Official poker is a term used to describe a specific set of rules that is adopted by major tournaments worldwide. These rules are a set of guidelines for players and are intended to ensure a fair and consistent game.
To play a game of poker, players place a pre-determined amount of money or chips in the pot. Cards are then dealt and a player can choose to either raise, call or fold.
The game of poker is played with a standard 52-card pack (sometimes with the addition of one or two jokers) and a single dealer. In most games today, two packs of contrasting colors are used in order to speed up the process.
When dealing the cards, the dealer places them face down in the middle of the table. The cards are then dealt clockwise, starting with the dealer and going around the table to the left.
Players begin by placing a forced bet on their first two cards called the small blind and big blind. These bets are required before the cards are dealt and must be equal to or greater than the ante in front of each player.
A gap hand is a non-standard starting hand in some games. In other games, a gap hand is a complete drawing hand without a pair or a full house.
To peek at another player’s cards while they look is a violation of poker rules. It is also considered a form of cheating, and it can cause other players to lose their hands.