Poker is a card game where players wager chips in order to win or lose. The game comes in a wide variety of variants, but the basic rules are generally the same. Almost all games involve an opening bet of some kind (either a small blind or an ante) and then the players are dealt cards that they keep hidden from their opponents. This creates a pot of money right away and encourages competition.

After the initial betting rounds are over, the dealer puts three more cards face up on the table – these are called the “flop”. At this point players have some additional options. They can fold their hand if it’s bad, or they can call, meaning they’ll match the highest previous bet. They can also raise, increasing the amount they’re betting by one or two levels. If they’re raising a previous player’s raise, this is called a “check-raise”.

The players who have the best five-card poker hands win the pot. The highest possible poker hand is a royal flush, which includes all five cards of the same suit. The next highest hand is four of a kind. The third highest is a straight, and the fourth is a pair. High card is used to break ties if nobody has a pair or better. You can find lots of info on poker hands and strategies online. The best way to learn how to play poker is by watching experienced players and asking for help if you get stuck.