Poker is a card game in which players compete to earn chips from other players. It is one of the most popular gambling games in the world and has been played since ancient times.

The basic rules of Poker are simple, but there are many variations that can be found in casinos and online. The game begins with a dealer dealing out cards to each player.

A hand of poker comprises five cards and can be made up of any combination. It is ranked according to mathematical frequency, with the higher cards having more value.

In the majority of forms, the highest hand wins, but in some poker variants, a player may win by making a bet that no other player calls (matches). Bluffing is a feature of poker, distinguishing it from other vying games and from other games that use hand rankings.

Betting rounds begin with one or more forced bets, known as ante or blind. The ante is usually a fixed amount (usually based on the stakes) that is paid to each player before they are dealt cards, and is determined by the table rules.

After the initial deal, players take turns revealing their hands to each other. At the end of each round, all bets are gathered into the central pot.

The first player to make a bet, called the dealer, is designated by the rules of the specific poker variant. In turn, players then place bets into the central pot, with raising and re-raising allowed. When all bets are settled, the highest hand wins the pot.