Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world. It is a game that involves betting on your own hand and also trying to read the other players’ actions. The highest hand is the Royal Flush, which contains a King, Queen, Jack and Ace of the same suit. Other high hands include four of a kind and straight. There are also several lower hands, including three of a kind and two pair.

The cards are dealt in a circle around the table, with the player to the left of the dealer, also known as the button, acting first. The turn to act passes clockwise after each round of betting. A player may choose to fold his or her hand during any betting street if it is not good enough.

A game of poker is typically played with a large number of chips, each with a different color and value. A white chip, for example, is worth the minimum ante bet. A blue chip is worth twice as much, and a red chip is worth five whites. Players buy in for a set amount of chips at the beginning of the game.

Some poker players establish a special fund for the game, which is called the “kitty.” This money can be used to pay for new decks of cards or food and drinks. In addition, the kitty can be used to cover a player’s losses during the course of a hand.