Poker is a card game played with bets, in betting rounds, by players who make decisions as the game progresses. It is a game of great skill as well as chance and its play and jargon permeate American culture. A number of variant games share the name poker, and some use similar rules but differ in the payout system; for example, Red Dog uses a dealer button. Players usually buy in for a specific amount, and the dealer shuffles and deals cards to each player. A deck of 52 cards is standard, though some games may use multiple packs and/or add cards such as jokers. The highest ranking hand wins.
In most poker games, each player puts chips (representing money) into the pot for each betting interval. The first player to act may place a bet equal to the amount placed by the player to his left in that round, or he may choose to fold and forfeit his interest in the pot. If the player has not folded, he must continue placing chips into the pot until he is out of the hand.
Only official poker terms are permitted; regional terms or gestures must not obscure the meaning of the game’s betting terms and may be subject to house standards at the discretion of the TD. In addition, a player’s clothing and other accoutrements must not be distracting to the players or impede the flow of the game.
