Poker is a card game that involves betting between players and the player with the highest ranked hand at the end of the hand wins all the money bet during that round. The game is based on bluffing and reading your opponents. Skilled players can minimize losses with poor hands and maximize winnings with good hands by understanding probability, psychology, strategy and decision making.

Players put an initial amount of money into the pot (the pool where everyone bets on a given hand) before they are dealt cards. This is called the ante and it is typically mandatory for all players in the game. Depending on the rules of the particular game, players can also place additional bets on top of the antes during a hand, called raises.

Once all players have placed their ante bets, they are dealt 2 cards face down (hidden from other players) which are called their hole or pocket cards. A round of betting then begins, usually starting with the player to the left of the big blind. After the pre-flop betting phase, 3 more cards are dealt face up in the center of the table and are called the flop. Another round of betting then starts with the player to the left of the dealer.

Players then reveal their cards and the player with the best ranked 5-card hand wins the pot. Sometimes, players tie for the best hand, in which case the pot is divided equally among the players.