> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.fast.poker/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.fast.poker/for-players/time-bank.md).

# Time bank and timeouts

Every action has a soft time budget. The hand cannot wait on one player forever.

## The 20-second clock

When it is your turn to act, you have **20 seconds** of wall-clock time before the Dealer Service intervenes.

| If you do nothing for 20s and...        | The dealer auto... |
| --------------------------------------- | ------------------ |
| There is no bet to call (you can check) | Checks             |
| There is a bet to call                  | Folds              |

The minimum on-chain delay is 15 seconds, so the 20s threshold gives you \~5 seconds of margin for latency.

## Scheduled-duel clock

SnG Duels use a separate 20-second deadline for each private deal. PLAY accepts the current cards; NEXT CARDS or a timeout advances the duel. The normal tournament blind clock pauses for the full active duel, so duel decision time does not consume the blind level. Player time-bank seconds do not extend the duel deadline.

## Historical cash timeout behavior

Cash gameplay is retired. The rules below only explain state that may still be visible while an old table is being recovered or closed.

### Three strikes

In cash games, three consecutive auto-folds flips your status to **SittingOut**. Your seat stays at the table but you stop being dealt cards. To come back:

1. Click **Sit In** on the table UI.
2. Wait one hand boundary.
3. You are dealt back in.

In Sit-and-Go you cannot sit out; auto-folds just continue until you bust.

## Sit-out vs leave

| Action          | Effect                                                                                                            |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Sit Out**     | Stay seated, skip hands. Resume any time. After 5 minutes of inactivity in cash, the dealer may remove your seat. |
| **Leave Table** | Cash out immediately, vacate the seat. Funds returned to your wallet.                                             |

No new cash sessions can begin. Existing balances should be recovered and the table closed.

## When the dealer kicks you

The dealer can kick a cash seat in these cases:

1. **SittingOut > 5 minutes after playing in the session.** You are taking too long to come back. Stack is cashed out automatically. A pre-start cash table can also clear a sitting-out seat after the same timeout so the table can start.
2. **Legacy orbit counter reaches 3.** Older sit-out state can still be cleared when the dealer button has passed enough times.
3. **0 chips for 3 hands.** A busted cash seat can be removed if it does not rebuy.

Normal time-based sitting-out removal is gated by `session_hands_played`, not missed blinds. A cash player who has not played a hand is not removed by the normal sit-out timer except for the first-hand waiting-table case above.

## Heads-up exception

In a 2-player table the small blind acts first preflop. If you are heads-up and idle on a check-down spot, the auto-check fires after 20 seconds.

## Reconnects

If your internet drops mid-hand, the dealer keeps the clock running. You have up to 20 seconds from when your turn began (not from when you reconnect). If you miss the window, you auto-fold or auto-check.

The fix on your end is the standard fix: use a more reliable connection. Fast Poker keeps timeout rules simple so tables do not stall.

## Why so strict

Tables stall when one player is slow. A 20s cap keeps hands moving and other players engaged. The 15s on-chain minimum is the legal floor; the 20s UI cap is the dealer's policy.