Poker is a card game in which players wager over the value of their hand. The game may vary in the number of cards dealt, the number of rounds of betting, and whether the bets are made with all cards face up or face down. The game originated in the United States, but it has become popular worldwide.

The object of the game is to execute the best possible strategy based on the information available, with the goal of winning money. Players can choose to make bets, raise them, or fold, all with the intention of maximizing their long-term expectation of profit.

Typically, one or more forced bets are made (an ante and/or a blind), the dealer shuffles, and deals cards to each player, beginning with the player to their left. The players then proceed to place their bets into a common pot, with players able to raise or fold at any time.

Each player is trying to form the best five-card hand possible. The highest hand wins, and ties are broken by the high card. Some games allow the use of wild cards, which can take the place of any other card in a hand.