Poker is a card game that has become an international phenomenon. It is played in casinos, private homes and other venues and involves betting between players. It also requires a certain amount of skill and psychology. In this article, we’ll take a look at what makes up an official poker hand and how to calculate your chances of winning.

Poker games are usually played with poker chips, each of which is assigned a particular value based on color. For example, a white chip is worth one unit of the minimum ante or bet; a red chip may represent five units, and so on. One player acts as the dealer and a button (which moves clockwise after each hand) indicates where the action starts. The first player to the left of the button must post the small blind; and the next person, the big blind. These “blinds” are forced bets that help keep the action going.

When a poker player is dealt two cards, they must combine them with the community cards to make a poker hand. A poker hand can contain either both hole cards or no hole cards. Players can also use only community cards to make a poker hand.

The rules of poker are managed by the Professional Tournament Directors Association, or Poker TDA, which includes managers from large live and online poker rooms, circuits and leagues. It meets every two years to discuss new reforms and put in place new standards for the game.