Poker is a card game of chance, played with either a standard 52-card pack or an expanded one. It is one of the most popular games in the United States, where it is played both privately and publicly, in private clubs, at the tables of casinos, and on the Internet. It has been called the national card game of the United States, and its play and jargon are pervasive in American culture.
The game is often characterized by uncertainty: there are many variables, including the knowledge and skill of the other players, the strength of their hands, and how well they are bluffing. The ability to make smart decisions under uncertainty is an essential skill, whether in poker or any other area of life.
A player who has a strong hand wins the pot, or all of the money that is placed down as buy-in. A player may choose to not reveal his or her cards, but he or she can no longer compete for the pot.
Generally, each player puts into the pot the same amount of chips (representing money) as the player before him or her. Each chip is worth a specific amount, based on its color and value: a white chip is usually worth the minimum ante, a red chip is usually worth five whites, and a blue chip is usually worth two, four or five reds.
The players also typically agree upon a special fund, called a kitty, for the purchase of new decks of cards or other supplies. Depending on the rules, any chips left in the kitty when the game ends are shared equally among those who are still playing.