Poker is a card game in which players place bets using chips based on the strength of their hand. The object is to win the pot, which is the sum of all bets placed during one deal. The pot is usually won either by having the highest-ranking poker hand or by making a bet that no other player calls.
The game can be played with two to seven players. Before a hand begins, the players must place a forced bet, often called an ante or blind bet (or both). After this, the dealer shuffles the cards and deals them to the players, starting with the player on their right. Depending on the game, these cards may be dealt face up or face down.
After the initial deal, a series of betting intervals occurs, with the player on the button having the privilege or obligation to make the first bet. Then, the players can choose to check, call, or raise. A player who raises must place enough chips into the pot to equal the total contribution of the player who went before him.
The best-ranking poker hand is a royal flush, which consists of a 10 of clubs, diamonds, hearts, or spades, all of the same suit, and a King. The next best hand is a straight, which consists of five consecutive cards of the same rank. Other good hands include four of a kind and three of a kind. While luck plays a role in poker, winning requires an understanding of probabilities and game theory.