As poker has become an international game, there is increasing interest in a standard set of rules that will govern all tournaments. This will help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts that can result from different local customs. This article will describe the official poker rules, as well as some of the etiquette that is part of the game.

The first rule of official poker is that players must act in turn. This means that a player must either call or raise within their allowed turn in the action. If a player states out loud that they are going to check, they are held to this action and may not raise in their allowed turn. If a player does not act in their allowed turn, they are penalized by having to pay the blinds and antes.

Another important rule is that players must be at their seats when the cards are dealt on an initial deal or they will have a dead hand. It is not uncommon for players to get up from their chairs during a hand, but this is not allowed as it disrupts the flow of play and makes other players wait longer for their turn to act.

There are other rules that players must adhere to such as not revealing the strength of their holding after folding. This could give away information to other players or even to the dealer, which is not allowed. However, if you are playing heads-up with another player, raising is permitted as long as it is not capped. It is also a good idea to tip dealers and other employees at the poker table, as this is good gamesmanship and helps maintain the integrity of the game.