Official poker is a game of chance, but when players bet against one another it becomes a game of skill and psychology. Despite this, there are still many variations of the game and local customs that can lead to differences in play. A written code of rules should be used to settle any disputes. A group of players may also make up their own house rules to suit their preferences, but these should be recorded before the start of the game.
The right to deal cards is regulated by the token called the dealer button (or buck). It rotates clockwise among players and indicates whose turn it is to act in each hand. A player who raises out of turn is considered to be abusing the rule and can have their action revoked by the dealer.
Each player gets to see a full card of each of their opponents’ hands in every round, which allows them to strategize their bets and to determine what the other players have in their hands. This allows the best poker players to get a feel for the opponent’s style of playing, and it’s an important aspect of the game.
A player may request to see a called hand even if it has been mucked. However, the dealer may deny this request if the player is not a pot winner or if it would cause a disruption to the game. It is also against the rules to ask to see a hand after a winning player has folded, as this can affect their chances of receiving the pot.