Poker is a card game that is played for real money – either actual cash or chips that represent it. The game combines elements of chance with a great deal of skill, and players can win big or lose big – it all depends on how well the players understand the strategy. The game can be played socially for pennies or even matchsticks, but also professionally for thousands of dollars.

Whether played on the Internet or in casinos, games are usually conducted by professional dealers who rotate between tables. When a player decides to act on his or her hand, the dealer places his or her token on the button or other designated area. Once all players have acted on their hands, the player with the highest hand wins the pot.

The game is normally played with a standard 52-card pack with one or two jokers. Occasionally, two packs of contrasting colors are used to speed up the game; while one pack is dealt, the other is shuffled and prepared for the next deal.

The game’s popularity surged in the 2000s with the rise of televised poker tournaments, and new rules emerged to make play more uniform. For example, the no-limit betting form of Texas hold ’em replaced seven-card stud as the most popular game in casinos. The game has been portrayed in many films and books, including Doyle Brunson’s Super/System, published in 1978, which revolutionized the way the game was played.