The Official Poker Rules

Poker is a card game in which individuals compete for an amount of money or chips contributed by the players themselves, called the pot. Each player attempts to control the amount of money in the pot based on the hand they are holding and their predictions of what their opponents may be doing.

During a betting round, each player may check (call), raise the bet of another player, or fold. Once the final betting is completed, all remaining players with hole cards expose their hands. The player with the best hand wins the pot.

The rules of poker are set by a written code, called a “Robert Rulebook.” This document serves as the official rules of the game, although any club or group of players is permitted to make their own special rules, known as house rules. These must be agreed upon and documented prior to play.

A standard 52-card pack is used in most games, but two packs of contrasting colors are sometimes utilized to speed up the deal. The dealer deals one pack, then shuffles and prepares the second pack for the next deal.

When playing poker, it is important to make sure you are in the proper mental state to play. The game can be very mentally intense, and if you are tired, angry, or frustrated it will impact your ability to play well. Therefore, it is a good idea to stop playing poker whenever you begin to feel these emotions arising.