Official poker rules are widely used and freely copied. They are based on the laws of poker as set forth in other cardrooms, and as such are freely copied. The only restriction is that they cannot be sold for profit. The only exception to this is if they are excerpts of a rulebook and do not attribute it to the original source. In any case, they are still free to use the rules in their own establishments and make copies available to others.
The rules of the game are governed by the professional Tournament Directors Association, or PTD. The PTD Association was founded in 2001 by poker professionals Matt Savage, Linda Johnson, and Jan Fisher. There are now more than 2,500 members in 63 countries. Members of this organization include managers of major live poker rooms, circuits, and independent tournaments. The PDA is an organization made up of poker players who want a uniform set of rules for the game.
Each hand starts with a dealer. The dealer’s button rotates clockwise after every hand. The other players, known as the small blind and big blind, are dealt cards. They can make a bet, call, or raise, but may not double down or withdraw their chips. If no one has raised, the dealer is the winner. This process is known as a flop. There are three possible outcomes when each player folds – a flop, a straight, and a river.
