Poker is a card game played by two or more players and using chips that represent money. The game has many different variants, but they all share some basic rules. The game begins when one or more players make forced bets, called “ante” and “blind bets.” These are placed into a pile, called the pot, before the dealer shuffles and deals cards to the table. Cards are dealt either face-up or face-down, depending on the specific game.
Once the cards have been dealt, the first of what may be several betting rounds begins. During this round, each player will have the opportunity to place more chips into the pot by matching or raising the bet made by the player before him. A player who chooses to not raise his bet can still stay in the hand by “checking,” which means that he will remain in the pot until a showdown.
During the betting rounds, each player will reveal his or her cards to the other players. At the end of the round, the player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. Some games also allow players to replace cards in their hands or discard them altogether. Whether or not these changes will have any effect on the outcome of the hand is determined by the rules of the particular poker game being played.
