Poker is a card game in which players compete against each other to make the best hand. The game is popular with both professional players and those who play socially, and is played in hundreds of variations worldwide.

Rules & Strategy

The game begins when all the players place an ante into a pot, which is divided evenly between them. Each player then receives a hand of five cards, face-down. Each of these cards has a value based on how it can be combined with the other cards to make the highest possible hand.

When all the players have a complete hand, they can place another bet, which is called a “call.” They may also raise if they have more chips than their opponents, or “drop” (fold) if they have no chips left and discard their hand.

Once all the players have had a chance to place their bets, the dealer deals the next set of cards, called the flop. The dealer also deals a fifth card, known as the river.

At the end of each round of betting, each player is dealt a new hand of five cards, which they must use to make their best poker hand. The highest ranked hand wins the pot.