Official poker is a card game in which players compete for an amount of money or chips contributed by each player. Individuals use a number of different cards to construct a hand, and the player with the best hand wins the pot. While Texas Hold’em is the most popular form of poker, there are many other types of games that can be played.

The game is played in cash or tournament games at home, in casinos and poker clubs, and in casino or cardroom events. Chips are used to represent dollar amounts during play, and most players will have an understanding of the value of each color in a given set. The color-coding helps security systems monitor the action at tables, as it is easier to distinguish the difference in chip values than if all chips were identical.

Each player is expected to act in turn unless it is impossible or would create a distraction. A player who acts out of turn can be penalized.

A standard deck of 52 cards is used in poker, but a joker can be added for extra fun. Some games also feature wild cards that can be substituted for other cards in a hand to make certain hands. Ties are broken in most poker games by the rank of a hand (royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, etc.) and sometimes by the suit (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades).

It is important for players to protect their cards and keep them as secure as possible. This means using their hand, other chips, or even a piece of cardboard on top of the cards to prevent them from being exposed. In addition, a player must never throw, rip, bend, or crumple the cards.