Poker is a card game with a rich history that dates back centuries. Today, poker has become one of the most popular games worldwide, with millions of people playing it online and in casinos in cities like Las Vegas or Atlantic City in the USA. The game can be played by 2 to 14 players. Each player attempts to win a pot, or the total amount of bets placed in a single deal. This may be accomplished by having the highest-ranking hand or simply by raising a bet that no other player calls.

In most poker games, a standard 52-card pack is used, often with the addition of one or two jokers. The cards are dealt in rotation around the table, starting with the player to the left of the button (or dealer). Once a deal is complete, the shuffled deck is passed to the next player. Players may bet, check, call, raise, or fold depending on the situation and their own strategy. When betting, players place money or chips into a “pot” that their opponents must match or exceed.

The highest-ranking poker hands are royal flush, four of a kind, straight, and three of a kind. A royal flush consists of a ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit. A four of a kind contains 4 matching cards of the same rank, while a straight consists of 5 consecutive cards of the same suit. A three of a kind has 3 cards of the same rank, while a pair is made up of two identical cards.