The game of official poker is a card game in which individuals compete for an amount of money or chips contributed by the players themselves (called the pot). Each player attempts to control the pot by betting based on their own holdings and their predictions as to what their opponents may be holding. There are many variants of the game, but Texas hold ’em is one of the most popular.
In the game, two cards are dealt face down to each player (“the hole cards”) and five community cards are then revealed in three stages (“the flop,” “the turn,” and “the river”). The players can make any kind of poker hand using these cards and their own hole cards. The game also features an element of bluffing, wherein players attempt to win without showing their hands.
While the rules of poker vary by game and locale, there are some core standards that all games should follow. The most important of these is that no player should take chips from other players unless the kitty is being used to pay for something like new decks of cards or food and drinks. A single player should be designated as the banker, and he or she should maintain an accurate record of how many chips have been issued to each player.
Generally, the game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards divided into four suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades). The standard poker rules call for each player to have 13 chips in play at all times.