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Poker Tournament Rules: Do's and Don'ts

Poker tournament rules are a body of officially recommended actions that players must observe during the course of a tournament. Poker tournament rules are a list of what you should do and what you should not do. As such, knowing poker tournament rules are as integral to winning as knowing poker strategies. Failure to follow a specific rule may lead to disqualification of a hand, as when you remove hole cards from the table.

Here are the dos of poker tournament rules:

By common sense, you are to protect your hand always. You are to keep your cards on the table always. If a card or cards drop from the table, either advertently or inadvertently, the hand is disqualified.

When it is your turn to bet, you should fold, call, check, or raise. When you say "Raise," then you should act on your words. Spoken acts will stand.

If you want to check, you may tap the table. You may also make hand signals to the player making the next bet.

If you need time to deliberate on your bet choices, you have to indicate it to your opponents and the dealer by calling "time." This is to let everyone around the table know you are aware it is your turn to act.

If another player has called for "time," you may tell the dealer to clock the opponent. The player has a maximum of half a minute to decide on a hand. Otherwise, the hand is nullified.

If, by mistake, your turn to bet has been missed, you need to bring it to the attention of the dealer.

Here are the don'ts of poker tournament rules:

You should not touch mucked hands with your cards. Otherwise, your hand is disqualified.

Deliberate exposure of cards will lead to disqualification of your hand. It is deemed as cheating to influence an opponent's decision or as a way to acquire information.

You are never to take the cards off the table. If your card or cards drop from the table, either advertently or inadvertently, your hand is disqualified.

You are not permitted to confer with another player about your hand. You are not allowed to extend aid to another player whether in terms of chip, tips, or advise on how to play a hand.

Lastly, you are not allowed to cuss or insult either the dealer or other players. This may have you end up with a penalty. In the same manner, damaging of cards or other casino properties is strongly prohibited. You are not allowed to throw the cards in any manner and at anyone.

The poker tournament rules listed above deal with rules of conduct--- how you should comport yourself at a tournament. Poker tournament rules are ways to abide by. They are integral part of your whole gaming experience basically because poker tournament rules are the backbone of every poker tournament.