Official poker is a card game played between two or more people for money or chips contributed by the players themselves. Individuals compete to control the amount of money in play (called the pot) by predicting whether their opponents have strong hands, and by bluffing. The game may be played in tournaments, cash games or both. The rules governing each format are distinct.

There are many variants of poker, each with its own game rules and unique strategy. Some of these variations are based on regional customs, while others have developed from established card games such as bridge and rummy. It is also common for poker clubs to develop their own house rules that differ from the standard rules.

In most cases, poker is played from a standard pack of 52 cards, with one or more jokers, dealt to each player. The cards are ranked from high to low in the following order: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 5.

When playing poker, it is important to have good instincts and be able to evaluate your own hand quickly. Practice and observing experienced players will help to develop these instincts.

The dealer burns a card at the start of each round to prevent players from reading the hidden cards in their opponents’ hands. The cards are then passed around in a clockwise direction, starting on the left. When it is a player’s turn to act, they can raise the action by placing bets against other players. A raised bet must be equal to the amount of the previous bet or higher, unless a player calls another player’s raise with their own.