When it comes to poker rules, there are plenty of different versions in use around the world. However, most of them share similar underlying principles that define the game. These include the basic poker hand rankings and betting structures, like no-limit and pot limit. There are also certain conventions regarding the way players and dealers should treat each other. For example, a player should never peek at another player’s cards while they are looking at their own. While this is bad gamesmanship, it is not against poker rules.

One of the most important aspects of poker rules is that every player must be “at their seat” when the initial deal occurs. This is especially true for tournament play. If a player is not at their seat, they will have a dead hand and won’t be able to make any bets or calls. Moreover, players who are eliminated from one table will be assigned to empty seats at other tables.

It is not against poker rules to have house rules in place that vary from these official ones, but it is a good idea for them to be clearly written and enforceable. It’s also not a good idea for players to rely on their own personal knowledge of the rules as this can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

As poker has become an international game, there has been growing interest in creating a set of rules that will be universally accepted. Spearheaded by Marcel Luske, a famed professional poker player from the Netherlands, the International Poker Federation (FIDPA) has established a set of 81 rules that are freely available for download on its website.