Poker is a game that can be played in many different ways, and it’s also one of the most popular card games around. Whether you’re playing at home for pennies, or in a world-famous casino for thousands of dollars, it is important to keep a few official poker rules in mind.

One of the oldest poker rules that still stands today is “passing the buck.” This phrase may have been inspired by poker during the American Frontier era, where players would use a knife with a buckthorn handle to indicate who would deal. Today, the phrase is used to mean passing on responsibility to someone else.

It is not against the rules to pass a player your cards, but it is against good sportsmanship. When you do this, it shows that you’re not paying attention to the other players at the table, and it is considered a lack of respect.

Another important rule is that you must not reveal your hole cards to other players. This is called ghosting, and it’s against the rules at most online poker tournaments. It’s especially bad when you do it to other high-stakes poker players because they can use software like TeamViewer to access your computer and see your hole cards in real time.

As poker becomes more of an international game, it’s becoming increasingly important to have a set of rules that all players follow. One group, the International Poker Federation (FIDPA), has put together a set of 81 rules that will eliminate many disputes that arise in casinos and poker tournaments worldwide. These rules are available for download on the FIDPA website.