There are many different versions of the game of poker. While you can use this book as a reference, you aren’t permitted to sell the rules or reproduce them for private use. It is okay to copy a chapter or a section for personal use, but you must give full credit to the author. It is also OK to use an excerpt that is less than the full chapter. You must also attribute the source of the rulebook. Robert Ciaffone, better known as Bob Ciaffone in the poker world, is the foremost authority on poker rules.

Poker’s origins are unclear, but it is known to have originated in China in the 10th century, when a Chinese emperor used dominoes as a game. Other historians have speculated that poker is descended from the Persian card game As Nas, which dates back to the 16th century. European predecessors to poker, called Poque, caught on in the 17th century. Poque evolved from the 16th century Spanish primero, which featured three cards dealt to each player. The game’s rules were eventually adopted and it became widely known throughout Europe.

The rules of poker play are similar to those for live games. Generally, players cannot change seats after the game begins, but the director has the right to assign them to different seats. Each paid entrant will be dealt starting chips, while absent players are dealt in with the chips required for the antes and blinds. The dealer will then place all the chips necessary for the antes and blinds into the pot. Ultimately, this can help a player extract monetary value from the game.