Poker is a game of chance in which individuals compete for an amount of money (or chips that represent currency) contributed by the players themselves. This sum, known as the pot, is awarded to the player with the best poker hand at the end of all betting rounds. Minimizing losses with bad hands and maximizing wins with good hands is the essence of the game.

The rules of poker vary by game and cardroom, but most are substantially similar in important ways. This rulebook was authored by Robert Ciaffone, who is recognized as a leading expert on rules and has written the rules for many cardrooms. He is also a regular columnist for Card Player magazine.

In this rulebook, the wording and organization of many rules have been improved in an effort to make them more user-friendly. Some of the terms used here may not be familiar to non-poker players, but most are readily understood by reading the rulebook in its entirety.

A player who wishes to remain in the game without raising a bet can “check.” However, this only applies to situations in which no one before them has raised a bet in that betting interval. If another player raises a bet, the player can call the bet or raise further.

Before the cards are dealt, a player may place an initial contribution, called an ante, into the pot to start the game. The number and size of this ante is established by the game rules. Generally, the smallest ante is the blind and the highest ante is the big blind.