Poker is a card game in which players wager money on the likelihood that their cards form a winning hand. The game is played in private homes, poker clubs, and casinos, and has become an international phenomenon. Its rules, jargon, and strategy have entered popular culture. A player wins the pot by either showing a superior hand or making other players think they have a good hand by bluffing. The game can also be played in tournaments, which bring structure to friendly competitions.
Each player puts in a fixed amount of money into the betting pool (the pot) when it is their turn to act. This amount is usually called a buy-in. The dealer then shuffles the cards and deals them to the players one at a time, starting with the player on their chair to their right. The cards can be dealt face-up or face-down.
Once all players have two cards in their hand, they can decide to call a bet, raise it, or fold. When a player calls, they place chips into the pot equal to the amount raised by the person before them. If a player raises, they must continue to pay into the pot in order to stay in the hand.
After each round of betting, the players reveal their cards and the player with the best poker hand takes the pot. In some cases, there is a tie for the best poker hand and the pot is shared. In other cases, players run out of money and drop out of the game.
