Official poker is a game of skill, and as such requires knowledge of the rules. Unlike some other card games where players make their own rules, poker has specific and strict rules that must be followed.
Most games use a standard 52-card pack, with one or two jokers added. Some cardrooms, in order to speed up the game, use two packs of contrasting colors during the deal. The dealer’s left-hand opponent cuts one of the packs while the other is cut by the right-hand player, who then assembles and shuffles the cards for the next deal.
In many games, a fund is established for the purchase of new decks of cards or food and drinks. This fund is called the kitty, and any low-denomination chips that are not won in a hand or otherwise claimed by other players are placed into it. Those chips remain in the kitty until the game is over, and then are split equally among all players who were in the game.
Poker is almost always played with poker chips. The most common denomination is the white chip, which is worth a single dollar; blue chips are valued at ten dollars; and red chips are worth either five or twenty-five whites. Any other color may also be used. This rulebook is a complete collection of the most up-to-date rules accepted in expert poker games today, and is recommended for all clubs. It is permissible for any club to add its own special rules to those listed here, provided they are written down and not sold for profit.