Poker is a card game played between two or more players and where luck plays an important role. However, the twin elements of chance and skill can minimize luck’s influence over time. Generally, the highest-ranking hand wins. There are many different types of poker hands.

Each player places a mandatory bet into the pot (representing money) before being dealt cards. This bet is usually called an ante or blind bet.

After the antes/blinds have been made, each player is dealt 2 cards face-down (hidden from other players) and a betting phase begins. These 2 cards are known as a player’s hole cards. Three additional cards are then dealt face up to the center of the table, known as the flop. These are community cards that are used by all players to build their hands. Another round of betting then takes place.

A player may check, call, raise or fold his or her hand during a betting round. If a player raises, and no other players choose to call the bet, the player wins the pot (representing all the bets placed).

At the end of the final betting round, each player reveals their hidden cards and evaluates their hands. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot, including all bets made during the last betting round. If more than one hand qualifies for the top prize, then a showdown (or reveal) is held in which all remaining hands are revealed and evaluated.