Poker is a game of skill, but the game is also a gamble. Each player must ante a certain amount (this will vary depending on the game), and then place bets into the middle of the pot. The person with the best hand wins. Usually, betting in poker occurs in a clockwise fashion. After placing the initial bet, the player has three choices: to fold, raise or call.

In casual play, the role of dealer rotates between the players, with one player designated as the nominal dealer. The dealer is marked by a dealer button, which is usually a white plastic disk. It is also used to determine the order of betting in the game. The dealer handles the cards for each hand in turn, working clockwise around the table. In a game of poker, players can bet using real money or chips. However, using chips is more convenient. In addition, players can exchange chips for cash, making the game much easier to play.

The final betting phase in a poker game concludes with a reveal of the cards of all players. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In many games, players will run out of money after several rounds. Eventually, the game ends when one player wins all the money they put down as buy-in.