One player to a hand is an important poker rule, designed to promote fair play that is universally applied in casino play. It states that all game decisions about the play of each hand must be made by one player without any assistance. This means, for example, that a player may not ask for advice from any other players or observers during the play of the hand, nor should anyone offer such an advice.[1] The phrase is often used as a warning to players making what might be perceived as minor violations, such as commenting upon other players' possible hands.
Note that any player correcting an error on a declared holding once the hands are exposed, is not a violation of this rule since no further decisions can be made. Some rulebooks declare it an ethical obligation of a player to point out any error in the awarding of a pot or the reading of hands shown down.[2]
The rule serves three main objectives:
In Internet rooms the rule is built into software (no visible hole cards) but still applies to voice chat and screen‑sharing. Operators treat proven violations as collusion and may confiscate funds or suspend accounts.[4]
 | This poker-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
