Official poker is an exciting game of cards that can be played for pennies or thousands of dollars. It’s a game that requires both luck and skill to be successful, and is enjoyed by players of all ages and backgrounds.
The rules of the game vary slightly by region, but most of them follow a set of basic laws. These laws are designed to ensure fair play and provide a consistent basis for settling disputes. Occasionally, situations arise that necessitate special rules. In these cases, it is the responsibility of all players to know the rules and abide by them.
All players are required to keep their live hands visible at all times. They must also protect their cards by placing a chip or other object on top of them. Players must always announce their action before acting. A player who acts out of turn is penalized. If a dealer accidentally exposes a card before the first betting round, the card is returned to the deck and used as the burncard. Procedure for an exposed card varies by poker form, and is stated in the specific section for each game.
A dealer must always deal at least one card to each player, unless the game specifies that only a certain number of cards are dealt. Each player must then ante or place an amount of chips into the pot, depending on the game.
It is the responsibility of all players to maintain countable stacks of chips at all times. The TDA recommends clean vertical stacks of 20 chips of the same denomination as a standard. The TD may color up stacks at their discretion, and announcement of these changes is recommended.