Official poker is a card game in which players compete for an amount of money or chips contributed by all participants (called the pot). Individual games may differ in how many cards are dealt, whether they are face up or face down, and how betting rounds are conducted. In addition, different card sets and hand rankings can be used.

The rules of official poker are a set of standards that govern the game and protect the rights of each player. These rules are generally known to all players and can be referred to as the “Robert’s Rules of Poker.” They cover topics such as how the game is played, how a hand is constructed, and the proper way to bet.

A key element of the official poker rules is that a player’s verbal declaration of an action, such as calling, raising, or folding, is binding. Likewise, touching another player’s chips without permission is against the rules and can result in being banned from a casino.

The rules of poker are based on various card games and vary between different games and card rooms. Despite these differences, most poker variants share similar gameplay and basic principles. In a poker tournament, each entrant pays an entry fee and begins with an equal amount of chips. The chips are then used to play poker hands until one person has accumulated the most chips and won the entire prize pool, or until a final deal is made to redistribute the remaining funds to each player in proportion to their finishing position.