Official poker refers to the rules and etiquette of poker, both live and online. It is important to know these in order to play the game in a respectful way and improve your chances of winning more money.

The basic poker rules are simple: players pay in blinds to be dealt a hand and the dealer turns over cards. If a player has a strong hand, they can call or raise a bet that others have made. If no one has a strong hand, they may check their hand and wait for a later betting interval.

If a player calls a bet or raises, they must commit to the amount of the bet and complete it before any other player can. If a player checks, they can make another bet if someone has not yet bet during the betting interval.

In no-limit hold’em, the minimum opening raise is twice the big blind and the maximum is the full amount of the pot. For fixed-limit and pot-limit hold’em, the minimum raise is twice the big blind, and the maximum is the entire amount of the current pot.

Protecting your hand is important for all players. This includes using chips or other items on top of your cards to protect them. Whether you are playing with friends or at a professional tournament, it is always good practice to take precautions for your own safety.

While poker is a game of chance, there are many situations that can occur that are considered unethical or illegal. Some of the more common infractions include: