Poker is a card game that has many variations. Some versions have fewer cards, such as Three-Card Monte, and others have more than ten. Later in this chapter, we’ll discuss all these variations and how to play them. While most games involve luck and strategy, some variations have no luck at all. A game’s expected value is affected by the number of hands dealt, as well as player psychology and game theory. Despite this, poker is a very predictable game.

Most games in poker require that the players use chips. Chips are often provided for larger games, with seven or more players. There are five different kinds of chips: one white chip, one red chip, and one blue chip. Each chip has a value, and the lowest-value chip is called a “poke.” A red chip is worth two, four, or five whites. When a game involves chips, players “buy in” by purchasing them with a certain amount.

When playing poker, players must buy chips, which are known as “poker chips.” The smallest chip is called a “white,” while a red chip is worth five whites. The red chip is worth 10 or twenty or thirty-five whites. The blue chip is worth two, four, or five reds. The chips are numbered, and each player buys in by purchasing a particular number of chips. In most games, everyone must buy in with the same amount of chips.