Poker is a card game that has a strong element of chance. A player wins by having a better hand than their opponents, or by using bluffing to scare them into calling their bets. It is played with a small number of chips that represent money; each player must “buy in” for the minimum amount required by the game’s rules.
After the ante is placed, each player is dealt five cards. Betting on these cards then takes place, until all players have folded or called the bet. Then the cards are revealed and any winning hand is paid out. If there are multiple best hands, the player with the highest-ranked hand splits the pot.
In some cases, a player puts all of their remaining chips into the pot. This is known as going all-in, and the specifics of this type of bet are governed by the rules of the game being played.
In many games, a special fund is established called the kitty, and one low-denomination chip is removed from each pot in which there is more than one raise. This money is used to pay for new decks of cards and any other expenses associated with the game. The kitty may also be used to compensate the dealer for his or her time at the table. When the game is over, any remaining chips in the kitty are divided evenly among the players who are still in the game.