Poker is a card game that involves a large amount of chance, but also an element of skill. It has become a worldwide phenomenon and there are several rules that must be followed in order to keep the games fair for all players.

The most important rule is that the game must be played by the rules established by the organizers of the tournament. This way the players can be certain that they are playing by the same set of rules, and that their winnings will be fairly distributed. In addition to this, the organizers must make sure that there is no cheating involved. This includes preventing players from using software that could give them an advantage in the game.

Another important rule is that the dealers must be responsible for identifying a winning hand at showdown. This is usually done by calling out the cards instead of simply turning them over silently. This can help to prevent a player from miscalling their own hand or the dealer mucking their hand when it is clear that it is the winner (this was an issue with Vayo in a recent tournament).

Finally, players must be aware of the rules regarding the amount of time they have to act on a particular hand. It is not against the rules to call clock on a player, but there are limits that must be observed. For example, a player may only look at his or her own cards for one minute before being called clock by the floorperson.