Poker is a card game based on chance and skill. It is a highly popular game around the world. Millions of people play it either live or on the internet.

The main goal of poker is to make the best 5-card hand possible. The hand is made up of five cards in sequential order, and the highest card wins.

A player must first place a small bet called an “ante” to start the game. Then, each player is dealt two cards face-down and another card face-up. They must now decide whether to bet, fold, or call.

If all but one player folds, the remaining player collects the pot without having to reveal their hand. If there are still multiple players in contention, a showdown takes place where all hands are revealed and the winner is determined.

There are a number of different rules and variations in poker. Some games award the pot to the highest hand as per the standard poker ranking, while others divide it between the highest and lowest hands.

In most modern games, betting is done in one or more rounds, with each player making a contribution to the pot in turn. In each round, a player may choose to bet, call, or raise. A player may also check, which means that he does not make a bet but will remain in the hand until someone calls his bet or folds.