Poker is a card game in which players wager on the value of their hand. The game is played in a variety of ways, including in private homes, clubs, and casinos. It is also widely available on the Internet. In the United States, it has become a popular pastime, with tournaments held regularly and a large number of television shows featuring poker. It is sometimes referred to as the national card game of the United States and its play and jargon are widely known.
The game of poker has many variants, but all have some similarities. In most of the variants, players place chips (representing money) into a pot at the beginning of each betting interval. Each player’s contribution must be at least equal to the contributions of the players in front of him or her.
In most cases, the highest ranking hand wins. In some games, however, ties are broken by the next card in each player’s hand, which is called the kicker. For example, if two hands have matching high pairs, the higher of the remaining cards determines the winner.
Depending on the game, the players may establish a special fund for the purchase of new decks of cards and other expenses associated with the game. This is called a “kitty.” When the game ends, any chips left in the kitty are divided among the players who remain in the game. Occasionally, the kitty is used to pay for food and drinks.