Poker is a card game played by players for a pot of money. It requires a lot of luck but also a great deal of skill. There are many different poker games and each one has its own rules, but the underlying principles are similar. Whether the game is played in a casino or at home, all poker games are official if they follow certain basic rules.

Most poker games are played with poker chips, and the denominations of these chips vary according to each establishment’s preference. Typically, the white chip is worth the minimum ante, and then other colors are used to indicate higher values. Tournament chips have higher denominations than cash game chips, and these are often marked with the name of the event or host.

Players who play poker regularly may establish a fund known as the “kitty.” This is usually built by cutting a low-denomination chip from each pot in which there is more than one raise. The kitty is then used to purchase additional decks of cards, as well as food and drinks for the table. If a player wants to cut from the kitty, they must announce this to the rest of the players.

A dealer’s job can be stressful, and mistakes happen. It is important that players speak up if they notice a rule violation and call the floor over to make a decision on a situation adhering to the rules. The floor is usually the poker room manager who makes this judgment.