Official poker is a card game where players combine their hole cards with community cards to make the best possible 5-card hand. Players may use both their hole cards, one of them or play with no hole cards (play the board). There are several betting rounds in a poker hand and payouts depend on the winning hand. The poker rules vary from game to game but the core principles are generally the same.

In poker tournaments, players compete against each other for a fixed number of chips. They can win these chips in many ways, including winning the main event by having the highest poker hand. Tournaments are different from cash games, in that they have a fixed admission fee and blind levels are regularly increased throughout the tournament.

Poker tournaments are usually run by professional tournament directors who are members of the Tournament Directors Association (Poker TDA). The TDA is a non-profit organization that sets and manages poker rules globally. It is a good idea to become familiar with these rules, especially if you play in live poker tournaments.

Breaking poker rules can be a tricky thing, with instances of cheating occurring on both the online and live poker circuits. Whether it’s the dealer reaching over to kill your monster on the flop or another player peeking at your cards whilst you look, breaking poker rules is a big no-no.

The best way to avoid breaking poker rules is to act in turn and only move if it is your turn to do so. If you see another player violating poker rules, it is your responsibility to alert the floor and they will decide whether or not the situation warrants a call to action.