Poker rules are complex. Each poker game has specific guidelines. The most common poker game played in casinos is Texas Hold 'Em. This is also the type of poker seen on ESPN and other television stations. Other common forms of poker include Five Card Draw, Omaha Hi/Lo and Seven-card Stud Hi/Low. Much of the terminology and betting rules remain the same regardless of the type of poker playing. For example, a hand may have a limited bet, meaning there is a maximum bet amount for each round, or it may be unlimited, meaning a player can raise the bet as much as he wants.

The rules of poker have been in play since around 1834. Jonathan Green made mention of a game called the 'cheating game' that was played on Mississippi riverboats. The game at that time was based on the 20 cards valued at 10 or higher, which included tens, jacks, queens, kings and aces. From that point until the present day, poker rules have evolved into a set of rules that are fairly universal throughout the poker world.

Poker rules define the type of poker being played. For example, Texas Hold 'Em is the type of poker played at the World Series of Poker, which is a televised event. While the rules of each type of poker are fairly consistent, some tournaments have their own rules. This is especially common with rules concerning irregularities, such as a dead hand, which is a hand that is ineligible for play due to a mistake on the player's part, such as an unacceptable bet.

Poker rules use terminology with which the average person or someone new to the game may not be familiar. An example of this the word 'rainbow' means that the flop cards, or three cards which are dealt on the board at the beginning of the game, are all different suits. For instance, a nine of hearts, 10 of spades and two of diamonds would be a nine, 10, two rainbow.

Using a universal set of rules keeps the game as fair as possible. The game of poker is considered a cheating game because players would change the rules frequently before standardized rules were made. In modern day times, players are given rules and regulations prior to each tournament. They are expected to follow the rules or risk being removed from the tournament. The dealer position is determined by the rules in play. For example, if there is a house dealer, that person deals all cards, regardless of the length of play. In the absence of a house dealer, the players alternate dealing. A dealer disk is usually used to keep track of the dealer for each hand.

Each poker game has its own rules. Texas Hold 'Em rules are the easiest poker rules to learn. Omaha uses many of the same rules as Texas Hold 'Em but, there are variations that make the rules slightly more difficult. Seven-card Stud, including Hi/Lo and stud versions, are fairly easy to learn yet interesting enough that many long-term poker players still enjoy the game. Draw poker rules involve blind betting, which increases the challenge of the game. One common rule is that in the event of a misdeal, the dealer must collect all dealt cards, shuffle and re-deal. One variation of this is that the cards may be re-dealt by the next dealer on the list, if there isn't a house dealer.