Poker

Poker is a card game in which players make bets to win a pot. The bets may consist of either ante or blind bets, or both. There are many variants of the game, but in all of them the goal is to win a sum called the “pot” by having the highest-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that nobody else calls.

Most games of Poker are played with one standard 52-card pack plus two jokers. The dealer shuffles and cuts the cards, then deals them to the players, one at a time, starting with the player on their left. When the deal is complete, players usually place their bets into a central pot. Occasionally, however, the players may establish a special fund called a “kitty.” The chips in this fund belong to the players equally and can be used for anything the group chooses, from food and drinks to additional decks of cards. When the game ends, the kitty is divvied up and any remaining chips are returned to the players who remain in the game.

The game is usually played with at least two and no more than 14 players. The number of players can be varied by agreement between the players or according to local customs. Generally, a group of players may make a set of rules for the game.