Poker is a game of chance and skill. Players must make decisions that maximize their winnings while minimizing their losses, and bet accordingly.

OFFICIAL POKER Rules

A set of official poker rules is an essential element of any poker tournament. These rules are designed to be sufficiently detailed so a decision-maker will know what the proper ruling is in any given situation.

ANTE: A contribution of one or more chips into the pot, usually at the beginning of a betting round in the form of a small bet. The amount of the ante is determined by the rules of the game being played and may vary with each player’s skill level, past experience, and other factors.

CHIPS: The units of chips in the game, usually white, red or blue in color. Usually, the white chip is the lowest-valued unit and is worth the minimum ante or bet.

OPENING RAISES: The maximum opening raise in a Texas hold’em game is twice the amount of the big blind, and in fixed-limit hold’em it is exactly double the big blind.

RELATED RULES:

In addition to these official poker rules, there are a number of general rules and guidelines that players should follow when playing in a poker tournament. They include protecting their hands and avoiding actions that could cause them to lose money, such as making a statement during a hand that does not reveal the contents of their folded hand or telling another player to turn their hand face-up at the showdown.