules, acknowledge the privacy notice identified in Section 8.2, and make any applicable photo and video election under Section 8.3.
2.2Each regional will accept a limited number of teams. Places are offered on a rolling basis. All participants must register at pokerbot.sequoiacap.com
2.3Participants must attend their regional in person for the full event. Check-in begins at 5:30 PM, and the regional event runs from 6:00-9:00 PM local time.
2.4Events will take place on the following dates in 2026:
- Friday, November 6 - Menlo Park, CA (deadline to register - Tuesday, November 3 at 11:59 PM PT)
- Monday, November 9 - Cambridge, MA (deadline to register - Friday, November 6 at 11:59 PM ET)
- Thursday, November 12 - Pittsburgh, PA (deadline to register - Monday, November 9 at 11:59 PM ET)
- Sunday, November 15 - Finals in San Francisco, CA (Attendance is by invitation only, with invitations extended to the top-performing teams at each regional event.)
3. POKERBOT COMPETITION FORMAT
3.1These competition rules apply to both the regionals and the Finals.
3.2The poker variant will be revealed on the day of each event at the start of the build phase. It will remain confidential until that announcement.
3.3Teams have 60 minutes to build a Python bot that implements the provided Agent interface. Teams receive a starter kit containing an agent template, local simulator, Independent Chip Model (ICM) calculator, payout structure, and blind schedule.
3.4Teams may use Astra and Codex to write, debug, and refine their bots during the build phase. Publicly available documentation is permitted.
3.5Each team may submit one bot every five minutes. The team's most recently accepted submission becomes its active bot.
3.6Submitted bots run in isolated sandboxes without network access. They cannot call OpenAI tools, external APIs, or any other outside service to make gameplay decisions.
3.7Each bot must return a decision within one millisecond. The maximum file size is 100mb. If a bot encounters an error or exceeds the time limit, it automatically folds, or checks if checking is available.
3.8Bot state resets at the start of each table. Opponents are anonymized so bots cannot identify specific teams.
3.9Bots compete exclusively against other bots. No humans play in the bot competition. Chips and points exist only within the simulation and have no cash value.
3.10No real money is bet by the bots. Participants, spectators, hosts, and all other attendees may not bet or wager on competition outcomes.
4. SCORING
4.1There are six scored tournaments, labeled T1-T6. The first begins at the end of the 60-minute build phase, with subsequent tournaments starting 20 minutes apart.
4.2Teams may continue editing and submitting bots after the build phase. At the start of each scored tournament, each team's active bot is frozen for that tournament. Any submissions accepted afterward apply to the next scored tournament.
4.3Each scored tournament consists of 10,000 simulated eight-bot sit-and-gos. In each iteration, bots are randomly assigned to tables.
4.4Each table plays until one bot holds all the chips or 200 hands have been played. Each bot starts with 2,000 chips. Blinds start at 10/20 and increase every 25 hands.
4.5Points are awarded based on each bot's finishing position at its table. The point distribution may vary by poker variant and will be announced at the start of the build phase. An eliminated bot receives the points assigned to its finishing position. If a table reaches the 200-hand limit, the remaining points are allocated among the surviving bots using the Independent Chip Model (ICM).
4.6If the number of competing bots is not divisible by eight, empty seats are filled with randomly selected copies of submitted bots. These filler bots earn no points.
4.7A team's score for each scored tournament is its average points per table across the 10,000 iterations. Later tournaments carry greater weight: Final score = (T1 score × 1) + (T2 score × 2) + (T3 score × 3) + (T4 score × 4) + (T5 score × 5) + (T6 score × 6).
4.8Ties are resolved by a tie-breaker challenge to be determined by the Organizer. The Organizer will announce the tie-breaker challenge and its objective skill-based scoring criteria.
4.9Competition rankings and prizes depend solely on bot performance under this scoring system, subject to the tie-breaking rule.
5. PRIZES AND ADVANCEMENT
5.1The top 5 teams at each regional receive $5,000 per team and advance to the Finals. We'll also select up to five additional wildcard teams across the regional games based on their scores.
5.2The Finals follow the same competition format using a different poker variant. Finals prizes are:
- First place: $100,000
- Second place: $50,000
- Third place: $25,000
5.3Prizes are awarded per team and split equally between teammates. Winners must complete the required tax documentation. Prizes will be reported as required by law. All prizes will be distributed by Sequoia Capital Operations, LLC. Winners are responsible for all taxes on their prizes. Payments are subject to applicable withholding and receipt of all required eligibility certifications, tax forms, releases, and other prize acceptance documents. Hosts have no obligation to pay prizes or handle the Organizer's or winner's tax obligations.
5.4Prizes will be paid within 30 days after the Organizer verifies the winner's eligibility and compliance with these rules and receives all required prize acceptance documents. Potential winners must return requested documents within 14 days after notification. Failure to do so, ineligibility, or a material rule violation may result in forfeiture, in which case the Organizer may select the next highest-ranked eligible team. Prizes and advancement remain subject to verification, including code review reasonably necessary to verify compliance.
6. CONDUCT AND INTEGRITY
6.1Teams will be disqualified for colluding with other teams, copying another team's code, interfering with the platform, or using the submission endpoint in unintended ways. The Organizer may also disqualify participants for cheating, fraud, harassment, malicious code, security abuse, material misrepresentations, or other material violations of these rules, applicable law, or applicable service terms, including violations discovered after an event or an initial announcement of results.
6.2The Organizer's technical lead has final authority over platform and timing decisions, including whether to delay a scored tournament. The events lead has final authority over rules and conduct decisions.
6.3Participants must raise any dispute with a Gamemaster before the next scored tournament begins. Disputes concerning T6 must be raised within 5 minutes after its results are published. Hand logs are retained to support dispute resolution. These deadlines apply to requests for review of tournament results and do not limit the Organizer's ability to investigate misconduct, verify eligibility, correct errors, or enforce these rules after the deadlines.
