Official poker is a card game in which players bet real currency or chips that represent it. The rules of poker vary by game, but most involve one or more betting rounds and a showdown to determine the winner. Other games that use poker hand rankings may also be referred to as poker. Video poker machines, for example, typically rely on a variant of draw poker.
Tournament play in poker is governed by a set of rules that establish the minimum amount each player must pay to enter the event and the maximum prize pool allowed. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as a fixed-limit or pot limit game. Most tournaments use a standard set of cards and require a forced bet called an ante or blind bet to get started.
Each player starts the hand with two cards dealt face down, known as hole cards. Five community cards are then dealt in three stages: the flop, the turn and the river. Each player then tries to form the best possible poker hand using their own two hole cards and the community cards.
Licensed charitable organizations that conduct poker are required to keep records of the amounts paid by players for their entry fees, re-buys and add-ons. These records are usually recorded by the cashier, who uses special forms designed for the purpose. These forms are different from the general recordkeeping forms used by the office. The poker chapter of the administrative rules includes an explanation of how these specific forms are used.