Basically, official poker is a game in a card room, or casino. It is not the same as a poker tournament. A tournament is an event that is expected to last until its conclusion. The players participating in the tournament are expected to adhere to the rules of the tournament.
Normally, the poker table is broken in a pre-set order. The cards are dealt clockwise starting with the first seat in the line. All players must sign in at the table.
If no players are seated, the first player to act is the first to show their hand. If a player has a dead hand, it is not playable and the player will be put up for antes. If there are other players seated, they will be dealt in.
A player can also trade up to three cards for new cards. If a player has a hand that will be a strong contender for the pot, they should show it without delay.
In some games, the player who is sitting in the short blind can make up the blind without putting up another bet. In some games, the player who is playing the long blind is required to put up another bet to raise the pot.
The amount of money that is posted by all players before the hand is the ante. The ante is usually raised at regularly scheduled intervals.
A fixed limit betting structure is a set amount of money that a player can bet. Oftentimes, a player will bet more money as the hand progresses.