Whether you’re playing at home or at a casino, you’ll need to know some official poker rules. These rules are there to keep the game running smoothly. If you don’t follow them, it can disrupt the game or leave you feeling out of place.

The most basic rule is to stay polite to your opponents. Avoid offering advice, complaining about bad beats, or blaming the dealer for bad cards. These behaviors can quickly turn a fun poker game into a confrontation.

It’s also important to understand some of the unwritten rules of the game. Abusing these rules can prompt players to leave or interfere with the game.

When a player folds, they should not show their hand to others. They should also try to keep their celebrations to a minimum. Not only is this good etiquette, it will help the atmosphere at the table.

In stud games, a player’s low hand must have five cards with ranks of eight or less. A flush is made up of five cards of the same suit. A full house is made up of three of a kind and a pair. In hold’em, the second upcard is the fourth street.

In some high-low games, the usual rank of poker hands is used. This means that a pair, a flush, and a straight are considered low hands. However, there is some room for flexibility.

For instance, in a lowball game, a broken straight is considered a low hand. Generally, the lowest hand wins. In a high-low split game, the pot is divided between the highest and lowest hands.