During a game of official poker, players must be aware of the code of conduct, which defines the proper practices and responsibilities. Violation of the poker code can lead to ejection, forfeiture of all chips, or a permanent ban from the game.

Before the start of a game of official poker, all players post an ante, which is the amount of money they are willing to invest in a hand. If no one bets, the player to the left of the big blind is the first player to act. The player to the left of the big blind can call, raise, or fold.

The cards are dealt face down. There are two types of cards that are used to form the best five-card hand: hole cards and community cards.

Each player is dealt four hole cards. Players may use one of their hole cards to form their hand, or they can combine a pair or three of a kind with the cards in the pot. The dealer determines the winner of the hand.

The dealer is a person who acts as a button or dealer in a casino. He or she is the only player who puts money in the pot before the cards are dealt.

The blind is a fee posted by the dealer. This is a forced bet that is a predetermined amount. The small blind is a bet that is smaller than the blind. The big blind is a bet that is larger than the small blind.