Poker is a card game in which players make bets with and against each other, placing their chips into the “pot” at the end of each round. The player who has the highest-ranking poker hand wins. Players may also win by bluffing, betting that they have the best hand when they do not. In some cases, all players will call the bluff; however, in this case the player with the best hand does not win the pot.
There are many variants of poker, but all share common features. The game begins with forced bets, usually an ante and a blind bet. A dealer then shuffles the cards and deals them to all players one at a time, beginning with the player on their right. Cards are dealt face-up or face-down, depending on the variant of poker being played. After each round of betting, the players reveal their hands and show down their wagers.
The winner is the player with the highest-ranking hand at the showdown, but it can also be a player who has placed the most chips in the pot overall. The player’s stake must be at least the amount of the last raise in order to stay in the pot; otherwise, he must fold and forfeit his remaining chips. This ensures that the winning player will not take home all of the money in the pot, but rather a fair amount distributed among all players who remain in the game.