Poker is a card game played by two or more players and involves betting. It is a game of chance and risk and can be very lucrative, depending on the skill of the player. It is a popular pastime of many people and is also played professionally. It has a rich history with a number of legends and apocryphal stories surrounding its origin.

Depending on the rules of the game, one or more players must put an initial amount of money into the pot before the cards are dealt. These are called forced bets and can come in the form of antes, blinds, or bring-ins. Once the bets have been placed, the players are dealt cards which they keep hidden from their opponents. A player may choose to make a bet, forcing other players to call or concede, or he may bluff and attempt to win the hand with an inferior hand.

There are a number of different variations of poker, but the basics are the same. The most common variation is Texas hold’em. Other games include Omaha, seven-card stud, and draw poker. A player wins the pot by having the best five-card hand.

To play poker, you will need a table, cards, and chips (representing money). Chips are used instead of cash because they are easier to stack, count, and make change with. They are also more psychologically appealing to players, as each color represents a different dollar amount.