Poker is a game of strategy, chance, and risk. Players place chips — which stand in for money — into the pot, and then bet on the strength of their cards. The player with the highest ranked hand when the cards are shown wins the pot, which is all the chips that have been placed in the round.
Poker has dozens of variations, but most involve an initial bet called the blind or ante, and then each player is dealt two cards that they keep hidden from their opponents. Then, players can make bets of increasing size. They can check (pass on betting), call a bet, or raise it – adding more chips to the pot that their opponents must match.
If a player wants to pass on betting, they can tap the table or give up their cards face-down without saying anything to the dealer. They can also say “hit,” “stay,” or “double up” if they want to change their hand.
The rules of the game differ from one poker room or casino to another, but most games start with an opening bet of chips – which are easier to stack, count, and manage than cash. Typically, each chip represents a different dollar amount. Some poker players prefer to play with paper money instead of chips, but the basic principles remain the same.