Poker is a card game of strategy, chance and bluffing. It is believed to be an ancestor of other card games such as blackjack and rummy. It is played by at least two players and usually requires a set number of chips. The chips are typically worth various amounts depending on the size of the bet. For example, a white chip is worth one unit of the minimum ante or bet; a red chip is worth five whites; and a blue chip is worth ten whites. The player with the highest hand wins the pot. Bets are made and raised during each round of play.
A player’s hand may consist of a single high card or two or more pairs of cards with equal values, such as three of a kind. Typically, the higher the pair, the greater the value of the hand. A player’s bet amount is determined by the number of chips in the pot when the player raises.
There are two major types of poker: cash games and tournaments. The latter are often held as part of larger events and competitions, such as professional sports or competitive debating. Tournaments are organized into matches with a small group of competitors in each match, and the winner is determined by the combined scores of all of the individual matches.