Poker is a card game that can be played by two or more players and involves betting between rounds. A poker hand is made up of five cards. Different games have differing rules for the number of cards in a deck, the number of rounds of betting, whether raising and re-raising are allowed, and if the final showdown is a show of hands.

There are several variants of poker, but Texas hold ‘em is most often associated with tournament play, since it is the primary event in many famous events such as the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour. The popularity of this form of the game surged in the 2000s as a result of the proliferation of television shows and online poker sites.

Typically, poker is played with chips that represent a player’s stake in the game. Traditionally, each player starts with an equal amount of chips and play continues until one player has accumulated all the chips in the pot or all players have agreed to chop up the remaining money pool.

A person can find poker games all over the world, from local game rooms in people’s homes to high-stakes casino tournaments. It is also considered a mind sport and has been referred to as a “mental game.” In 2010, it was officially accepted by the International Mind Sports Association. It is still not yet an Olympic sport, however. Despite its popularity, there are many questions about its legitimacy.