The rules of poker are determined by the professional Tournament Directors Association, known as the “Poker TDA” for short. Founded in 2001 by poker players Matt Savage, Linda Johnson, and David Lamb, the organization now has more than 2,500 members in 63 countries. The association is comprised of managers of large live poker rooms, circuits, and independent tournaments. The PDA meets every two years for its Summit to review the rules of poker. WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel is a member of the Poker TDA.
The official poker hand chart can be downloaded for free. It is useful for newcomers as it helps them to learn about the different hand rankings. PokerNews provides guides to the official poker rules and offers basic strategy tips. You can also download a copy of “What Beats What in Poker” as a starting guide. It explains the relative value of various hands. Moreover, you can get updates on the leaderboards by signing up for their newsletter.
The cardroom supervisor is the person who makes rulings. Each player is allowed to place only a predetermined amount of money on each hand. The table stakes refer to the maximum amount of money that a player can bet on a single hand. Until the player has played at least one hand, he or she can only buy chips from the table. The cardroom floorperson turns the community cards simultaneously after the first round of betting.