A well-known gambling game that can be played in private homes for pennies or in the grandest casinos, poker requires a certain amount of strategy and understanding of your opponent. There is no one set of official rules that governs the game, but there are some basic do’s and don’ts of playing poker that will improve your experience at the table.
One player acts as dealer, and players ante a small amount (the amount varies by game) to get dealt cards. Then, betting goes around the table in a clockwise direction and the highest hand wins the pot. Players can raise, call, or fold their cards.
When a player decides to leave a game before the end of a hand, they must “cut” a low-denomination chip from the pot and enter it into the kitty. This kitty is used to pay for new decks of cards, food, and drinks when necessary. Any chips left in the kitty at the end of the game belong to all the players in that game. Leaving the table before a hand ends can lead to frustration and anger amongst your fellow players, so try to stay until at least the end of the last raise.
You must never reveal your holdings to other players at the table, as it could unintentionally give away the strength of your hand. In addition, you should never peek at another player’s cards. While this is bad gamesmanship and against the spirit of the game, it is not considered to be a violation of the official poker rules.
