Poker is a card game in which players wager money on the outcome of a hand according to the rules of the particular poker variant being played. The game combines two of a player’s own cards (known as hole cards) with the five community cards that are dealt in three stages, called “the flop”, “the turn” and “the river.” The best poker hand wins the pot.

While the rules of poker vary from one cardroom to another, there are some generally accepted and agreed-upon etiquette rules that are applied to most games. Understanding these unwritten rules of poker can improve the experience for all involved at a table and may even help you win more hands.

It is illegal to reveal your holdings to other players, and this is commonly referred to as “revealing.” This can occur in many different ways and includes discussing how strong your hand is with others, or even trying to give advice. It is important to understand that this type of behavior is not only against the rules, but also against the spirit of poker.

There are some exceptions to this rule, such as when you are playing against a friend or if someone has asked for your advice. However, in most cases, you should never reveal your hole cards to anyone else at a poker table. This is considered a serious breach of the official poker rules and can result in being disqualified from the tournament.