Poker is a card game where players wager real money or chips in an attempt to win. The game is played worldwide, with variations in rules varying from country to country. However, all poker games share certain common features: the number of cards dealt to each player, the number of shared cards, the number of rounds of betting, and the type of wagering that is allowed.
Poker can be played for cash or tournament money, the latter typically used in poker tournaments where players buy-in for a set amount of money and receive additional chips for finishing in the money. While the percentages are not standardized, it is generally agreed that only a small percentage of players will be paid in any tournament.
During a hand of poker, one player acts as dealer (or the button) and the other two players place forced bets in front of him before the cards are dealt. Each player then receives two cards, face down, which are called their hole cards. Players then compete for a winning poker hand using their own cards and the community cards, called the board.
The cards used in poker are standard 52-card packs with a few jokers in some cases. In many poker clubs and games with experienced players, multiple packs of contrasting colors are used to speed up the deal process. It is also traditional for individual poker rooms and card clubs to make their own unique rules, which are often known as “house rules”. These rules should be clearly written so that all players have a clear understanding of the expectations they must follow during a game of official poker.