Poker is a card game where individuals compete for an amount of money or chips contributed by the players themselves (the pot). The object of the game is to win as many hands as possible in order to maximize your winnings. This is achieved through the use of the cards, betting and prediction of other player’s actions.

The game of poker has been played for centuries, but it wasn’t until the late 19th century that it became widely known in the United States. The game quickly grew in popularity and today it is a worldwide phenomenon. The modern game of poker is played with two or more players and uses a standard 52-card deck.

Tournaments are games of poker where the rules of play vary from cash games. The primary difference is that in a tournament, only a small percentage of the participants are paid at the end. The percentage is generally around 10%, but this varies depending on the number of players and the format of the event.

To begin a hand, the player to the left of the dealer button posts the small blind, while the big blind is posted by the player to his or her immediate right. In addition, the ante is raised at regularly scheduled intervals during tournament play.

Players must use only poker chips for their bets and raises. In addition, all tournament chips must remain visible on the table throughout the event and a player who removes them will be disqualified. It is also against the rules to reveal or disclose the contents of a folded hand, either verbally or indirectly.