Poker is a card game that has become incredibly popular in the United States, where it is played in private homes, in clubs, and in casinos. It is also widely available on the Internet. Poker has been called the national card game of the United States, and its play and jargon have permeated American culture.
There are many different poker variants, but all have the same essential features. Each player starts with two cards dealt face down. Then, a round of betting takes place based on the assumption that each player has a good or bad hand. The players that have the best five-card hand win all the money placed in the pot during the betting phase.
The first player to act after a bet interval (determined by the rules of the particular poker variant being played) has the privilege and responsibility to make the first bet. The other players must then either call the bet or raise it if they wish to remain in the hand.
Unlike other casino games, poker is played using chips that represent values (not real money). Typically, a white chip is worth one dollar, while a red or blue chip is worth 10 dollars. The dealer assigns values to the chips prior to the start of the game and exchanges cash from each player for the appropriate value. Some poker variants require players to make a blind bet before they are dealt their cards.