Poker is a card game of chance and skill where the players place bets against each other. The object of the game is to win a pot – the sum of all bets made in one deal – by having the highest-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no other player calls. Players may also bluff, attempting to make other players think they have a superior hand than they actually do.

There are many different poker games, but most share certain common features. A standard poker hand consists of five cards. The value of a poker hand is in inverse proportion to its mathematical frequency, meaning that more unusual hands rank higher than less frequent ones. The suits have no ranking in poker, and ties are broken by the highest unmatched cards or secondary pairs (as in a full house).

Tournaments are large, structured events where players compete against each other for prize money. Unlike the small, informal games played in card rooms and bars, tournaments have a set structure and follow strict rules. Moreover, they are generally played with poker chips, which have specific denominations based on the color and design of each chip. For example, a white chip is worth one unit, a red chip is worth two units, and a blue chip is worth five units.

The smallest tournaments are called locals or weeklies, and they are often held in bars, community centers, and other locations where people play poker. They are where most new players first learn the game and hone their skills. They are a great way to meet other poker players and get to know the competition.