Official poker is a set of rules that are widely used in casinos and online tournaments around the world. They are designed to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts and lawsuits that can arise between players in the game.

In poker, chips are used to pay for the cards and to make bets. The chips are usually white or light-colored and can range in value from a single chip (the minimum ante or bet) to ten or more.

Each player is given two cards face down. These are called “hole cards.” A player must fold if they do not have a good hand and must bet if they have a good hand.

The first betting round begins with the player to the left of the big blind, who can fold, call or raise. After this, betting continues clockwise around the table.

A player must be at their seat before the first card is dealt, or they will have a dead hand. This rule is not intended to condone player absences but is to ensure that the dealer has a fair chance of showing each hand at showdown.

Having your cards exposed is not a breach of poker rules, but it can be annoying. It can happen when a player has a winning hand, but another player mucks it before the dealer shows their hands.

Other instances of breaking poker rules are string betting or raising, where a player makes one forward motion to call and then goes back and forth to make a raise, without verbalizing it. This is a common practice that will get you in trouble with the dealers and the other players.