There are hundreds of different poker games played worldwide – from the kitchen table for pennies to the high stakes tables at famous casinos. While many of the rules vary, a few core principles are universal. These include standard poker hand rankings, and betting structures like no-limit, pot-limit, and fixed-limit.

It’s also important to follow good game manners. That means avoiding excessive celebration after a winning hand, and remembering that someone else lost when you won. If the other players notice your excessive celebration, they may get annoyed at you. Also, don’t peek at your cards while another player is looking at them. It’s against the rules, but this is a sign of bad gamesmanship and it can lead to awkwardness for everyone at the table.

The rules of official poker also cover how to deal the cards. Typically, a single token called the dealer button is rotated among the players to indicate whose turn it is to act first during each betting round. This is important because a dealer who deals incorrectly is likely to muck a player’s hand.

Lastly, the rules for poker also dictate how a player can request to see their own hand after it has been mucked. However, this privilege can be revoked if it is abused. It is also against the rules to talk on the phone at the poker table, and ring tones, music, pictures, and other distractions should be kept to a minimum.