The game of poker has become increasingly popular since early in the 21st century. This is due mainly to the proliferation of online poker and the invention of hole card cameras which allowed players to follow their cards in live tournaments. This led to the emergence of large spectator audiences and the popularity of poker on television.
There are a number of different poker games played, but most have similar rules. The game is always played with poker chips, and each player starts the hand by buying in for a set amount of money. A white chip is worth one minimum ante or bet, and a red chip is usually worth five whites. Some casinos use colored chips of different values, but most use the same system.
Once everyone has their two hole cards, there is a round of betting. Each player must either call the bet or fold. Say you have a pair of kings off the deal; it’s not a great hand, but it’s not bad either. You could say ‘call’ or raise (adding more to the bet).
Once the flop is dealt there’s another round of betting. The dealer then puts a third card on the table that anyone can use. Then there’s a final round of betting. If you have a good enough hand, you can say “stay,” which means that you want to keep your pair of kings or higher. You can also say ‘hit’ to add a new card.