Poker is a card game that is played for money or chips. Individuals compete for the pot (the total amount of bets placed by all players). Each player has two hole cards and can combine them with community cards to form a winning poker hand. During betting rounds each player can choose to fold, call (match the amount of the big blind), or raise.
There are many variants of poker and the rules of each vary slightly. However, there is an international body that manages the official poker rules. It is the Professional Tournament Directors Association (PTDA). Members are managers of poker rooms, circuits, and leagues or independent tournament directors. They meet every two years at the PTDA Summit to discuss and implement changes to the poker rules.
Generally, a standard 52-card pack is used for poker. Depending on the rules of the specific game, one or two jokers may be included in the deck.
Some games require that all players ante before the cards are dealt. A number of Poker games have a kitty that is used to pay for new decks of cards, food and drinks, or other expenses. The kitty is generally divided evenly among players. Unlike other card games, a player who leaves the Poker table before the end of the hand is not entitled to their share of the kitty.
A player must be at his or her seat when the first card is dealt on the initial deal. If a player is absent, he or she is dealt a dead hand.