Poker is a card game involving betting. Players place bets based on the likelihood that they hold a superior hand. They may also bluff, betting that they have a superior hand when they do not, hoping to win the pot by tricking other players into calling their bets. A standard poker hand comprises five cards, and the rank of a poker hand is determined by its mathematical frequency (or probability).
Before the cards are dealt, one player is designated by the rules of the particular Poker variant being played to make the first bet. Each player must then either call that bet by putting into the pot the amount of chips needed to match it, raise it by adding more than that, or drop. When a player drops, they surrender their rights in the current pot to any player who calls a later bet and forfeit their claim to any side pots that may have been formed.
The game is usually played with poker chips of varying values, with each white chip representing a single unit or minimum bet. Each player must buy in with a specific number of these chips, often paying an ante or blind bet in addition to this. The smallest tournaments are called locals, or weeklies; they are often held in card shops, bars, community centers, and university campus card rooms. These events give new players an opportunity to experience competitive Poker without the expense of traveling to larger events. The largest competitions, often called tournaments, are international and take place in major casinos and hotels.