Poker is a card game in which players place bets on who has the best hand, according to variable rules depending on the type of poker being played. The game can be played with a single deck of cards or with multiple decks. It can be played in a variety of ways, including in casinos and home games. It is often seen as a competitive skill game with a significant element of chance, but it is also considered a social activity.
The basic rules of poker vary between games, but in general a dealer passes out a number of cards (typically five) to each player and then a betting round occurs. Each player may choose to call, raise, or fold their hand. If a player has the highest hand, they win the pot. Alternatively, players can bluff and bet that they have the best hand when they do not. This can cause other players to call the bet and share the pot.
In some poker games, players establish a fund, called the kitty, by contributing one low-denomination chip from each pot in which they have raised. This money is used to pay for new decks of cards and other supplies. The kitty is generally shared equally among the players in the game. If a player leaves the game before the end of a betting round, they forfeit their share of the chips in the kitty.