Poker is a card game in which players wager money and, if successful, win a pot. It is played with a standard 52-card pack, with one or two jokers added to some games. It can also be played with a smaller number of cards.
There are many different poker variants, but most involve betting in some way, with players placing bets on their own or bluffing against opponents holding superior hands. This element of the game makes it possible to win a pot without having the best hand, provided that other players call the bet or concede to the player’s bluff.
Usually, Poker is played with chips of varying denominations. Each white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet, while each red and blue chip is worth 10 or 20 whites respectively. A supply of at least 200 chips is necessary for a game with seven or more players.
In addition to betting, players can also exchange their cards for replacements from a draw stack at the bottom of the table (see Card Exchange). This is called Folding.
The players may also establish a special fund, known as the “kitty,” into which they contribute a low-denomination chip each time there is more than one raise. The kitty is used to pay for new decks of cards and other expenses. Any chips left in the kitty when the game ends belong to those who are still playing. By unanimous agreement or majority rule, a player who leaves the game before it is over may not take any of his share of the kitty.
