Poker is a game of chance and skill, but rules must be followed to keep the game fair and enjoyable. Some games may require a minimum amount of money to be put into the pot, while others will use a different betting system. Poker can be played in tournaments or for fun at home with friends.
Each player is dealt four cards, and the game progresses as each round of betting takes place. Players may choose to call, raise or fold their cards. Some games also allow players to check, provided that no player before them in a betting interval has made a bet.
After all betting is complete, remaining players with hole cards show their hands to determine a winner. This is called the showdown, and the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. Each card exposed to other players must be played unless it has been accidentally displayed by the dealer, in which case the player can protect their cards by placing another object, such as their hand or chips, on top of them.
Home games often use a set of poker chip colors, with white being the lowest value and red, blue and green representing higher values. This creates consistency and allows security systems to monitor players’ actions more easily as the colors are easier to distinguish than dollar bills. The color coding of poker chip stacks also helps players keep track of their own and other’s chip values without having to count out the numbers on each one.