Poker is a card game played by 2 or more players. Depending on the rules of the game, before each hand begins the players put in an amount of money into a pot that will be used for betting. This initial investment may be called an ante, blind or bring-in. This helps ensure that all players are investing equally and prevents people from bringing in too much money and skewing the results of the game.
Once each player has placed their bet, they are dealt two cards face down. A round of betting then commences, with the player to their left starting the action. After the first round of betting, one more card is revealed, known as the flop. There is another round of betting, and if any player has a good poker hand they can win the pot/all bets.
There are a number of different poker hands, and the highest ones usually win. All poker hands must contain at least five cards, and they must be of a certain rank (Ace, King, Queen, Jack or 10, for example). Some games also use wild cards, such as jokers, to add extra strategy.
Many people enjoy playing poker because of the psychology involved in it. This can be used to create bluffs and other tactics that are often effective in increasing your chances of winning. Some people even make poker a hobby, with competitions taking place in casinos and other venues.
