One player to a hand
Also: one player per hand
The rule that a hand belongs to the player in the seat and nobody else. No advice during a live hand, no consultation, no showing cards to a railbird, and no one else making the decision - whatever the stake they hold in the result.
This is the rule that keeps a poker game a contest between individuals. It bites in several places at once: a friend cannot tell a player what to do mid-hand, two players cannot compare cards to work out what a third holds, and a player sold a share of their action does not acquire a vote.
It also covers the online version of the same problem. Another person playing part of a session on an account, or feeding advice in real time, breaches the principle just as surely as a conversation at the table, which is why operators treat it alongside account-sharing rather than as a lesser matter.
Enforcement is usually quiet - a reminder from the dealer, a warning from the floor - but it escalates, because the line between advice and collusion is thinner than it looks.
Related terms
Full glossaryFrequently asked questions
What does one player to a hand mean?
That the player in the seat makes every decision in their own hand, alone. No advice during the hand, no consultation with other players, no showing the cards to spectators, and no input from anyone who holds a share of the action.
Does my backer get a say in how I play?
No. A staking arrangement gives someone a financial interest in the result, not a role in the decisions. Letting a backer direct play breaches the rule.
Does the rule apply online?
Yes. Having someone else play part of a session on your account, or receive real-time advice during hands, is the online form of the same breach and is treated alongside account-sharing.