The game of poker, which involves bluffing, betting and raising chips, is played with a standard pack of 52 cards (some games use more than one pack or add jokers). Cards are ranked in ascending order from high to low: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3. There are four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs. The player with the highest hand wins the pot.
Poker tournaments are governed by the rules of each particular game. These rules are typically published on the tournament’s website. The rules usually include a description of the game, the type of wagering allowed (if any), the maximum number of players per table and the minimum amount of chips each player must bet at the start of the event. The rules also specify how and when blinds and antes will be raised during the course of the tournament.
Official poker tournaments are typically supervised by a professional dealer. In these events, a disc called the “dealer button” is passed around the table each hand to indicate the nominal dealer for betting purposes. In addition, such environments almost invariably charge the players either an hourly rental fee for their seats or a percentage of the total pot value, known as raking.
All players must maintain proper card and chip visibility and countability at all times during play, and be courteous to their opponents. The most common etiquette violations include persistently acting out of turn, reading a hand for another player before it is placed face-up on the table, verbally or physically threatening or attacking other players, or any other act that may adversely affect the integrity and enjoyment of the game. Major infractions will be subject to penalties, which may include disqualification.