Whether you’re playing in your home poker game or competing in the World Series of Poker, there are some official rules that all players should know and abide by. These rules are prepared by the tournament director before play begins and posted/distributed for everyone to see. It is also a good idea to have a copy of the rules in your pocket in case the table goes down for any reason.

Changing seats is not allowed after the tournament starts, unless approved by the tournament director. The appropriate starting amount of chips will be placed on the table for each paid entrant at the beginning of the event, whether they are present or not. Absent players will be dealt in and all chips necessary for antes and blinds will be put into the pot.

A player’s hand should not be revealed after it is folded, unless the dealer is asking for advice. Revealing your hand can unintentionally give away the strength of your holding or provide your opponents with information that they can use against you.

It is a good idea to invest in some poker tournament software for your home game. This will allow your players to keep track of their stack size, the number of players left in the level and even a timer for when it’s their turn to act. This will save the game from getting hung up on minor annoyances and help keep it moving quickly.