The official poker rules, or the “Poker TDA,” are set by the professional Tournament Directors Association (PDA). TDA is an association of tournament directors, including those running major live poker rooms, circuits, and independent tournaments. TDA members include WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel, among others.
The official rules of poker are the same for online and live games. Players may not change their seats once the game begins. All players pay an entry fee, and starting chips are assigned by the director. The first player is dealt chips, and the chips necessary for blinds and antes are placed into the pot. This process repeats itself every five minutes until the end of the hand.
Players use their hole cards in combination with community cards in a game of poker. Some players use a single hole card while others have none. The rules of each type of poker differ slightly, so it’s important to learn how to play each variation. In addition to learning the basic rules of poker, players must understand how betting rounds and community cards work in order to win.
In limit games, players must raise their bets in order to remain in the game. Players must match the bet of the previous player or add the amount of the raised bet. Depending on the stakes, players may raise their bets more than once.