A game of poker is a wagering contest in which players expose their hole cards and the best hand wins the pot. A family of card games, poker owes its name to a French word meaning ‘bet’ and is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The rules vary by game but include anteing, betting in rounds and paying the winner according to a predetermined hierarchy of hand rankings.

Disputes over the reading of a tabled hand may not be raised until the next hand begins (Rule 23). Similarly, accounting errors in calculating and awarding a pot are disputed only until substantial action occurs on the following hand. Exceptions may be made in the TD’s sole discretion.

Non-standard betting terms, gestures or clothing may obscure a player’s intentions and can result in a ruling other than what the player intended. Using these terms is at the player’s risk and is not recommended.

Official poker consists of simple, unmistakable, time-honored declarations like bet, call, raise, check, all-in, complete, and pot (pot limit only). It is the responsibility of players to make these clear to all. Players should avoid glancing at other players’ cards during a deal or at the muck, and stacking chips in ways that interfere with dealing and viewing cards.