Poker is a card game requiring skill, chance, and psychology. A player’s decision to raise or fold in the face of a betting round is made on the basis of expected value, and the overall goal is to minimize losses with weak hands and maximize winnings with strong ones. The game is played in a variety of ways, and the number of cards dealt can vary from one to seven or more. Poker is almost always played with poker chips, which have varying values based on color and denomination; white chips are worth the lowest amount of money, red chips are worth higher amounts of money, and blue chips are typically worth either ten whites or two, four, or five reds.

Players place initial mandatory bets, known as blinds, into the pot before the deal begins. Once everyone has their 2 hole cards, a second round of betting starts, and is initiated by the player to the left of the dealer. Once the first round of betting is complete, 1 more card is then dealt, known as the flop. A final round of betting commences once again, and is started by the player to the left of the dealer.

Tournaments are a key element of Poker, and the smallest tournaments, often called locals or weeklies, are held in bars, card rooms, community centers, and sometimes universities. These tournaments allow new players to test their skills in a competitive environment without the risk of losing a lot of money.