Common poker rules
• Players must act in turn. Players should not telegraph or otherwise indicate intentions to act prior to their turn to act.
• Players must protect their hands, either by holding their cards or placing a chip or other object on top of their cards. An unprotected hand may be mucked by the dealer in turn.
• Verbal declarations are binding and take precedence over non-verbal actions.
• In the event of an action out-of-turn, the action may be binding if there is no bet, call or raise between the out-of-turn action and the player’s proper turn.
• Knocking or tapping the table is a check. Tossing or pushing cards away is a fold.
• Betting actions without a verbal declaration must be made in a single motion or gesture (”no string bet” rule).
• In limit games, an oversized chip will be constituted to be a call if the player does not announce a raise. In no-limit, an oversized chip before the flop is a call; after the flop, an oversized chip by the initial bettor put in the pot will constitute the size of the bet. In pot-limit and no-limit, if a player states raise and throws in an oversized chip, the raise will be the maximum amount allowable up to the size of that chip.
• Absent a verbal declaration of “Raise,” if a player puts in chips equal to 50 percent or more of the minimum raise, he will be required to make a full minimum raise. Otherwise, the action is deemed a call and the excess chips should be returned to the player.
• Bets should be placed in front of the player’s cards. Chips should not be thrown (splashed) into the pot.
• Players may not verbally disclose the contents of their hand.
• Players may not advise other players how to play a hand (”One player to a hand” rule).
• Cards may not be removed or held below the table or otherwise concealed from view.
• Players must keep their highest denomination chips visible at all times.
• Wagers must be at least the size of the previous bet or raise in that round, unless a player is going all-in.
• “Show one, show all” – Hole cards, including folded hands, should not be revealed to other players until showdown. If a player reveals his hole cards to another player active in the current hand, all players have the right to also see the hole cards. Also, if an uncalled winning hand is shown to only one player, then any other player at the table has a right to see the winning hand. Note that, contrary to a common misinterpretation, “show one, show all” does not refer to the number of cards in the hole – an uncalled winning hand may expose a single hole card without revealing the other hole card.
• Except for small denominations used to tip for food or drinks, players may not remove a portion of their chips from the table (called going south or ratholing) unless they cash out and leave the game. Players must not sell or share chips with another player at the table.
• Cards speak for themselves and prevail if a player misstates the value of his hand at the showdown.
• Speaking in foreign languages at the table is prohibited.
• Players should not discuss or otherwise influence the hand-in-progress after folding.
• Cell-phone use at the table is prohibited.
• Profanity is prohibited.
