When a player sits down to play poker in a tournament, they are guaranteed to be dealt a certain amount of starting chips. The object of the game is to eliminate all other players and win the pot (or at least make it close). Most tournaments are held in casinos, card rooms, and private events. The biggest tournaments are televised and have a large prize pool. Some even have a winner-take-all format.

Each table has a specific set of blind levels that do not change during the course of a hand. If a table’s blind level changes during the hand, the player must leave that table and sit down at another one to continue playing.

All players are required to keep their hands visible at all times. Any revealing of a hand to other players, spectators, or advisers is against the rules and may result in a penalty. It is also against the rules to reveal a folded hand before the betting has finished.

In order for players, dealers and floor personnel to have a reasonable estimation of chip counts, they must be kept in clean, vertical stacks of 20 same denomination chips each. Discretionary color ups must be announced by the TD. It is against house and gaming regulations to use betting apps, charts, photography, videography, devices and communication that disturbs other players, creates a competitive advantage or impedes the flow of the game. In addition, ring tones, music, and other sounds must be inaudible and not disturbing to the players.