Poker is one of the world’s most popular online games. Over 100 million people play the game worldwide. It is also extremely popular in the United States. The game can be played with as many players as you like. Some versions, like stud poker, have betting limits that limit how much you can bet.

To play, you need to buy in. Generally, a player’s first bet is called the “ante.” Typically, the amount of the ante is based on how much the player is willing to stake. For example, a player who is betting a small amount might only need to put in a few dollars to bet the minimum.

Before the game begins, each player is assigned a number of chips. These are usually green or blue in color. Each player is given a certain amount of time to shuffle the cards. After a set amount of time passes, a dealer is designated. He or she then distributes the cards face up.

If you have a good hand, you can make a bet to try to win the pot. But you can only do that if another player doesn’t call your bet. You can either raise or fold.

There are several betting rounds. In the final betting round, more than one player remains in contention. A player who folds will drop out of the pot, surrendering the rights to it.

This is often called a “bad beat.” In such a situation, a bad card is dealt to the best hand. When the best hand wins, it is rewarded with a jackpot.