6.4Participants may not publicly share the poker variant or other unreleased event details before the event ends.
7. USE OF AI TOOLS
7.1AI tools may assist teams with writing, debugging, and refining bot code as described in Section 3. They may not make live gameplay decisions for submitted bots.
7.2The Organizer may use an AI model after hands have been played to select or rank hands for replay on spectator screens. This use does not affect gameplay, scoring, rankings, or prizes.
7.3Using OpenAI tools is optional at every stage of the tournament.
7.4Use of OpenAI services is subject to the applicable OpenAI agreement and Usage Policies, available at https://openai.com/policies/, and any applicable event-specific access terms. These rules do not amend those terms or authorize any otherwise prohibited use. Participants must review and test AI-generated code and remain responsible for their submissions. OpenAI does not guarantee that its services will be continuously available, that outputs will be accurate or error-free, or that using its services will produce any particular Competition result. Nothing in these rules grants rights in OpenAI services beyond those granted under the applicable OpenAI agreement.
8. CODE, DATA, AND MEDIA
8.1Participants retain ownership of their bot code, subject to applicable third-party rights. They grant the Organizer, the Hosts, and their respective affiliates a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to access, reproduce, execute, and evaluate submitted code solely to administer, support, troubleshoot, judge, and verify the Competition. They also grant those entities permission to reproduce, display, distribute, and use hand logs and anonymized results for Competition replays, publicity, judging, and post-event analysis. Participants must provide code and documentation reasonably requested by the Organizer to verify compliance. Submissions are provided without an obligation of confidentiality; participants must not submit materials they are not authorized to disclose. No ownership transfer or general-purpose license to commercialize participant code is required under these rules.
8.2The Organizer will collect and use registration data to administer the event as described in the privacy notice made available during registration at pokerbot.sequoiacap.com/privacy.html. Registration data will be shared with event partners only if the participant separately opts in during registration. Any Host receiving participant data will process it in accordance with its applicable privacy notice, including openai.com/policies/privacy-policy for OpenAI. Participation is not conditioned on consent to Host marketing or recruiting communications.
8.3Participants acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken during the event and grant the Organizer and Hosts (Sequoia Capital Operations, LLC, OpenAI, and Citadel Securities) and their affiliates the sublicensable right to use those photos and videos in internal and external marketing and promotional materials, unless they notify the Organizer and Hosts that they wish to opt out. The Organizer will provide a clearly identified contact and a reasonable process for making and implementing a photo and video opt-out before recording begins. Participants also permit the Organizer and Hosts to publish their names, team names, rankings, and results in connection with the Competition and its publicity, without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.
8.4Each participant represents and warrants that they have all rights, licenses, consents, and permissions necessary to submit their code and other materials, participate in the Competition, and grant the rights in these rules. Submissions and the uses authorized by these rules must not infringe third-party intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other rights, breach confidentiality obligations, or violate applicable law. Participants must comply with applicable third-party software and data licenses. Submissions must not contain personal information, third-party confidential information, malware, hardcoded credentials, plaintext passwords, or code designed to compromise the platform or other submissions.
9. GENERAL
9.1The Organizer may amend these rules before the build phase begins. Any changes will be announced to all participants. After the build phase begins, the Organizer may make changes reasonably necessary to address legal requirements, security incidents, fraud, or technical failures, subject to Section 9.2. Material changes will be promptly communicated to affected participants and applied fairly.
9.2The Organizer may cancel, postpone, suspend, or modify an event if it cannot be conducted fairly, securely, or lawfully as planned, including because of fraud, tampering, security incidents, technical failures, legal or regulatory requirements, or circumstances outside its reasonable control. The Organizer will notify affected participants and, to the extent practicable and lawful, determine any awards based on valid results obtained before the disruption or a fairly administered rescheduled competition. No Host is required to fund substitute prizes, travel, or other expenses arising from such action.
9.3To the maximum extent permitted by law, each participant agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Competition Entities from third-party claims, liabilities, losses, damages, and reasonable costs and attorneys' fees arising from the participant's submission or other materials, infringement or violation of third-party rights, material misrepresentations, violation of these rules or applicable law, or misconduct in connection with the Competition. This obligation does not apply to the extent a claim results from the indemnified entity's gross negligence, willful misconduct, or violation of law.
9.4To the maximum extent permitted by law, participants release the Competition Entities from claims arising from technical malfunctions, unavailable services, lost or incorrectly processed submissions, errors in scoring or prize announcements, and participation in the Competition or use of a prize. Competition materials and the competition platform are provided as available and without warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or noninfringement. Participants are responsible for their own equipment, expenses, and review and testing of code. No release or disclaimer applies to gross negligence, willful misconduct, or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
9.5To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Competition Entities will not be liable under these rules for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, including lost profits or lost opportunities. Each Host's aggregate liability arising out of the Competition or these rules will not exceed US$100. These limitations do not apply to fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct, or liability that cannot lawfully be limited. Claims concerning use of OpenAI services remain governed by the applicable OpenAI agreement, including its warranties, disclaimers, limitations of liability, and dispute-resolution provisions.
9.6Except for claims governed by an applicable OpenAI agreement as stated in Section 9.5, these rules and disputes arising out of them are governed by California law, excluding conflict-of-laws principles, and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in San Francisco County, California. Mandatory rights and protections under applicable law are preserved. If a provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
9.7Participation, a submission, or receipt of a prize does not create an employment, agency, fiduciary, or confidential relationship with any Competition Entity or constitute an offer of employment. No participant may bind any Competition Entity or represent that their code or other materials are endorsed by any Host.