Poker is a card game that involves betting and the use of strategies based on probability, psychology, and game theory. The game can be played in a variety of ways, from low-stakes home games to large poker tournaments. In some cases, a player may also bluff other players in an attempt to win. The goal is to make the best five-card “hand” from the cards that are revealed to all players. The highest hand wins the pot, which is all the chips that have been bet so far.

Each betting interval, or round, begins when a player places chips into the pot in accordance with the rules of the particular poker variant being played. A player can choose to call the bet and match or raise it, or to “fold.” If they fold, they must remove their cards from the table and leave the betting.

At the end of a poker round, each player takes turns revealing their cards to all other players. Depending on the poker variant, a player may have several chances to reveal their hand during this phase. The player with the highest five-card hand wins the pot, which is all the money that has been bet so far.

Most poker games are played with poker chips, which differ in value according to the color and design of each chip. A white chip is worth the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is typically worth ten whites; and a blue chip is often worth 20 or 25 white chips. At the end of a poker game, any remaining chips are collected in a fund called the kitty. This money is used to buy new decks of cards and food and drinks for the players.