One of the most important aspects of a poker game is adhering to official poker rules. This ensures the fairness of the game for all players, and prevents misunderstandings and conflicts. The Tournament Directors Association (TDA) is the organization that manages these rules. It has members around the world who are managers of poker rooms, circuits or independent tournaments. They also meet every two years to review and put in place new rules for the game.
The first step in this process is to establish a basic set of rules for the game. These are based on the game’s history and a few important differences from other card games. Some of these rules include:
Each player must protect their cards at all times, and cannot show them to the other players. This can be done by placing a chip or other object on top of the cards. It is also necessary to verbally state any action that is taken, such as checking, raising or calling. This is binding, and if you do not do this, you are considered to have acted out of turn.
In addition to these rules, there are certain situations where exceptions must be made for the safety of all players. This is especially true during tournament play. These situations may involve a player colluding with another player, a player being obstructed by a table or chair, or an infraction of any other poker rule that threatens the safety and integrity of the game. In these cases, it is the responsibility of all players to notify the floor manager of the incident and ask them to come over to make a judgment.
A great deal of research has been undertaken into the origins and varieties of poker, with the aim of drawing up a set of definitive rules. This effort first resulted in a book published by R F Foster in 1904. In addition, the early editions of Hoyle’s Games contain much material on the subject.
The earliest reference to poker appears in the 1836 edition of J Hildreth’s Dragoon Campaigns to the Rocky Mountains, and in the published reminiscences of two unconnected witnesses: Jonathan H Green, in Exposure of the Arts and Miseries of Gambling (1843), and Joe Cowell, in Thirty Years Passed Among the Players in England and America (1844). It would be hard to argue that poker is older than playing cards themselves, however, which were first positively attested in 13th century China.
Poker has many variations, but the most common is five-card draw. In this game, each player is dealt five cards and there is one round of betting. The highest hand wins the pot. However, other forms of poker exist which allow for high-low or lowball draws. High-low poker is similar to five-card draw, but the lowest hand wins. In the latter case, the players must pay in a minimum bet before they receive their cards. This amount is usually double the big blind.