Poker is a game that requires a great deal of mental skill and the ability to read other players. It also has a lot of unwritten rules and etiquette that can improve the game for everyone at the table. Having a solid understanding of these do’s and don’ts will not only make the game more enjoyable for everyone, but can also help you win more too!

One of the most important poker rules is to protect your cards. This means that you must keep your hands away from other players or use a chip on top of your cards to ensure that they are not stolen or tampered with. Failure to protect your cards can result in a penalty, a loss of chips, or even a ban from a tournament.

The next important poker rule is to not ghost your way into a first place finish. Ghosting is defined as using software or hardware to access another player’s PC. It is a major issue in poker online and could see you kicked out of the game, forfeit your winnings, or even banned from tournaments. A recent case of ghosting saw partypoker disqualify David “Devplaza” Afework from the WCOOP for sharing his screen with a friend.

There is a global organization that manages the official poker rules called the Professional Tournament Directors Association (Poker TDA). The organisation has worked to create a set of rules that will avoid a majority of disputes that can arise at casinos and tournaments around the world.