Throughout history, poker has been played in the form of cash games. However, the tournament format is the main focus of world-famous events like the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour. In the tournament format, players compete to win a share of the prize pool. The payouts in these tournaments are much greater than those of a standard poker game.

The rules of official poker are set by the game’s organizer. These rules govern all aspects of the game, including how betting limits are set and whether or not players can raise their bets. Players must follow these rules to avoid any misunderstandings that may impact the outcome of a hand.

A player may only use their hands or other objects to protect their cards, and they must do so in a way that does not reveal the contents of their hand to others. In addition, a player must always use an appropriate amount of chips to protect their bets.

Verbally declaring an action such as a call, raise, or fold is binding and must be followed. Additionally, a player must act on their intentions at showdown. Any violation of the rules of official poker could result in a penalty or even removal from the tournament.

The ranking of poker hands is determined by their suit, from highest to lowest. The suits are spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. The rank of a poker hand is used to break ties if two players have the same hand.