Poker is a game of chance, but also requires great skill and psychology. It is a card game that allows players to bet against other players without showing their hands. The best hand wins the pot. Some poker games have wild cards, but the rules vary by game.
While many poker games are different, all have the basic rules of dealing, betting and a showdown. The game starts with a player placing a bet, called an ante, into the middle of the table. Players then receive two cards face down. Depending on the game, players then raise and reraise their bets until someone shows their winning hand.
Unlike most games, where the dealer is responsible for identifying the winning hand, poker rules make it the responsibility of each player to protect their own hand. This includes protecting their cards from mucking until they are shown by the dealer, as well as other players from peeking at their cards. This is considered bad gamesmanship and may result in a player being sanctioned.
The author of this rulebook strongly supports uniform poker rules, and applauds the work done in this direction by the Tournament Directors Association (TDA). Nearly all of the rules in this rulebook are compatible with those used by TDA rooms, although there are some differences in wording.
