Poker is a card game where players compete to win an amount of money or chips contributed by other players (the pot). A hand of poker is divided into betting rounds. Each player may check, call, raise or fold a bet during a betting round. In order to win the pot, a player must have the best five-card poker hand. The ability to minimize losses with poor hands and maximize winnings with good hands is a key skill in poker.

In addition to the pot, players may establish a special fund called a kitty. Generally, players contribute one low-denomination chip to the kitty during each round of betting when there is more than one raise. Any chips remaining in the kitty when the game ends are distributed to all players who were still playing at the time of the end of the hand.

Texas hold ’em is a card game that has become popular in recent years due to its wide exposure on television and in other media. It has replaced seven-card stud as the most commonly played poker variant in casinos and other card rooms.

During a hand of Texas hold ’em, each player receives two cards face down that are known as their hole cards. A fifth card is then dealt to the table, called the river. After the river is dealt, a final betting round takes place that follows the same rules as the betting rounds on the flop and turn.