Poker is a card game that requires skill to win. Many different types of poker are played, but most involve betting between two players and a dealer. It is often played with chips, and it can be played online or in a casino. There are also tournaments where several people play for a prize.

The earliest known reference to the game was in 1836, but it may have been in use much earlier. It appears to have evolved from other games, including the Italian primiera (16th – 17th centuries), the French game of poque (different spellings in the 16th and 17th centuries) and the Spanish-language game of bilbo.

Each player puts an initial amount of money into the pot before they are dealt their cards. This is called a forced bet and comes in the form of antes, blinds and bring-ins. These bets are made to give everyone an equal chance of winning.

Once the players have their 2 hole cards, there is a round of betting. Then three more cards are dealt face up – these are called the flop, and then another card is added to the board – this is called the turn. After this, there is a final card that is dealt face up – the river.

The best poker players make a profit by extracting value from their winning hands and minimising losses from their losing ones. They achieve this by a combination of psychology, mathematics, economics and deception.