Poker is a card game played by two or more players. The object of the game is to win the pot, which is the total amount of bets placed during a round. This may be done by having the best poker hand, or by bluffing (making a bet when one does not have a good hand). The game is usually played with chips, with each chip representing a different amount of money. Typically, a white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and a blue chip is worth 10 or 20 whites.
Various variants of poker exist, some of which are more popular than others. There is also a large number of different rules that govern the game. Despite this, there are some fundamental principles that apply to all forms of poker.
The game begins with each player being dealt two cards. These are then combined with the five community cards to make a poker hand. The best hand wins the pot. During the betting phase, players reveal their hands in turn. This can be a revealing moment and is the only time that players know the true strength of their hand.
During the betting period, players may raise their bets by any amount up to the established limit. A player who cannot match the highest raise during a betting interval must call the amount raised and stay in the pot until a showdown is reached.