Poker is a card game that involves betting between two or more players. The goal of the game is to win the “pot,” which includes all of the bets placed by players on any one deal. This pot can be won by having the best hand or by making a bet that no other player calls. There are a number of different forms of poker, but the game is most commonly played with six to eight people around a table.

Before the cards are dealt, players must place an initial amount of money into the pot. This is called an ante or blind bet. These bets are made by the players to the left of the dealer button. Depending on the rules of the game, players may be able to change their bets after the first betting phase, which is known as the pre-flop.

After the pre-flop betting phase, 3 cards are dealt face-up onto the table and revealed to all players. These are the community cards, and each player can now build their best 5-card poker hand using them.

There are several types of poker hands, and the highest is the Royal flush. Other hands include the straight, three of a kind, and pair. Pair consists of two cards of the same rank, while three of a kind consists of three cards of the same rank in sequence.