Poker is a betting card game that requires skill, strategy, and chance. It can be played by 2 to 14 players, and the object is to win a pot consisting of all the bets made in one deal. Players place their bets voluntarily into the pot, choosing actions based on probability, psychology, and game theory. The game can also involve bluffing.
A small bet that players must make before the hand starts, usually called either an ante or blind bet. This is to give the pot a starting value and prevent players from raising too early in the hand.
Once the antes or blinds have been placed, the dealer deals each player two cards which are kept hidden from the other players. After a first round of betting, the dealer places three more cards face up on the table that are community cards that anyone can use. This is called the flop.
In the second betting round, players can now look at their own two personal cards as well as the three community cards and decide what to do next. Some players choose to continue in the hand and call further bets, while others will fold their hands.
Once the final betting round is over, all remaining players reveal their hands and the player with the highest-ranking poker hand wins the pot. In the event that more than one player has a winning hand, the winner is determined by an all-in showdown. In this case, the player who placed all-in in the last betting round is only eligible to win the pot he has contributed to.