Poker is a card game in which players place bets (representing money) into a central pot during one or more betting intervals. Each player must put in a number of chips into the pot that is at least equal to the total contribution made by each player preceding him or she. This is known as “calling” a bet. A player may also raise a bet. If a player does not wish to call a bet, he or she may drop (“fold”) and lose the amount of money that has already been contributed to the pot.
In addition to a high degree of luck, there is also considerable skill involved in the game, particularly in bluffing. Unlike some other casino games, poker allows players to reveal only parts of their cards in order to confuse their opponents.
A player may win the pot by forming a pair of matching cards, or by having the highest card in a sequence, or by showing all of their cards and being called by another player with a better hand. Sometimes a player will call an entire round of betting and not show their cards, winning the pot by bluffing.
By agreement, some poker games require a forced bet, known as an ante or blind bet, to be placed into the pot before each player is dealt their cards. Some players choose to make an all-in bet, which places all of their remaining chips into the pot. This is subject to additional rules and is usually limited in size. In some poker games, players establish a special fund called a kitty. This is typically composed of low-denomination chips and is used to pay for things like new decks of cards or food and drinks. Upon completion of the game, any money left in the kitty is divided equally among the players who are still in the pot.