Poker is a card game played by two or more people for an amount of money (or chips) contributed by all players, called the pot. The game combines elements of chance with psychology and strategy. Unlike most casino games, in which the dealer acts as the arbiter of all disputes, in a home poker game, players agree on their own house rules to settle disputes and make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

The rules of poker vary depending on the variant and the game environment, but there are a number of general standards that are universally followed. For example, all players must be able to see each other’s hands during the showdown to determine a winner. Moreover, each player is responsible for protecting their own hand from unintentional giving away information or advice to other players.

In addition, all players must be able to count the value of their chips. This is largely achieved through the use of different colors to represent different chip values. Most casinos have a set of standard poker chips that start with white, then reds, blues, and greens. Likewise, most home poker games have a standard poker chip color scheme as well.

Finally, verbally declaring a bet, raise, call, or fold is binding. This means that a player cannot change their mind once they have spoken out loud and therefore must act as a consequence of their statement. On the other hand, if a player says nothing and simply takes an extended period of time to decide their next move, this is not against the rules.